AutoDesk Rolls Out New 3D Printing Features in Inventor Professional 2016

Autodesk has rolled out the latest version of the company’s flagship engineering software suite, Inventor Professional, and they say it includes 387 enhancements. Perhaps most important to Autodesk, they say some 32 of those enhancements came directly from customer-driven input.

A pair of important features are improved MultiCAD functionality and now, the new 3D printing support for designers working with multiple CAD file types. AutoDesk says Inventor Pro 2016 features an upgrade to their MultiCAD technology called AnyCAD. AnyCAD allows users to work with a number of non-native CAD formats.

Imported parts can now be integrated into assemblies and modified to ensure fits, and rather than just translating an imported part, AnyCAD allows a part to be modified in its native software and updated immediately as it’s imported to Inventor.

“The new AnyCAD technology in Inventor alone is worth moving to the 2016 version, but we’re also improving every part of the product workflow from concept through product delivery to help companies meet the challenges that lie ahead,” says Robert Kross of Autodesk.

The second major enhancement to Inventor 2016 is the inclusion of 3D Print Studio, a dedicated 3D print environment which lets users orient and modify components to fit within a variety of supported 3D printers. Models can be broken down into sub-components to fit within a single print job, and users can then assemble the pieces of the component via the ability to define the placement and size of guide pins.

“Our customers are pushing the boundaries on how products are designed and made, how buildings are built, and how entertainment is created,” says Amar Hanspal, the senior vice president at Autodesk. “Autodesk Suites address the entire workflow: from capturing reality and iterating on a design, to physically making that design through 3D printing or other forms of fabrication.”

The design suite includes AutoCAD 2016, ReCap and 3ds Max.  Autodesk’s ReCap technology, which is also included in every suite, still brings Reality Computing to the addition of more native laser scan formats, smart measurement tools, advanced annotation and sync capabilities.

Customers in the architecture, engineering and construction, and natural resources and infrastructure industries can take advantage of increasingly powerful cloud services and flexible subscription options like Building Design Suite, Infrastructure Design Suite, Plant Design Suite and it’s significant enhancements to AutoCAD Plant 3D, including integration with Autodesk Vault. Navisworks models can be easily attached as reference models, and AutoCAD MEP is included to model electrical raceways and ductwork.

Product Design Suite for 2016 now provides enhancements for visualization, data management, advanced simulation and includes subscription access to the cloud-based Autodesk Fusion 360.

Factory Design Suite now provides factory customers with access to interoperable, layout-specific workflows, cloud-based factory asset resources and powerful visualization and analysis tools.

Entertainment Creation Suite includes major enhancements which focus on animation performance, ease of use, content creation, collaboration and connected workflows.

There is also innovation and improvement to the company’s Desktop Subscription products to tightly integrate with Autodesk 360 cloud services. Subscription customers will have access to additional cloud services such as faster rendering and visualization capabilities, simulation, analysis and collaboration tools.

The new Autodesk Account, a personalized portal aimed at allowing customers to track and manage all Autodesk products, services, and benefits in one place, will simplify installation, management and upgrade experience, flexible payment terms, and broader access rights across multiple devices.

The Autodesk 2016 Design Suites will be available starting on April 16, 2015, and availability varies by country. You can check out those details here…

Do you use Autodesk Inventor Pro in your work? What do you think of these new enhancements? Let us know in the Autodesk Inventor Professional forum thread on 3DPB.com.