Not too long ago I posted a blog about the newly released Product Design Suite Launchpad which is a free download from Autodesk Labs for users of Autodesk Product Design Suite 2012. This new post is to let you know of an updated version of the launchpad which is now available.
The main addition to this new update of the tool is the addition of a product\industrial design focused workflow panel which gives users options to launch tools and workflows specific to the task to be carried out:
Each of the options above will launch the specific tool, open the selected file and have it ready in the correct environment ready for you to do what you need to. The following new Plastic Part Design workflows are available in this technology preview update:
Concept Sketching
Capture your product and graphic concepts using Sketchbook Designer. Sketchbook combines vector and raster workflows to provide an effective way to communicate design ideas. Start a blank sketch or import raster or AutoCAD DWG data.
Styling
Import an Inventor model or other 3D model into Alisa Design to use as reference data for technical surfaces. The selected model is loaded into Alias Design where you can use it to build your surface data.
Design Engineering
Import Alias wire data into Inventor to transform your technical surface data into manufacture-ready solid models. Associativity is maintained so that changes to the Alias .wire file are consumed by Inventor.
Materials Selection Analysis
The selected 3D model is loaded into Inventor with the ECO Materials Adviser active. The ECO Materials Adviser evaluates environmental impact of you material selections allowing you to make informed decisions.
Stress Analysis
The Inventor Stress Analysis environment simulates the structural behavior of your 3D model under specified loads and conditions. The selected Inventor part or assembly is loaded into the Stress Analysis environment where you can add loads and conditions to define the simulation.
Technical Drawings
Create 2D documentation of your 3D models in Inventor. The selected part, assembly, or presentation file is used to automatically create the first view of the drawing. You can customize the scale, orientation, line options, or other settings before committing the view.
Explore Design Alternatives
Transform your 3D model into highly realistic imagery or perform an interactive presentation using Showcase. The selected part or assembly is loaded into Showcase. You can create design alternatives, configure lights and materials, then render the environment or use Showcase as a presentation environment.
Photorealistic Rendering
Create a photorealistic rendering or animation of your 3D model in 3ds Max Design. The selected Inventor part or assembly is loaded into 3ds Max Design. You can then configure lights, materials, cameras, and other environment settings for your rendering or animation.
To take advantage of this new product\industrial design launchpad, all you have to do is download the latest version of the tool from Autodesk Labs, un-install the existing version (if you have it installed) and then run the installer that you downloaded. Once installed your desktop will have an additional icon for the Product Design Suite LaunchPad Tech Preview.
Once you run the launchpad you can select which of the launchpad 'panels' you which to use from the drop down menu:
Whichever one of the two you select will remain as the default so each time you run the launchpad, you will get the same workflow tools by default.
This new update also contains an option to select the default template you wish to use when launching a new part or new drawing from the launchpad tools. Just click on the options menu in the top right hand corner of the launchpad and then select the option you wish to change:
You'll notice that there is an option to select the default template, click on this to see a list of your templates which you can select to make sure you always start a new part or drawing with the template you want.
To download the new version of the Product Design Suite Launchpad for free, just visit:
http://labs.autodesk.com/utilities/launchpad/
And if you want to read more about the launchpad and watch it in action you can read my previous blog post which contains a video of the tool in action:
http://autodeskmfg.typepad.com/blog/2011/10/autodesk-product-design-suite-launchpad.html
