Product category:
File conversion software, data capture and plotting
News Release from: Autodesk | Subject: DWF Writer
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 18 October 2005
Collaboration comes at no cost
New free software improves product design collaboration for the manufacturing industry.
Engineers using a variety of 3D design applications can share compact DWF versions of product models with the extended manufacturing team DWF is an open, standards-based file format designed for sharing complex mechanical drawings and 3D models via e-mail or the Internet
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 9 Feb 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
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Autodesk DWF Writer is a free, downloadable application that gives designers the capability to create Design Web Format (DWF) files from any CAD or Microsoft Windows application.
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Autodesk Inventor, the world's best selling mechanical design software, has long supported direct output of DWF files.
With the release of the latest version of DWF Writer, Autodesk now makes it easy to publish 3D design data from other 3D design software including Solidworks and Pro/Engineer.
The free, downloadable software permits engineers using other 3D design applications to manage and share accurate digital designs, for greater productivity across the supply chain - without loss of data to paper-based communication.
Further reading
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A growing number of component suppliers are now using Inventor 2009 to design and publish their products on Autodesk Inventor Supplier Content Library.
Design software bridges language gaps
Duvale will use Autodesk Inventor to instruct those on the manufacturing side of the project how to put together the products.
Manufacturers are continually seeking ways to improve productivity and bring products to market faster, while reducing design errors and rework.
Globalisation and offshoring create new pressures on designers to better integrate information across extended teams, including communication with production team members who do not use 3D design tools.
According to Gisela Wilson of analyst firm IDC: "Successful product development in the manufacturing industry is dependent on the ability to collaborate on design content with all stakeholders involved in the lifecycle management process including designers, manufacturing, purchasing, suppliers and customers".
"Ubiquitous technology that enables easy collaboration, such as DWF, dramatically changes the process and can improve time to market".
New Autodesk DWF Writer functionality lets designers using leading 3D mechanical design software save their models and design data as DWF files and share them securely with product teams.
By creating 3D DWF files, engineers are able to provide accurate, data-rich digital designs to nontechnical team members at any point in the manufacturing process.
As a result, product developers can save designs in an industry-standard format and send these files electronically for bids or for production at manufacturing sites around the world.
Offshore team members can view and understand designs easily, using the free Autodesk DWF Viewer software, or using Autodesk DWF Composer or Autodesk data management solutions.
"The ability to capture a 3D window into a form that can be easily saved and shared is simple and elegant".
"This is one of the more clever uses of technology I have seen in years", said Charlie Bliss, Team 44, Hiller Aviation Education Foundation.
The latest version of Autodesk DWF Writer supports publication of 2D files from a Microsoft Windows system printer driver, and retains intelligent design information in 3D models to help ensure communication of design intention. Request a free brochure from Autodesk ...
Autodesk DWF Writer software is available as a free download from the Autodesk website.
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