We run numerous training sessions here at Excitech and whilst, as an authorised training centre we have to gather feedback from all attendees after they have attended training, we always encourage feedback throughout the course to ensure that we are meeting expectations, so it was really appreciated to find this little sketch on the whiteboard after the final break from my latest training session today.

Thanks to all who attended and I hope you enjoyed attending the course as much as I enjoyed delivering it.

The course was Revit Architecture essentials, obviously…

Here is a very useful tool from Autodesk Labs to recognise parametric features from base solids or translated model.

I remember looking at an early version of feature recognition for MDT 6 back in 2002.

This gave the potential to recognise features automatically but in practice was quite limited

as you could not choose specific parts of the model to work on.

The latest offering from Autodesk Labs has taken this concept further by allowing many more advanced tools

for selecting specific faces on the model to convert to features or a fully automated mode. In practice, it is better

just to recognise the features that will need changing. In the fan example I just convert the holes, which takes

just a few seconds. If you work with translated data or want to modify or rework some of your older 3D designs

then this tool could prove to be a very useful addition.

http://labs.autodesk.com/utilities/feature_recognition/

Enjoy,

Lawrenceh

The boys and girls at Autodesk Labs have been busy with a great tool for Inventor 2011 which allows the creation of 3D annotations. This is intended for conceptual modelling where you need to get a simple concept across without the need for traditional 2D drawings.

The tools have been designed for simple and easy use and what I really liked was the PMI browser that allows you to quickly control visibility,  track and edit all 3D annotations. The 3DA (3D Annotations) application automatically groups annotation objects such as Text, Symbols and dimensions.

It is definitely worth a look if you have the need to create quick design concepts and do not want to create 2D drawings.

You can download 3DA at:

http://labs.autodesk.com/utilities/inventor3da/

LawrenceH

Just seen this post from Autodesk

http://rss-aec.autodesk.com/rsrc/link/_/csc_revit_structure_integration_software_for_aut_551732062?f=d55c83e0-01dd-11dd-3556-00001a1a9134

Just a small but simple change to Revit 2011 is the behaviour and display of temporary dimensions.

In previous versions of Revit if you repositioned the temporary dimensions but did not make the dimension

permanent then Revit reset the dimension to its previous position, very annoying!

This has now been addressed and furthermore you can now change the text size

of the temporary dimensions in the Options dialog.

Simple but effective!

Lawrenceh

The latest Revit 2011 Updates are available from the following links:

Revit Architecture 2011 Update 1

Revit Structure 2011 Update 1

Revit MEP 2011 Update 1

The enhancement lists are also listed with them.

The guys and girls at Autodesk Labs have once again been busy updating and refining some of the great new technologies for Autodesk Inventor 2011.

This one below will take AutoCAD 2D drawings and assist in creating 3D Parametric models within Inventor 2011.

http://labs.autodesk.com/utilities/2d_to_3d_tool/

Simply start with at least two 2D drawing views in AutoCAD.

Import this into an Inventor Part file and then finish the sketch. Notice the 2D to 3D panel shown below.

Click the base view.

Once this is done add the Projected views as shown below and Inventor will align these views Automatically.

If the Alignment is not correct then use the Align Sketch Tool.

Use the Extrude tool to Extrude to a selected point on the sketch and then a second Extrude, in this case, using an intersect.

Here is the result in 3D.

A quick tool to take 2D CAD drawings and create 3D parametric Inventor components.

LawrenceH

I came across this great article by Zach Kron (buildz) the other day which I think is well worth reading. It highlights what could be the best part of the solar radiation technology preview: the fact that once run the analysis view remains dynamic as you manipulate the form.

Follow the link to read the full article

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/buildz/~3/ns7XlpHFQ6I/form-finding-with-solar-radiation.html

Re-posting from “BIM and Beam”. And here is the link to the article RISA-Revit 2011 Link Now Available!

Or check it out here

We held our Structural User’s forum last Friday at ARUP’s offices in central London which was very well attended by a wide range of our customers, and I have to say, was the perfect location for our event.

Nigel Rees and Peter Debney from Oasys kicked off our series of presentations with an in depth look at OASYS structural software solutions. Oasys Limited is the software house of ARUP and has been established since 1976 and are committed to providing high quality software and support.

Ralph Pullenger of Autodesk then gave a great presentation on the new and improved features of both Revit Structure 2011 and Autodesk Robot Structural analysis.

Alpesh Patel then gave the group a fascinating insight into some of the major projects that he has worked on and discussed the challenges and solutions to some analysis problems and 3D modelling challenges that he faced.

After lunch I showed some of the new subscription tools for Revit Structure including the Frame Generator.

Mike Hacker from Waterman Group then gave us a run through on his experiences with Revit Structure and again showed some fantastic structures that had been modelled and in particular showed how he had set up templates and family files to Waterman standards.

Ralph was up next to show how you can use AutoCAD Structural detailing to generate 2D RC drawings and how ASD links to Revit Structure and Robot.

It was then the turn of Pierre Vogal, one of our civil application specialists, who then showed how to create surfaces in AutoCAD Civil3D and then how to import these surfaces into Revit Structure.

The last presentation was conducted by myself and Johnathan Ward and focussed on tips and tricks whilst using Revit Structure.

The day was rounded off with some interactive conversations and ideas for future events.

A good time was had by all!

LawrenceH