3 things every Inventor user should know about Generative Design

[MikeSmell_ADSK]

Hi everyone! 

I am new to this forum but looking forward to hearing back from many of you. I am a Product Manager on the Fusion 360 team and we have been working hard to help Inventor users get up to speed with generative design with a focus on improving designs for performance, manufacturability, and cost. Based on this recent work, I thought it would make sense to share 3 important things with all of you about getting started with generative design in Fusion 360.  

1. Fusion 360 and generative design is included with your Product Design and Manufacturing Collection subscription. That’s right, you don’t need to buy yet another piece of software, just turn it on and get started. Here's a handy article on how. Once you have Fusion 360 up and running through your PDMC subscription, you can start generating outcomes and exploring what generative design is all about. 
2. Generative Design in Fusion 360 is NOT just for additive manufacturing. We have heard many of you tell us this time and time again, and it is simply not true. Yes, it is a great solution for additive, but it is also a great solution for more traditional manufacturing methods. We can produce designs well suited for 2.5, 3, and/or 5 axis milling operations, water, laser and plasma cutting operations and die casting.  
3. We have created learning content just for you. We know that generative design is still new to many of you, and Fusion 360 is too, so we have built a tutorial that shows you the best practices for working with Inventor and Fusion 360 together in your design process. To access the tutorial, in Inventor click the Tutorial Gallery in the Get Started tab, My Home panel on the ribbon. Then in the search field type: Generative Design. You can check out a more detailed overview of the tutorial here. 

I hope these 3 things will help you take your first steps to look at generative design in Fusion 360. I would also love to hear your thoughts on generative design and what would make it more valuable for your work in this thread. If you have any questions or comments not appropriate for this forum thread, please contact me at generativedesignhelp@autodesk.com  

Thanks,  

Mike Smell 

Sr. Product Manager – Fusion 360 Generative Design 

[MikeSmell_ADSK]

Hi everyone! 

I am new to this forum but looking forward to hearing back from many of you. I am a Product Manager on the Fusion 360 team and we have been working hard to help Inventor users get up to speed with generative design with a focus on improving designs for performance, manufacturability, and cost. Based on this recent work, I thought it would make sense to share 3 important things with all of you about getting started with generative design in Fusion 360.  

1. Fusion 360 and generative design is included with your Product Design and Manufacturing Collection subscription. That’s right, you don’t need to buy yet another piece of software, just turn it on and get started. Here's a handy article on how. Once you have Fusion 360 up and running through your PDMC subscription, you can start generating outcomes and exploring what generative design is all about. 
2. Generative Design in Fusion 360 is NOT just for additive manufacturing. We have heard many of you tell us this time and time again, and it is simply not true. Yes, it is a great solution for additive, but it is also a great solution for more traditional manufacturing methods. We can produce designs well suited for 2.5, 3, and/or 5 axis milling operations, water, laser and plasma cutting operations and die casting.  
3. We have created learning content just for you. We know that generative design is still new to many of you, and Fusion 360 is too, so we have built a tutorial that shows you the best practices for working with Inventor and Fusion 360 together in your design process. To access the tutorial, in Inventor click the Tutorial Gallery in the Get Started tab, My Home panel on the ribbon. Then in the search field type: Generative Design. You can check out a more detailed overview of the tutorial here. 

I hope these 3 things will help you take your first steps to look at generative design in Fusion 360. I would also love to hear your thoughts on generative design and what would make it more valuable for your work in this thread. If you have any questions or comments not appropriate for this forum thread, please contact me at generativedesignhelp@autodesk.com  

Thanks,  

Mike Smell 

Sr. Product Manager – Fusion 360 Generative Design 

[swalton]

When will Generative Design be added to Inventor? 

Is there a way to fuzz or vary the load cases? I don't want to over-optimize my parts and be unable to resist unexpected loads.

[swalton]

When will Generative Design be added to Inventor? 

Is there a way to fuzz or vary the load cases? I don't want to over-optimize my parts and be unable to resist unexpected loads.

[MikeSmell_ADSK]

Hi @swalton  - 

At the moment, our primary focus is to deliver the generative design experience in Fusion 360. We will be investing in improving the connection between Inventor and Fusion 360 for specific workflows, with generative design being one of the primary areas of focus to start. 

With regards to load cases, you can create multiple load cases that represent operating conditions, handling conditions and unexpected or what-if load scenarios and the resulting design will be able to survive any of those load cases. You also have the ability to control the factor of safety that the part is designed to, so if you are looking for a bigger margin, that is totally possible. 

