Tag Archives: AutoCad

ProModel AutoCAD Edition Launch!

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Aaron Nelson, ProModel AutoCAD Edition Product Manager

We are fired up to bring you the brand new ProModel AutoCAD Edition which allows you to build and simulate directly in AutoCAD Architecture or AutoCAD Mechanical 2019 or newer. This new AutoCAD plug in requires its own subscription license which you can purchase directly from the ProModel Store. For more details see the product webpage. You can also download a free evaluation version from the Autodesk App Store.

ProModel Ribbon Inside AutoCAD

Check out the short 2 minute overview video of how you can gain immediate value and below that a 6 minute demo video with an actual throughput improvement use case.

Below are some of the latest new features:

Logic is now accessible within flows. Both Processing and Routing.

  • Model Elements added to provide more granularity within the model environment.
    • Variables – Can be visibly added to layout and used anywhere in processing and routing as well as logic.
    • Attributes – Can be used anywhere in processing and routing as well as logic.
    • Macros – Can be used anywhere in processing and routing as well as in logic and scenario parameters.
  • Find and replace.
  • Added Send route capability – allow Entities to be sent to destinations based on logic conditions.
  • Added Join route capability – allow Entities to join together within the simulation.
  • Right click menu options for objects within the viewport. Allowing the user to navigate to where the model element is located within the Simulation Browser, or Simulation Properties.
  • German, Portuguese, and Spanish localization improvements
  • Improvements with validation
  • Light and Dark theme improvements
  • Conveyor Improvements
  • Arrival Improvements
  • Enhancements to how ProModel handles the AutoCAD view port
  • Improvements in undo/redo
  • Improvements to error catching

ProModel AutoCAD Edition – Evaluation Version available on the Autodesk App Store

  • A subscription to a lite version is available on the Autodesk App store for evaluation purposes.  At this time, it’s free for 6 months.  There is no obligation to continue the subscription or purchase the full version. It has limitations to features like Resources, Scenarios and Opening the model In ProModel.  Features are grayed out or have an indicator that the feature is only available in the full purchased version.

Let me know what you think of this new product in the comment box below!

Aaron Nelson – ProModel Product Manager

Autodesk Inventor Blog Post Featuring ProModel: Discrete Event Simulation for Real-World People

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Autodesk and ProModel have teamed up to offer the best in factory design, optimization, and layout. Robust ‘real-life process and behavior’ simulation. 

About a year ago, Trevor English wrote a great post about how to optimize your factory using ProModel Corporation’s Process Simulator Autodesk Edition and Autodesk Factory Design utilities: 

“Leveraging predictive analytics, you can quickly simulate your factory model and get process improvement insights, all with the click of a button. This easy-to-use solution provides designers and engineers with little or no experience in process modeling the most affordable tools.” 

If you are more visual, Paul Munford also created this superb overview video that showcases Process Simulator Autodesk Edition’s capabilities to Factory Design Utilities (FDU).

Process Simulator Autodesk Edition is great for building a process flow from scratch and then easily creating the starter AutoCAD layout. Our other integrated tool, ProModel Autodesk Edition, allows you to start with an existing AutoCAD layout and very rapidly create a simulation model from the layout directly in Auto CAD. Check out the overview video of ProModel Autodesk Edition

Read the full Inventor Blog Post

Process Simulator Autodesk Edition Overview Video
ProModel Optimization Suite Autodesk Edition Overview Video

Latest Process Simulator and Process Simulator Autodesk Edition Updates

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We are pleased to announce the latest updates to the Process Simulator and Process Simulator Autodesk Editions.

Enhancements and Improvements

  • Improvements to window reload behavior (i.e. Scenario Manager window)
  • Improvements with add-in load behavior
  • Improvements with array stability when using 64-bit Office
  • Improvements with Output Viewer load speed
  • Licensing stability enhancements
  • Improved model error report
  • Updated localization

Material Handling and Autodesk Edition

  • Path Network refinement
  • Auto Orientation of Entities on Conveyors – users can now toggle on or off auto orientation of entities within Process Simulator Material Handling and Process Simulator Autodesk Edition

Download a 30-day evaluation of Process Simulator from the Process Simulator Eval Page

Download a 30-day evaluation of Process Simulator Autodesk Edition from the Autodesk App Store

Purchase a Process Simulator Autodesk Edition subscription from the new ProModel Online Store

Let us know what you think by leaving a reply below. Thanks!

