Success Story
DNV provides services to wind power companies that include adding wind measurement systems that are used to optimize energy output of terrestrial wind farms. They create drawings to aid in the assembly and erection of these measurement systems, typically booms attached to towers with anemometers to gather wind speed and direction. Until recently, those drawings were created using Visio as a drawing tool. DNV sought to eliminate the use of Visio drawings and create full models and drawings using Autodesk Inventor, but the company lacked the personnel resources to deploy and use the software at the scale required. They sought help in automating the creation of Inventor models and asked for MESA's help in doing so.
The primary goal was to enable DNV to create full model and drawing packages in the same or less time needed using the previous drawing tool (Visio). The initial phase would be to automate the creation of a number of standard configurations of mounting equipment (such as horizontal and vertical structures) and monitoring devices (such as wind speed and direction units). Phase 2 would be to automate the creation of the drawings.
MESA provided DNV Energy with a proof-of-concept example that showed the task of automating the model creation and assembly was possible and that significant time savings would result. That led to a proposal to create an Inventor Add-in.
The program opens a user interface within Inventor that will enable the user to browse to and select for import, a JSON file containing the required configuration data, as well as store any settings that might be required to configure the automation. The imported data is interpreted and the required information extracted. Using the data from the configuration (JSON) file, a new assembly is created, and the various configurations of instrumentation and mounting hardware are assembled onto the base tower automatically. The initial program was delivered in less than four months from the approval of MESA’s proposal.
Tower Models are created in minutes using standardized means and methods. After the completion of the testing phase of the project, the customer handed off the work of running the program and creating the models to MESA, allowing those who would have been tasked with creating these models to focus on higher value work for their customers.
There was a second phase of the automation planned that would assist the creation of shop drawings. Rather than proceed with that phase of the project, DNV Energy has chosen to utilize MESA's Design Services staff to run the automation tools and to create the shop drawings from the Inventor models created by those automation tools.
Project information is shared between DNV Energy and MESA using Autodesk Fusion Team.
The result allows DNV Energy's staff to focus on higher value tasks that require their expertise while outsourcing the the work of documenting the assembly and installation of wind farm measurement systems.
Project summary
Duration & delivery
Autodesk solutions
Services provided
Updating Existing Inventor Custom Content and Design Data
Stahl Truck Bodies had amassed thousands of parts and assemblies from previous versions of Inventor. They were using a 10 year old custom program to populate iProperties in their design files. But, the implementation of a new ERP system shifted their needs. The new system required different properties from the old process. They needed a process that could migrate existing iProperty information, and populate new properties on existing and new parts and assemblies. They needed a flexible system.
Automate the Creation of Models and Drawings for New Catalog
Nord-Lock Group was in the process of launching a new product catalog and required fabrication drawings for the thousands of standard products that could be ordered through this new catalog. As the designs were new, all the fabrication models and drawings would have to be created. With the drafting department’s ongoing custom product workload, the standard catalog product designs would have to be created individually as they were ordered, typically outside of normal engineering capacity.
Automating the Creation of Shop Drawings
Walters & Wolf's Seattle area facility designs, fabricates, and installs curtain wall systems for commercial buildings. For a given project, the design team may produce hundreds of detailed drawings, one for each segment of extrusion used in a curtainwall. Each of these drawings is used by the machinists in the shop to create the finished extrusion. The process of creating these from Inventor models is tedious, repetitive, and time consuming.
Contact Partner Finder for help using the online search tool and more. The Autodesk Assistant can help with Autodesk products, answer questions, or send you to an agent.
Partner Finder Terms of Use
By accessing and using Partner Finder, you acknowledge and agree to the following Additional Terms as referenced in the Website Terms of Use: (i) Partner Finder may be modified, updated, interrupted, limited, suspended, or discontinued at any time without notice or liability; (ii) any query or request for information regarding a specific provider or provider services may be forwarded to that provider, however Autodesk in its discretion may retain a record to conduct business analytics to improve Partner Finder and other Autodesk products and services; (iii) Autodesk has no obligation to enforce any terms on your behalf against another user; and (iv) any feedback you provide in connection with a provider, including ratings or reviews, is a non-confidential “Submission” as defined in the Website Terms of Use. You are advised to conduct your own independent analysis and assessment of any information provided by or though Partner Finder, including whether a selected provider is appropriate for your particular circumstances. Without limiting the Website Terms of Use, Autodesk does not warrant, endorse, guarantee, or assume responsibility for any service advertised or offered by a provider through Partner Finder or any hyperlinked website or service. Autodesk is not liable for the content of this site, or for the consequences of any actions you may take based on information provided by, or through, this site. You release Autodesk and its affiliates and subsidiaries from all liability arising from your use of Partner Finder, including any hyperlinked website, service, or content.
Translation tool disclaimer
This page has been translated for your convenience using a machine translation service. Reasonable efforts have been made to provide an accurate translation; however, no automated translation is perfect nor is it intended to replace human translators. As a result, this translation may contain errors and inaccuracies. Autodesk provides no warranties, either express or implied, about the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of the machine translation and disclaims all liability for any losses or damages caused by, or resulting from your reliance on, this translation. The English version of this website is the official version.
