Autodesk Software our Engineers Love

As you can imagine, at Quadra we spend a huge amount of time working with, using and learning about the software we sell. And as with anything, we have elements of the software that we just love to use. So we decided with it being Valentine’s Day, we’d share some of our favourite /the best Autodesk Software applications, tools and processes that make our lives easier.

Andy Laycock – AEC Autodesk Software Applications Engineer

Revit – Scheduling

Revit scheduling is a great tool to embed into your working day-to-day practices.  The types of schedules range from a simple collection of objects to sheets of information gathered from the design.

1. They contain columns and rows
2. They hold data
3. The data can be sorted and grouped in a number of different ways
4. Formulas can be applied to the data in order to generate new values

In the past, scheduling required the manual gathering of how many of each type of an object existed.  For example – if you were doing a furniture schedule you would have to count each furniture piece you had, allowing for human error in the counting.  Once we have created a schedule, the program can collate all furniture that are placed in the design, giving you an accurate count as the design progresses time.

This same methodology goes for any aspect of a Revit Project; windows, doors, columns & material take off.

“Schedules can be placed in your template so save time and crate continuity throughout all your projects as they are automatically populated as the project is developed.”

AEC Applications Engineer, Andy Laycock

It is even possible to used placeholder sheet names and numbers to assist in the creation of drawing sets using the correct company standards and nomenclature, another advantage of this is that you only have to enter the titles and numbers once in the template, helping to avoid typos and numbering errors.

Scheduling in Revit is a very helpful tool that allows us as designers to create and quantify our design components.  There will be less overspend due to estimation and mistakes made in the field, and when it comes to ordering and building the components.

Matt Hutchinson – Manufacturing Autodesk Software Applications Engineer

Inventor – Frame Generator

I use Inventor Frame Generator to create internal frame external frame assemblies. You can find it in the assembly and weldment environments.

There are two ways to use it:

• Create a model to use as a frame skeleton and place it in an assembly file (Place Component) or
• Define the structure of a frame in the context of the assembly (Create Component).

With Frame Generator I can:

• Create frame members from vertices and edges of existing subassemblies.
• Build framing directly from other machine components within an assembly.
• Use multiple skeletal models in an assembly.
• Create frame members between skeletal models.
• Define frame cross-sections and notch profiles and place them in the Content Center.

Stephen Hall – Manufacturing Autodesk SoftwareApplications Engineer

Fusion – CAM – Adaptive Clearing

Fusion 360 CAM  gives you the option of using 2D and 3D Adaptive clearing. Adaptive clearing calculates paths based on a sophisticated algorithm that constantly considers the remaining material and maintains optimal tool engagement throughout the cut. 

It is unique in that it guarantees a maximum tool load at all stages of the machining cycle, and makes it possible to cut deep and with the flank of the tool without risk of breakage.

Adaptive Clearing can also be used to great effect for rest- machining where a previous larger tool has removed the majority of the material, but a smaller tool is necessary for accessing the finer details. When a previous toolpath is selected, this strategy takes account of the state of the stock after the selected machining operations and limits itself to the yet non-machined areas.

Our team of experts at Quadra are a fountain of knowledge and regularly receive praise for their Customer support.

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