Let me know if this helps. 

-Mike

[MikeSmell_ADSK]

Hi @swalton  - 

At the moment, our primary focus is to deliver the generative design experience in Fusion 360. We will be investing in improving the connection between Inventor and Fusion 360 for specific workflows, with generative design being one of the primary areas of focus to start. 

With regards to load cases, you can create multiple load cases that represent operating conditions, handling conditions and unexpected or what-if load scenarios and the resulting design will be able to survive any of those load cases. You also have the ability to control the factor of safety that the part is designed to, so if you are looking for a bigger margin, that is totally possible. 

Let me know if this helps. 

-Mike

[swalton]

I'm watching with interest.  However I have 15 years of Inventor data in Vault Professional and I'm not sure I want to rework our company procedures, data management, and archiving to support Fusion 360.

Most of my current work is one-off steel fabrications using sheetmetal, plate, and structural shapes.  Is Generative Design smart enough to use the AISC steel shapes as limits/primitives for the reduced geometry?  How about the preferred sheetmetal gauges or plate thicknesses?  How about the Aluminum Association shapes?

Does it understand weld beads or bolted connections between members?

I could see building a source shape to link all the various components in my assembly, then using Generative Design that understands the industry standard shapes as targets for the algorithm.  Is this a 1 year, 5 year or 10 year goal?

[swalton]

I'm watching with interest.  However I have 15 years of Inventor data in Vault Professional and I'm not sure I want to rework our company procedures, data management, and archiving to support Fusion 360.

Most of my current work is one-off steel fabrications using sheetmetal, plate, and structural shapes.  Is Generative Design smart enough to use the AISC steel shapes as limits/primitives for the reduced geometry?  How about the preferred sheetmetal gauges or plate thicknesses?  How about the Aluminum Association shapes?

Does it understand weld beads or bolted connections between members?

I could see building a source shape to link all the various components in my assembly, then using Generative Design that understands the industry standard shapes as targets for the algorithm.  Is this a 1 year, 5 year or 10 year goal?

[MikeSmell_ADSK]

Hi @swalton - 

The short answer to those topics is that we are a good way out. That said, we have research and concepts around these topics that I think would be worth us discussing in more detail. Can you email me directly at michael.smell@autodesk.com and we can set up some time to chat more? 

Mike

[MikeSmell_ADSK]

Hi @swalton - 

The short answer to those topics is that we are a good way out. That said, we have research and concepts around these topics that I think would be worth us discussing in more detail. Can you email me directly at michael.smell@autodesk.com and we can set up some time to chat more? 

Mike

[swalton]

@MikeSmell_ADSK Email sent.

I'll be happy to discuss off-line.

[swalton]

@MikeSmell_ADSK Email sent.

I'll be happy to discuss off-line.

[richard.kFK4QA]

Hi Mike

Generative Design is very expensive in Autodesk Cloud credits if you are running Fusion only. What does it cost if you are an Inventor user?

Regards

Richard Knott

[richard.kFK4QA]

Hi Mike

Generative Design is very expensive in Autodesk Cloud credits if you are running Fusion only. What does it cost if you are an Inventor user?

Regards

Richard Knott

[melrosecad]

---

@richard.kFK4QA wrote:

Hi Mike

Generative Design is very expensive in Autodesk Cloud credits if you are running Fusion only. What does it cost if you are an Inventor user?

Regards

Richard Knott

---

It is only a feature of Fusion 360.

[melrosecad]

---

@richard.kFK4QA wrote:

Hi Mike

Generative Design is very expensive in Autodesk Cloud credits if you are running Fusion only. What does it cost if you are an Inventor user?

Regards

Richard Knott

---

It is only a feature of Fusion 360.

[richard.kFK4QA]

Well then, at $25 per study and $100 for every export of your results back into Fusion, or $1000 per month or $8000 a year for unlimited access you're not going to get many people having a go.

[richard.kFK4QA]

Well then, at $25 per study and $100 for every export of your results back into Fusion, or $1000 per month or $8000 a year for unlimited access you're not going to get many people having a go.

[melrosecad]

---

@richard.kFK4QA wrote:

Well then, at $25 per study and $100 for every export of your results back into Fusion, or $1000 per month or $8000 a year for unlimited access you're not going to get many people having a go.

---

Certainly doesn't seem to be aimed at hobbyists but you have to remember it's rather cutting edge technology. Hopefully they do more free months etc so people can try it out.

