Autodesk Inventor
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Building Flexible Manufacturing Systems for Unpredictable Markets
This article examines the importance of Flexible Manufacturing Systems (FMS) in navigating volatile markets. It explains how modular and reconfigurable setups help manufacturers pivot production and manage supply disruptions. Learn how Autodesk solutions, like Inventor and Fusion, facilitate agility through automated asset modeling, process simulation, and cloud collaboration. In modern manufacturing, volatility is the norm.…
Production
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What Are GD&T Symbols and Why Do They Matter?
This article explains the five main categories of GD&T symbols: form, orientation, location, profile, and runout. It details how each category controls specific geometric variations. It also highlights how Autodesk Inventor integrates these symbols into 3D models using Model-Based Definition for automated tolerance analysis. What are GD&T symbols and why do they matter? Geometric Dimensioning…
Design & Engineering
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Accelerate Time-to-Market and Reduce Risk: The Six Phases of NPI Explained
Learn how structured NPI processes cut time-to-market by up to 50%, improve quality, and enable cross-functional collaboration for manufacturing leaders. Why NPI matters New Product Introduction (NPI) is the structured process that transforms ideas into market-ready products. Companies that implement formal NPI frameworks achieve 30–50% faster time-to-market and 40% fewer post-launch quality issues compared to…
Design & Engineering
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JIT Management in a Digital Manufacturing World
Explore how AI, IoT, and automation strengthen modern JIT management while addressing challenges related to supplier reliability and uncertain demand. As global supply chains become more interconnected, they become more fragile. In this context, successful just-in-time (JIT) strategies require more than traditional lean practices. They now need digital technologies capable of sensing, predicting, and adapting…
Production
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Complete Guide to GD&T Symbols: Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing
Discover the complete guide to GD&T symbols, their categories, standards, and practical applications across industries. Learn how Autodesk Inventor makes geometric dimensioning and tolerancing easier for beginners, improving design accuracy, manufacturing efficiency, and quality control. Modern manufacturing demands precision beyond basic dimensional tolerances. Engineers rely on GD&T symbols to communicate complex geometric requirements for critical…
Design & Engineering
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Introduction to Buckling Analysis: What Every Designer Should Know
This article introduces the principles of structural buckling, explains how instability arises under compressive loads, and explores linear versus nonlinear analysis methods. It then highlights how Autodesk Nastran enables detailed buckling simulations within the design workflow, helping engineers identify failure risks and improve performance before physical testing. Buckling is one of the most sudden and…
Design & Engineering
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Essentials of Tolerance Analysis for Modern CAD Workflow
This article examines the importance of tolerance analysis in ensuring reliable assembly and controlling manufacturing costs for mechanical design. It discusses how Autodesk Inventor Tolerance Analysis integrates with CAD models so engineers can validate dimensional variation and optimize design decisions early in the workflow. Success in product development is a function of both precision and…
Design & Engineering
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Inventor 2026.2 What’s New
Inventor 2026.2 is another great point release with several enhancements across the board for sketching, part and assembly modeling, and drawings. Thank you again to everyone who contributed their ideas and feedback for all three of our major releases for Inventor 2026. Assembly enhancements Place and Insert command With Inventor 2026.2, assembling components just became…
Autodesk Inventor
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Model-Based Definition (MBD) and The Role it Plays in Modern Manufacturing [Update 2025]
Explore the benefits of model-based definition (MBD), its benefits across manufacturing, and how Autodesk solutions can help. For more than a century, 2D engineering drawings were the universal language of manufacturing. They captured dimensions, materials, and tolerances, serving as the primary reference for turning product concepts into physical parts. As manufacturing technologies and product complexity…
Design & Engineering
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Solve Design Inefficiencies by Shifting from 2D to 3D CAD
Struggling with outdated 2D workflows? Discover how transitioning to 3D design empowers manufacturers to reduce errors, speed up production, and stay competitive with Autodesk’s seamless 2D-to-3D integration. Manufacturing companies face increasing pressure to improve product quality, reduce time-to-market, and streamline production processes. A critical business challenge many manufacturers encounter is the need to evolve from…
Design & Engineering
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Unifying Factory Solutions for Smarter Production
Explore how Autodesk’s integrated factory production solutions help manufacturers optimize factory layouts, streamline production processes, and improve operational efficiency for smarter, faster factory production. Autodesk is entering a new era of unified production—one where smart collaboration and digital factory solutions converge to transform how products are designed, engineered, and manufactured across industries. By integrating FlexSim with AutoCAD, Inventor Factory Design Utilities, Vault – and introducing…
Production
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The Digital Factory: Analytics and Cloud Platforms for Smarter Manufacturing Decisions
Examine how advanced analytics and cloud platforms turn manufacturing into digital factories with actionable insights for agility and flexibility. Learn how Autodesk Factory Design Utilities unifies design, simulation, and collaboration to optimize operations and stay resilient in a competitive and unpredictable market. Manufacturing has reached a stage where traditional approaches are no longer viable. Instead,…
Production