CAD with a Dad

I have been fortunate recently, my company has been willing to allow me to take time out of my work day to teach Fusion 360 to the homeschool co-op my children attend.  I had one hour, once a week, over 8 week to work with 10 kids that are between 10 and 13 years old.  This has been great for me and the kids in many ways.

First, I am pretty passionate about STEM education.  As a parent of three kids, I recognize that careers in STEM fields are a great path to success for them, knowing that some of the students are destined for other career paths.  Since Fusion 360 is 3D modeling, I see that this experience is a good place for the students to get their first connection with 3D modeling.  Whether they want to go into mechanical design and engineering, or 3D animation, the skills they learn in this class is going to lay the groundwork for the skills they will develop for those careers.

For me one of the greatest moments is to see my 12 year old son help his classmates.  I  started teaching him Inventor a couple years ago.  Grand total he has about 10 to 20 hours of instruction, and about another 10 to 20 hours of just letting him play in the software.  The first week of class was a tough class because nearly half the class needed additional one-on-one help to complete the exercise.  After a few minutes of helping each student out, I looked at my son and told him to see if he could help the other students that still needed help.  He was able to help a lot of students.  He got a great confidence boost to be able to help his classmates.  So beyond the CAD experience he gained, he gained experience as an instructor.  I was very proud to see that he still possessed the skills that he and I worked on previously.  He has told me on countless occasions that he wants to do what I do, and having this experience definitely reinforces that feeling.

This opportunity has also allowed me to share my knowledge, which is something I love to do.  I have built up a wide variety knowledge over the years, and I enjoy sharing it with the people I come in contact with.  The students I have in class have been very eager to learn Fusion 360.  It was great to seek the spark during one specific class.  I was showing them how to create 2D drawings from their 3D models.  I realized that this is not something they need to know a lot about, so I took some time and showed them reality capture and virtual reality.  That really seemed to grab their attention.

Most of the class was really excited to hear how ReCap 360 could be used to take pictures and turn it into a 3D model.  My desktop is a screenshot I took from a point cloud I made in ReCap 360 of a Lego Star War ship my son put together.  People always recognize the model and ask about it.  The students were amazed at what I was showing them.  Then, progressed to show them that some models can be rendered into a stereo panorama.  That stereo panorama could then be viewed in an app that would immerse the viewer in the model.  That really got them excited to what we were talking about.

I don't know if any of them will go on to careers in science, technology, or computer animation, but I feel great about being able to help them take the first step down that path.

Here is a slideshow highlighting work that they did on their own, without direction, following their own inspiration.

Factory Scope v. Member Scope

iParts and iAssemblies in Inventor are a great way to create a collection of parts or assemblies that are similar but have a certain amount of uniqueness.  I have created several videos that demonstrate how to create and work with iParts.  One topic that I have not mentioned before is Factory Scope v. Member Scope.  I think this is information can be very valuable when working with iParts and iAssemblies.

Recently, I was working with a customer while he was adding a member to an iPart.  He continually jumped between sketches and feature and the iPart table.  We was checking the names and values of dimensions, then going to the table and changing the value for the new member.  After doing that a few times, he asked me, "Is there any way I can change the values in the model without having to go to the table?"

To which I replied that there was.  I pointed him to the Factory Scope/Member Scope setting.  For users that are not familiar with the purpose of this setting, it allows a user to specify if a change is for the entire factory(all members) or for a specific member.  By default Inventor is set to Factory Scope, that means as the user changes the model, those changes are applied to all members.  If the user changes that setting to Member Scope, the edits that the user performs are applied only to the active member of the iPart family.

Member Scope works great for editing the parameters already on the table, but also can be helpful when controlling feature suppression.  You are allowing Inventor to control and edit the table for you as you make changes.  It is really interesting to see the impact on the table as features are added while in Member Scope.  All the user has to do is add the necessary feature(s) and Inventor will handle adding the parameters and feature controls to the table.

Here is a Screencast that demonstrates the Power of Member Scope:

Configuration in the Hands of Your Customers

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

https://configurator360.autodesk.com/85464107488570169/vwy41yxf9nw1

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.

https://configurator360.autodesk.com/85464107488570169/gskmhpny903l

If you are selling customizable products Configurator 360 would be a great addition to your CAD tools.

Autodesk Fusion 360: Inventor's Little Brother?

