A 2D sheet metal design using Inventor software is easy, scalable, and cheap. After the sheet metal design process is complete, production of the sheet metal design needs to be optimized to reduce cost and time. The same part/assembly designs that are created and stored in Inventor software can be used to drive cutting tools for all types of cutting machines. This session will cover the process of programming cutting tools to cut material in the most efficient manner possible using TruNest Multi-Tool software. The specific topics covered will include: maintaining design intent and revision control through direct link to Inventor software or Vault software; extracting 2D flat-pattern shapes from each sheet metal part automatically; nesting shapes together on each material to get maximum material efficiency using TruNest Multi-Tool software; and postprocessing the nested result for a variety of different styles of cutting machines. The postprocessor optimizes the machine cycle to maximize machine throughput and reduce wear on consumables. This session features TruNest Multi-Tool, Inventor Professional, and Vault Professional. AIA Approved

Diversified Machine Systems (DMS) makes excellent routers for processing plastic and composite materials. Using TruNest, you can automate all of the manual operations that take significant programming time and consume engineering time with nonvaluable work. Push more work through these routers with TruNest.

Learn how to use Inventor models and TruNEST software to drive your fabrication process; maximizing sheet material utilization and optimizing cutting paths for different fabrication operations. Speakers: Greg MacLean and Michael Spellman; Co-Founders Magestic Systems

This class is a follow up to “Intro to Composite Manufacturing Platform.” This hands-on course will follow the entire manufacturing process for composites, carbon fiber, and parts. It will begin with determining manufacturing strategies with the help of TruPlan software. Then we will use TruNest Composites software to nest the 2D carbon fiber plies for material efficiency. Since the carbon fiber fabric is time-sensitive, temperature-controlled material, it must be followed through the manufacturing process with high precision. The complete lifecycle of each roll of material and each carbon fiber part will be tracked accurately using TruNest Composites software. Finally, when the 2D shapes are cut using part programs generated by TruNest software, they will be laid up on the 3D part mold by hand, using laser projectors to assist with layup. The laser projectors that assist with ply layup will be programmed using TruLaser software. This session features TruNest Composites, TruLaser, and TruPlan.

Thick or heavy plate manufacturing presents its own set of unique challenges. This class utilizes Autodesk® TruNest to show workflows for manufacturing heavy, thick, plates with Oxy-fuel, plasma or waterjet CNC mills. We start with importing geometry and material properties, to automated optimal nesting all the way to generating CNC code for manufacturing.

During this two-part class, we will utilize Autodesk® TruNest Composites to show the complete process from import to nesting to NC part cutting of ply materials. Special focus will be given to optimal nesting for efficient material usage. During the second half, we will utilize Autodesk® TruLaser to perform laser projection for showing composite ply lay-up.

This class goes from start to finish to complete a sheet metal manufacturing workflow. We will start with importing the designs, utilizing material data, then perform an optimal nesting process, and finish with a CNC program to be used for manufacturing. Autodesk® TruNest provides an advanced and complete solution for sheet metal fabrication solution which supports waterjet, plasma, laser cutters as well as routers and punch presses.

This is an interactive discussion between a large, diverse group of interested parties to further the composites cutting industry. The Composite Team will lead discussion in conjunction with the Sim, OCTO, and Delcam Teams. We will cover the current state of the industry, the future direction of the composites industry, the current state of composites-related design and manufacturing software, and the future direction of composites-related design and manufacturing software (including a streamlined composites manufacturing solution). This session features TruNest Composites and PowerMill.

It is common for most sheet metal fabricators to have an ERP (enterprise resource planning) or MRP (material requirements planning) system, as well as software that addresses their needs for nesting and machine programming. What is not commonplace is for those systems to talk to one another very well. This class will present a case study in which the users are designing in Inventor software, managing their revisions and model data in Vault software, using a cloud-based ERP system to input sales and inventory information, and using TruNest to drive all of the machines connected to their sheet metal fabrication operations. What this class will demonstrate to attendees is a fully integrated sheet metal fabrication workflow, from the design of the product to its manufacture on the shop floor.

Companies like SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Virgin Galactic all have something in common: disruption of the space travel and space cargo industries. How we ship things and people to outer space is a complex set of operations, and each of these companies is looking to do it cheaper, and, more importantly, lighter than anyone else. By shedding weight, the teams of engineers working on these spacecraft are also making space travel and shipping more attainable. In turn, their suppliers are also looking to adopt composite materials and manufacturing processes to ensure that all of the original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) have the parts they need, when they need them. In this class, we'll review how, with Autodesk software, you can learn how to make composite parts that may soon be in orbit.