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Learn how we took a concept to product with Autodesk Fusion for this year’s AU Factory Experience product.
The Autodesk MultiMeasure
Since its inception at AU 2016, the Factory Experience has provided attendees with a practical demonstration of the journey from concept to production using the Autodesk Fusion platform. Every year, our team embarks on the challenge of creating a new consumer product, bringing fresh ideas and innovative designs to Autodesk University. We’ve explored everything from revamping old favorites to introducing entirely new inventions. This year, we are excited to present the Autodesk MultiMeasure Tool.
Where it all began
When looking towards the future, we partnered with the Rochester Institute of Technology to spark innovative ideas. Our journey began with T-Minus, RIT’s annual event that challenges student teams to tackle a sponsored project within just one week. That year, the challenge was to design a visionary product for Autodesk University’s Factory Experience.
By the event’s conclusion, we selected the standout concept: the MultiMeasure—a versatile device capable of measuring colors, angles, distances, and more.
To bring this innovative idea to life, we collaborated with students from Assistant Professor Juan Noguera’s experimental studio course. The class was split into teams, each tasked with prototyping the top designs chosen by Autodesk. Weekly presentations showcased their progress to our teams, utilizing Fusion to gain hands-on experience in the design and manufacturing process.
After two semesters of creative exploration and development, the final design of the MultiMeasure was perfected and handed over to our Autodesk team—ready for the next stage of innovation.
The design process
Once the concept was finalized, our team began revisions for the final factory product. Together, we collaborated on the Fusion model, refining parts for injection molding, iterating on additive and CNC components, and developing the production circuit boards. The Fusion platform makes this cross-disciplinary collaboration seamless and instantaneous.
Configurations played a key role in dialing in the most difficult part of the design: the articulated protractor arm. Getting the CNC arm to rotate with just the right amount of resistance took several iterations on a gasket interfacing the arm with the injection molded annular clips. With configurations, we were able to create as many iterations as we needed without making new components.
We were also able to leverage Fusion’s new assembly constraints into the design. For parts like screws interfacing with bosses, or the protractor arm rotating on a shared axis with the bottom enclosure, joints are still the fastest and most rational way to assemble the parts.
For parts like the battery housing, where there is no single geometrical feature on each part to join them, assembly constraints were the perfect tool. With a few clicks, the parts were aligned along three planes with the appropriate tolerances accounted for.
Thank you to our AU 2025 partners
Thank you to our amazing partners for their incredible support in developing this year’s factory product. Your expertise and collaboration have made our vision a reality, and we couldn’t have done it without you. We’re so grateful for all your hard work and dedication, which have played a huge part in shaping this year’s factory experience.
See you soon at AU 2025
We are so excited to share the MultiMeasure with you in person at AU 2025. Join us for a hands-on experience where you can assemble your very own product and take home a piece of cutting-edge technology. Plus, it’s a fantastic opportunity to see our design and manufacturing processes up close and personal. We can’t wait to see you there!