Have you heard of Autodesk Fusion 360?  It has been around for a lot of years, but some people still have not heard of it or don't know much about it.  Autodesk has launched several programs to drive up awareness and usage.  I have been using Fusion 360 off-and-on since it's launch.  One reason I did not fully utilize it right away was because I didn't see how this could be an improvement over Inventor.  I have realized that I was misinterpreting its purpose all along.

I always call Fusion 360 "Inventor's Little Brother."  That is because its root function, 3D modeling, is so similar to Inventor, so much so that  I was able to use Fusion 360 right away.  There are a few difference between the two.  For example, Fusion 360 only has two file times F3D and DWG.  Anything 3D, part or assembly is modeled in a F3D file.  The 3D environment is similar to Inventor's multi-body parts.  

Another reason that I call Fusion 360 "Inventor's Little Brother," is that it could not do everything that Inventor could do.  That has changed over time.  I still feel that Fusion 360 is not a replacement for Inventor, but it does have a place in the 3D modeling and manufacturing world. 

Who can get the most out of Fusion 360?

The strongest usage category is in education.  I have mentioned before that I have been working with my home-schooled children to teach them Inventor.  Realizing that Fusion 360 would have been easier to teach them, I wish I could go back and start teaching them Fusion 360 instead.  Because of the similarities between Inventor and Fusion 360, I see students using Fusion 360 developing skills that will transfer to Inventor after graduation.

Fusion is also a great tool for home-use.  During classes, I am often asked if it is possible to use Inventor at home.  Students either need to take work home, or want to use Inventor to design home projects, such as decks and home improvements.  The commercial license of Inventor does have provisions for users to have a license for home-use.  One issue that most users face is that their home computer is not powerful enough to run Inventor.  Fusion 360 is well suited for the home projects. The product is free to start-ups, hobbyists,  and enthusiasts.  So Fusion is a great tool for designing your deck, home addition, or your idea for the next big thing.

Can I use Fusion 360 along Inventor and AutoCAD?

Lost of users do not know that Fusion 360 is actually included in their Product Design Suite.  It is just a matter of the Software Administrator granting access to that product through the Subscription Center.  I am disappointed that Fusion 360 will not read an Inventor IPT directly.  I has to translate the file.  If going from Fusion 360 to Inventor, users have to export to a generic format.  I recommend STEP for this.  However, Inventor's Direct Editing commands can be used to modify the model if necessary.

I do see some great workflows for 3D AutoCAD users.  I usually try to talk people out of doing 3D modeling in AutoCAD because it can be a headache.  However, with Fusion 360 modeling is significantly easier.  Now that users can create drawings in Fusion 360, I see that it would be easier for users to model their parts in Fusion 360, start the drawing in Fusion, then export to a DWG that they can finish in AutoCAD.

What is Fusion 360 capable of?

Fusion 360 has a lot of functions that Inventor does have.  There are a few limitations when you compare the two head-to-head.  However, Fusion 360 can perform all of the following:

• 3D Modeling, including Free Form Modeling
• 2D Documentation of models
• Finite Element Analysis
• Rendering Images
• Animations
• CNC Tooling

The bottom line is that Autodesk has put a lot of development effort into Fusion 360.  Even if you do not qualify to use the product for free, Fusion 360 is only $300 per year.  It is capable of performing most of the operations that designer would need with a small price tag.

Here is a Screencast I made that demonstrates Fusion 360's capabilities.

My ASME iShow Experience

Last week, I had the privileged of attending the ASME iShow.  For anyone not familiar with the ASME iShow, it is a design competition for socially conscious products.  My role at the show was to offer consulting on how Fusion 360 could help the teams design their products.  

This year the ten finalists had a wide array of products that would impact people in multiple different ways.  Below is a list of the finalists:

MOTI
MOTI is an IOT device that will help people live happier lives, one habit at a time.

PayGo Energy
The Pay Go Smart Meter will help people in developing countries buy clean burning fuel on a pay-as- you-go basis.

Agua Pallet
Agua Pallet is a pallet that can deliver aid, then be converted into a hand cart for transporting water and other goods.

Otter Warmer
Otter Warmer is a newborn conductive warmer designed to treat premature newborns vulnerable to hypothermia.

The CRAPPER
The CRAPPER is an affordable, water-less composting toilet that will safely treat human waste.

NODE
NODE is a low cost, GSM/GPRS enabled, Arduino based, rugged universal data monitoring unit.