Latest ProModel and MedModel Optimization Suite Updates

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We are pleased to announce the latest updates to the ProModel and MedModel Optimization Suites and Autodesk Editions.

Auto orientation for entities graphics while on conveyors. Entities by default now rotate based on the orientation of the conveyor settings widthwise (right side of the entity graphic) or lengthwise (top of the entity graphic).

  • Improved functionality for background color changes while panning during simulation
  • Runtime errors improvements

Download a 30-day evaluation of ProModel Autodesk Edition from the Autodesk App Store.

Purchase a ProModel Autodesk Edition subscription from the new ProModel Online Store.

ProModel Autodesk Edition Release – Build Simulation Models Inside AutoCAD

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Aaron Nelson Product Dev. Manager Process Simulator

Aaron Nelson Product Manager

I am excited to announce the latest release of the ProModel Autodesk Edition. With this release you can build to-scale simulation models directly in AutoCAD.  Start with a layout developed in AutoCAD utilizing the AutoCAD Factory Assets.  Then quickly create process flows by defining the travel paths for parts with simple clicks, then add process times or any special routing rules, there is no programming required to do this.

Next open the scaled model in ProModel right from the AutoCAD ribbon, finish adding any other simulation properties if necessary, then simulate and optimize the process in ProModel.  Finally, review your results in the Output Vewer, refine the layout as needed directly in AutoCAD and open up the revised model in ProModel. Once you have finished the design, you can then view it in 3D with Autodesk Inventor.

This short video provides a glimpse of the capabilities.  Download your 30-day evaluation copy from the Autodesk App Store.  View the rest of the release features at the ProModel Autodesk Edition Whats-New web page. Thanks for your continued business and support.  We wish you and your family good health!  Let me know if you have any questions or thoughts on the this new release in the comments section below .  Aaron

ProModel Layout in AutoCAD

ProModel model, built in AutoCAD

 

 

Process Simulator and ProModel Now Integrate with AutoCAD and Inventor by Autodesk

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We are very excited to announce Process Simulator Autodesk® Edition and ProModel Autodesk® Edition.  Each product integrates with Autodesk® AutoCAD® and Autodesk® Inventor® to provide you a more valuable manufacturing plant design and process improvement capability.

For more information about Process Simulator Autodesk Edition, including videos, a downloadable pdf, and a 30-day evaluation copy go to the Process Simulator Autodesk Edition webpage.

For more information about ProModel Autodesk Edition, including videos, a downloadable pdf, and a 30-day evaluation copy go to the ProModel Autodesk Edition webpage.

If you are at the Autodesk University event this week (11/19-11/21) in Las Vegas stop by booth MFG210 to get a live demo and talk to our team.

ProModel AutoCAD App for Warehouses and Distribution Centers

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Steve-Courtney-100-x100

Steve Courtney, ProModel Sr. Consultant

I have several years of experience in supply chain and logistics modeling helping clients who have large warehouses and distribution centers.  These models are often very large (thousands or tens of thousands of locations), which can be very time consuming to model.  I’ve found the old adage to be very true: “Necessity is the Mother of Invention”, so I developed a ProModel App that is used from within AutoCAD which enables us to quickly build the graphical portions of the model using OLE automation.  This capability is also very useful when experimenting with several different layouts.

The types of Warehouse / DC modeling questions that can be answered include:

  • Slotting questions – where should my SKUs go?
  • Racking questions – which type of racking is best (flow rack, bin shelving, single pallet deep, double pallet deep, drive-in racking, etc.)?
  • How high should our racking go 5 levels, 7 levels, etc?
  • Which material handling devices are best – narrow aisle, forklifts, single/double/triple pallet jack, reach trucks, side loaders, clamp trucks, electric/propane/natural gas, etc.?
  • Staffing questions – how many of each type and when?

I recently gave a webinar on this topic which you can view here

The requirements for using the app include:

  • Current AutoCAD drawing
  • AutoCAD not AutoCAD Light
  • Know where each location is physically on the drawing
  • Location levels 2-X should be mapped to the level 1 location
  • Build indexed location file in the order you plan to add to the drawing
  • Know which material handling device accesses each location

If you would like to discuss this further, or have other ideas that can help us all improve warehouse and distribution center modeling, please comment below.  Thanks and Happy Modeling!

Thanks, Steve Courtney