Autodesk

autodesk.co.uk

Autodesk

Autodesk manufacturing software helps you to machine, print, inspect, and fabricate better quality parts, faster.

Complete modular manufacturing solutions including CAM, additive and composites
Manufacturing expertise to automate, optimize and integrate your manufacturing processes, in addition to your software
Cloud-connected solutions so you can collaborate and manufacture anytime, anywhere

Autodesk makes software for people who make things. If you’ve ever driven a high-performance car, admired a towering skyscraper, used a smartphone, or watched a great film, chances are you’ve experienced what millions of Autodesk customers are doing with our software.

Autodesk offers digital solutions that automate and integrate your design and manufacturing processes with the latest technology for CAM, Additive/Subtractive Manufacturing, Simulation, Robotics, and Inspection. Autodesk is a world leading innovator of CAD/CAM software for the smart factory and the market leader in its specialist industries; including industrial machinery, electro-mechanical, mold and die, industrial equipment, automotive/aerospace components, and consumer goods.

How Autodesk are supporting the project

Autodesk is providing software based upon its Project Dasher 360 that is an example of an Autodesk Forge based cloud micro-service. This will provide a 3D contextual front end to interrogate the performance of the Factory In A Box (FIAB). This service has previously been used more typically to monitor building assets and environmental conditions and configuring it to work on this small production line is a natural extension.

The software will sit in the central control centre of The Factory In A Box to display a three dimensional model of the container and its contents where the production manager can dynamically monitor the process status based on sensor data. The smart design and implementation of the software by the T-ERA consortium is designed to be reusable. This is demonstrated by the first FIAB being a cryogenic pipe bending and brazing workflow and the second being the production of custom solid state phase batteries.

The transfer of technology between these and future FIAB applications is designed to be a relatively quick and smooth operation. For example, the sensor data collected, analysed and displayed for the first cell can comprise parameters such as loading on the robot arm, consumption of power by the HVAC system and temperature around the brazing unit; while for the second FIAB it could include monitoring use of materials, carbon dioxide levels and outside temperature through a second instance of the platform. This data will be collected and stored in the cloud and analysed by Project Dasher 360.

“The concept of distributing a working plug-and-play small manufacturing cell from within a forty foot shipping container that is monitored remotely from an overseas control centre is creating a succinct and yet still technically ambitious manifestation of IoT in action that Autodesk is proud to be a part of.”

Chris Jones
Senior Product Manager, Autodesk