Between the Lines

Tinkercad Goes Brick Mode

Tinkercad just added a cool new mode in yesterdays 3.2 update. For those unaware, Tinkercad is the awesome free web based 3D modeling tool for everyone 4-400 years old. There is now the is the new brick workspace. If you create or open a model and then select the new brick workspace, it will convert the Tinkercad model to a brick style model reminiscent of those Danish plastic bricks that hurt when you step on them. Before brick workspace. After... Read more →

Fusion 360 User Day in Berlin Germany

Am 09. September 2017 findet I'm Betahaus in Berlin der erste Fusion 360 User Day in Deutschland statt. Es erwarten Sie spannende Vorträge über erfolgreiche Fusion 360 Projekte, Tipps & Tricks von Experten sowie ein Ausblick auf kommende Entwicklungen. Parallel können Sie sich den ganzen Tag über als Fusion 360 User zertifizieren lassen. Programm 09:00 Uhr: Anmeldung, Kaffee & Snacks 10:00 Uhr: Begrüßung 10:10 Uhr: The Future of Making Things 10:30 Uhr: Floatility - Urban Mobility Innovation - Alexander Cuhls... Read more →

Fusion 360 Sheet Metal Challenge – One Day Remaining to Enter

You have on more day to enter the Fusion 360 Sheet Metal Contest and win a trip to Autodesk’s Pier 9 in San Francisco and a pass to Autodesk University. It only take a couple hours to create something fun and amazing in Fusion 360s new Sheet Metal feature and then enter it to win. We even provided you with the truck model in Fusion 360 to base your design from. The Autodesk Fusion 360 Sheet Metal Challenge Read more →

Helping Friends Affected by Hurricane Harvey

You may have seen the news of the large Hurricane Harvey that hit the Gulf Coast of Texas this weekend bringing winds around 150mph and 20+ inches of rain causing flooding. If you want to help, a trustworthy non-profit and in the area now assisting residents is the Red Cross. Be on guard for the flood of scams that unfortunately try to capitalize on the good intentions of people helping disasters that never gets to those affected. https://www.redcross.org/donate/hurricane-harvey It’s heartbreaking... Read more →

Fusion 360 Meetup Portland

Last evening we held a Fusion 360 Meetup in downtown Portland at the nice modern CENTRL space. Fusion team members Michael Aubry, Mike Prom, and Keqing Song were in attendance. Attendees came to hear Mike Prom show the newly added Sheet Metal Fusion 360 feature, learn about the Fusion 360 Sheet Metal Challenge, as well as some good questions and answers with the team on using Fusion 360. Some brought their laptops and entered a sheet metal contest for some... Read more →

Between the Lines Blog Turns 14 Years Old

Hard to believe, but this blog has been active for 14 years now. This blog was created August 21, 2003. What a long strange journey and amazing feeling of gratitude for all the readers over the years. 14 years = 168 months and over 14.5 million hits and 2.1 million unique visitors. Sincere Thank You, Shaan Read more →

Totality Worth It

Yesterday was the total eclipse of the sun in the United States, and a big deal. I went about 90 minutes south of Portland Oregon to Mary’s Peak at about 4000 feet above sea level with a group of people to see the eclipse as it started on the coast of North America. We could see from the ocean over to Mount Hood. The morning started early around 2:30am but by 7am I was seated on a beautiful mountain top... Read more →

Fusion 360 Meetup in Portland Oregon

If you are located in or nearby beautiful Portland Oregon, please join us for the meetup August 23rd, 2017. Mike Prom, a Fusion 360 Product Mgr. and a sheet metal rock star will be presenting and taking questions. There will be beer and pizza. RSVP: Fusion 360 Meetup: Summer Sheetmetal Challenge! “Friends, we’ve got a great reason to get together: SHEETMETAL. Yes, one of the most anticipated enhancements of the summer is finally here and it’s time to dig into... Read more →

Autodesk Forge - What is it?

