Announcement: Autodesk Interoperability Module for FlexSim
We are excited to announce the release of version 25.2 of the Autodesk Interop Module for FlexSim, designed to enhance the connection between Factory Design Utilities (FDU), Vault, and FlexSim.
FDU is part of the Autodesk Product Design and Manufacturing Collection and is an add-on tool used with Inventor, AutoCAD, and Navisworks. FDU is typically used for designing equipment layout for manufacturing and material handling and can sync 2D and 3D models. You can learn more about Factory Design Utilities here:
Factory Design Utilities 2026 Help | Autodesk
Key Features of Autodesk Interop FlexSim Module 25.2:
- Integration of FDU Library within FlexSim: You can now access the full range of FDU assets directly within FlexSim. The integration enables straightforward drag and drop functionality, allowing use of FDU assets directly in a FlexSim model.
- Direct Import of FDU Layouts: The module also allows users to import factory layouts directly into FlexSim. This capability ensures a seamless transition from a layout designed in AutoCAD or Inventor FDU to a simulation model in FlexSim.
- Synced Models between FlexSim and FDU Tools: Utilizing library objects within FlexSim will now automatically synchronize and update the corresponding FDU layout. This feature ensures that any changes made during simulation modeling are reflected in the .layoutdata file, maintaining consistency and accuracy across both platforms.
- Vault Integration: We've added the ability to log in to Vault via FlexSim to retrieve assets from the FDU library stored in Vault as well as check in/out FDU layouts from a Vault location.
- Additional Improvements: Shapes loaded via ATF now happen in a multi-threaded process and are cached upon import. This means faster loading times for Autodesk files and increased stability for FlexSim.
To download the module, navigate to your FlexSim downloads page and click the "3rd Party Modules" tab. You can access the Module's full release notes here:
AdskInterop | Release Notes and History
Documentation for the FDU integration is found here:
AdskInterop | Factory Design Utilities
Please note: FlexSim 2025 Update 2 is required to utilize FDU features within the ADSK Interop module. Some features, such as opening a layout with Inventor and AutoCAD, require that FDU to be installed and licensed.