Stove Trace
Stove Trace is a cloud-based remote monitoring system for clean cook-stoves, and offers financial incentives to rural households to use the clean cook-stoves.

AMPARO
AMPARO is redefining prosthetic care by creating a socket that is easier to fit, thus shortening the wait time for prosthesis.

Hydorsac
The Hydrosac is a flexible hydroponic/aquaponic system.

Buoy
Buoy is a connected whole-house device that gives homeowner's leak detection and detailed data on water consumption.

PayGo Energy, AMPARO, and Buoy received grants to further their work.  All of the products at the show were all deserving of recognition for the impact they could make to society.  All the teams received great advise from a host of experts on how to get these products to market.  I really enjoyed the product pitches on Thursday afternoon.  I like the show Shark Tank, and the pitch process was a lot like that.

Current Survey Technology: Part 3 The Results

It does pain me to say that I was not able to get a good model from the drone photos that day.  I really wanted to post the model and say, "Look what we were able to do!"  But we were not able to get that model.  I would not say that the efforts were wasted in anyway.  As long as you learn lessons to improve your process and efforts in the future, the project is not a failure.

So what are the lessons we learned?

Lesson #1:  You need more than 31 photos

I always try to get a minimum of 50 photos.  ReCap's maximum of 250 photos really is best.  I got about 31 then let my son fly the drone.  His flight ended in a tree, and it took us about 30 minutes to get the drone down.  I guess we could have try to fly again.  However, I only have two batteries and was worried that I was low on power.  The model of drone I have behaves poorly when low on power.
Lesson #2:  Pick Frisbees of VERY different colors

When I grabbed a Red and Pink Frisbees, I thought they they may seem too similar in the photos.  Then I thought that because the colors were significantly different I would be okay.  From the vantage point of the drone, with the sun glaring off the them, it was at times difficult to tell the red from the pink.  If I had trouble, I have to assume the software had trouble with telling them apart.

Lesson #3:  My hobby quality drone does not fly stable enough for this process

I love drones.  For me the appeal is equally how much fun they are to fly and the aerial photography and videos.  My drone is so light and is at the mercy of the wind.  We only had 6 MPH winds that day and my drone was still pushed very strongly by the wind.  Most professional quality drones have GPS and flight planning abilities.  Where those are not a mandatory feature for this process, they can make it easier to fly the site and can improve the quality of the results.

Lesson #4:  My kids love to run around A LOT

If you look in the photos, my kids did not stay in one place.  In fact, they were all over the field, and I have the pictures to prove it.  ReCap has no way to filter out my daughter in the photos and work around her.  To ReCap she is a feature in the field and tried to match and her surroundings in the photos.  So as she went from end to end of the field, ReCap was assuming she was stationary, and this movement confused the results.  For ReCap to work right, you really want to try to keep the area clear, as much as reasonable.  If I had 250 photos, the movements by my daughter would not have confused ReCap as much.

I was so disappointed that I did not get some really meaningful results.  I know the process works, I have seen the process work.  I guess it is safe to say that you will not be seeing any advertisements for Olson & Kids Surveying anytime in the future.  Well maybe if I can convince my wife to let me get a professional quality drone...Just kidding.

Current Survey Technology: Part 2 Data Processing

The Processing of the Data is pretty simple, thanks to the ReCap 360 Pro workflow.  On the ReCap 360 Pro website, I can start a new "Photo to 3D"  project.  All I have to do is upload the photos identify the control points.

When I pick a control point in a photo, I can then enter the coordinates for that point.  I can even enter the information in Latitude, Longitude, and Elevation format.  In my case, the MapIt - Mobile app gave me the Latitude and Longitude, so I had to use the USGS website to get the elevations for my control points.

When identifying the control points, it is feasible to identify the points in as many photos as possible.  I have tried this in the past, and it has really overloaded the system.  Autodesk's official opinion is that you are to let the software auto register the photographs.  Which is what I would do if I was not trying to properly geolocate the model, and have it scaled properly.  So I try to identify the control points in about 3 photos.

After the manual registration process, I can pick my output file types and let the system process the model.  When it comes to output files, I always pick RCS and ORTHO for Survey based models.  The RCS can be loaded into the ReCap desktop application.  I will sometimes include the RCM, which is the Autodesk Memento file format.  I will occasionally include this so I have it if I want to load the model into Memento.

Here is a Screencast that demonstrates the process.