Have you heard people talking about Autodesk Forge? Perhaps you wondered what it really was and why it will be a big deal. Jim Quanci Senior Director, Autodesk Developer Network recorded a recent YouTube video that might help you better understand What is Forge and show you some live examples for customers and developers. Read more →

Fidget Spinner in Fusion 360

Fidget Spinners are all the rage, whether you love or don't care for them, they are here. A couple weeks ago at the Autodesk Lake Oswego Oregon office we held our annual Kids at Autodesk Day, where employees brought their children to work where we have several activities for them planned. One of those activities was designed and led by Garin Gardiner. Garin developed and led a class to walk the kids through the design of a fidget spinner and... Read more →

Meet Cooper the Puppy

I want to introduce you to my new four legged buddy, Cooper. I have had dogs all my life except the past 5 years but have decided to adopt a new best friend into my life. Cooper is a Golden Retriever and is only 7 weeks old and super cute. WARNING: Cuteness overload. I have always raised labrador retrievers, until this little guy. I love my neighbors 7 month old Golden Retriever puppy and decided it was time for me... Read more →

Fusion 360 Update 8.8.17 Honk if You Love Sheet Metal

A great update went live today for Autodesk Fusion 360. Holy Fusion 360 Sheet Metal Batman! You should update your Fusion 360, kick the tires and read about the update and awesome contest and prizes including Autodesk University 2017 passes. August 8, 2017 Update – What’s New Fusion 360 Sheet Metal Challenge ”To celebrate the release of sheet metal in Fusion 360, we’re putting on a brand new sheet metal-themed challenge. One of our team members needs a new bumper... Read more →

Autodesk University 2017 Registration Open Aug 9th

Autodesk University 2017 registration opens this Wednesday August 9, 2017, are you ready and have your class wish list? Early bird discounts are available now with registration opening the 9th. There are only 99 days until AU 2017! I hope you will join me for the fun AU5k early Tuesday morning before classes. You will get a great tee-shirt and meet some awesome people running, jogging, or causally walking at sunrise to get some fresh air to start your AU... Read more →

15 'Gracious Professionals'

In the Autodesk Lake Oswego Oregon office (Portland area), we are hosting some regional high school FIRST robotics team members as high school interns in our office this summer. These interns are working hard on the Synthesis software that FIRST Robotics teams around the world use to test and experiment their competition robot software as well as some robot practice driving on the competition field. It’s quite amazing what the high school interns have developed as Synthesis over the years,... Read more →

Camping Hacks

Its summer in the northern hemisphere and here in Oregon that means camping and outdoors fun. We recently held a small contest among employees with a US National Park pass as the prize. employees had a week to submit their favorite camping hacks. the contest was by the volunteer team I am on named the “Ministry of Mischief.” The winning entry was by Michelle Stone who submitted this clever hack for an instant camping lantern using only a headlamp and... Read more →

You Will Love Laser Scanning with this Hardware

Just over a week ago I got to use the new Leica Geosystem’s BLK360 laser scanner on a project. After having used other laser scanners in the past, and some being not only very expensive but also heavy and cumbersome on project sites, this BLK360 was an absolute delight to use. It was about the weight of a large mug of coffee plus a light tripod and then the iPad to run Autodesk ReCap Pro for mobile app. I had... Read more →

107 Degrees in Portland Oregon

I am working from home today as Oregon prepares to melt from the record breaking heat today of a predicted 105-109 degrees Fahrenheit 40-43 degrees Celsius. That might not seem like much to someone in the sunbaked desert of Arizona or Texas, but it is extremely high for the green forested Oregon where we have higher humidly, and are generally less prepared for this and little air conditioning. Our normal highs are 70’s and 80s not above 100. I can... Read more →

Oh, The Places She Will Go!

My daughter Katie turned 16 years old today. It is one of those milestones in ones life that bring about change, possibilities, choices, and opportunities. She is smart, funny, beautiful, compassionate, love of thrill and adventure like her dad, and she will do whatever she wants in the world as she gets closer to her opportunity to set out creating a better world. Since she was around 7, she has wanted to be a veterinarian, and what a great veterinarian... Read more →

AU5K 2017 Shirts

A almost two weeks ago, I requested feedback and ideas (AU5K Shirts) for a AU5K run shirt design. Most of the feedback I received liked the idea of “I Run Autodesk University” as a tagline. So we are going with that. Here is the prototype shirt design I created. Please post your ideas and thoughts in the comments. For those wanting to know what the AU5K is: Autodesk University 2016 AU5K Runs For the past few years we have had... Read more →