Autodesk has such a big library of products, it is difficult to keep tabs on all the products and what they do. When I first saw Configurator 360 at AU several years ago, I was impressed. At the time the product was new and Autodesk has developed the product significantly since its introduction. I think it is a great product and can be useful to a lot of companies, so I have been spreading the word about Configurator 360.
Configurator 360 allows Inventor users to upload configurable models to a web site. That web site can then be shared with customers or sales staff. Customers then can customize the model and download their model and request a quote for it. The main types of models that users upload are designs with iLogic Rules, but the model can be just a parameter driven part.
The Configurator 360 site administrator can control a wide variety of preferences for all models or specific to designs. For example, customers can download their customized design in a variety of formats, everything from STEP and IGES to Catia and Revit files, along with the native Inventor model. The site administrator can pick and choose which file formats users are permitted to download. I strongly recommend disabling the Inventor download because those files will contain the intellectual property of your company. However, I have set as a possible download on my demo site, just to show the exhaustive list of downloads.
Here is a video I made that gives an overview of the Inventor to Configurator 360 workflow.
Here is a line to a design that I typically use as a sample for iLogic and Configurator 360
Autodesk has done a lot of development around the quoting capabilities of Configurator 360. They have made incremental changes along the way. Now, users are able to upload a quote template, complete with images of the customized design.
One of my favorite functions of Configurator 360 is the Accessories. This allows users to author components as optional accessories. The process starts in Inventor by creating a Joint between the main design and the optional component. The Configurator 360 Add-in for Inventor will help split the Joint definition to the two models. After both are uploaded, users can drag and drop the accessories on to the design, and the Joint definition will place the optional component on the assembly.
This link is to a design that includes accessories.
If you are selling customizable products Configurator 360 would be a great addition to your CAD tools.