[melrosecad]

---

@richard.kFK4QA wrote:

Well then, at $25 per study and $100 for every export of your results back into Fusion, or $1000 per month or $8000 a year for unlimited access you're not going to get many people having a go.

---

Certainly doesn't seem to be aimed at hobbyists but you have to remember it's rather cutting edge technology. Hopefully they do more free months etc so people can try it out.

[MikeSmell_ADSK]

@melrosecad and @richard.kFK4QA  - 

I appreciate you both weighing in on this thread. A few comments from my end to make sure there is clarity on pricing and access.

1. If you are a PDMC subscriber, then Fusion 360 is included, you will not need to purchase Fusion 360, so no extra cost there.

2. It is correct that a study costs 25 cloud credits and creating an editable BREP of the design costs 100 cloud credits, so it is required to have cloud credits to run generative design. 

3. If you are not a Fusion 360 user today, our 30-day trial will provide you access to generative design, along with 300 cloud credits. Additionally, we have a 7-day trial of our generative design extension (unlimited access), which is another great way to try out generative design if you are already a Fusion 360 user. 

Further, I would say that we are actively looking at feedback like this regarding the cost to access generative design and are investigating other ways to make it more accessible. 

Thanks, 

Mike Smell

Sr. Product Manager, Fusion 360 Generative Design

[MikeSmell_ADSK]

@melrosecad and @richard.kFK4QA  - 

I appreciate you both weighing in on this thread. A few comments from my end to make sure there is clarity on pricing and access.

1. If you are a PDMC subscriber, then Fusion 360 is included, you will not need to purchase Fusion 360, so no extra cost there.

2. It is correct that a study costs 25 cloud credits and creating an editable BREP of the design costs 100 cloud credits, so it is required to have cloud credits to run generative design. 

3. If you are not a Fusion 360 user today, our 30-day trial will provide you access to generative design, along with 300 cloud credits. Additionally, we have a 7-day trial of our generative design extension (unlimited access), which is another great way to try out generative design if you are already a Fusion 360 user. 

Further, I would say that we are actively looking at feedback like this regarding the cost to access generative design and are investigating other ways to make it more accessible. 

Thanks, 

Mike Smell

Sr. Product Manager, Fusion 360 Generative Design

[b.mccarthy]

After reading this, I have to ask why these tools are not available in Inventor.

I have see the webcasts showing the workflow:

• Do this in Inventor
• Send to Fusion
• Do this in Fusion
• Upload to cloud
• Wait for cloud to generate versions
• Pay to download version(s)
• Send to Inventor
• Lather, rinse and repeat, as necessary...

Inefficient, at best. If the numbers quoted above are correct, you could be spending 4x the cost of a single seat of Inventor, per year, just to get your files, along with being forced to learn a new software package.

Will Inventor users ever get to see similar capabilities, instead of being forced to always turn to Fusion? Or is Shape Generator the best we are to see? In and of itself, a very cool tool, but does not meet the level of sophistication of the tools in Fusion. Is there some reason that more resources go to developing Fusion than to Inventor?

The 2 platforms are mostly similar. Would it not be more practical to merge development into creating one tool, with both cloud and desktop versions? Each environment has its pros and cons, but most users prefer one over the other.

My $.02

[b.mccarthy]

After reading this, I have to ask why these tools are not available in Inventor.

I have see the webcasts showing the workflow:

• Do this in Inventor
• Send to Fusion
• Do this in Fusion
• Upload to cloud
• Wait for cloud to generate versions
• Pay to download version(s)
• Send to Inventor
• Lather, rinse and repeat, as necessary...

Inefficient, at best. If the numbers quoted above are correct, you could be spending 4x the cost of a single seat of Inventor, per year, just to get your files, along with being forced to learn a new software package.

Will Inventor users ever get to see similar capabilities, instead of being forced to always turn to Fusion? Or is Shape Generator the best we are to see? In and of itself, a very cool tool, but does not meet the level of sophistication of the tools in Fusion. Is there some reason that more resources go to developing Fusion than to Inventor?

The 2 platforms are mostly similar. Would it not be more practical to merge development into creating one tool, with both cloud and desktop versions? Each environment has its pros and cons, but most users prefer one over the other.

My $.02

[vmat8888]

Forget about that Fusion 360, almost nobody is using it. Make it part of Inventor Professional.

[vmat8888]

Forget about that Fusion 360, almost nobody is using it. Make it part of Inventor Professional.