Learn factory layout planning and design (Oct 2020)

Name: Learn factory layout planning and design (Oct 2020)
Uploaded: 2020-10-08T21:15:03.000Z
Duration: 2 h 2 min 47 s

Introduction to Mechanical Engineering Virtual Meetup

Overview of the Webinar

The session is hosted by Anton Fedozife, a content strategist at customer success, introducing the topic of factory design using Autodesk solutions.

Rusty Belcher, a manufacturing expert and certified instructor from Rand Worldwide, joins as a guest speaker for the discussion.

Format and Agenda

The webinar format includes muted lines for recording purposes; recordings will be available for later viewing.

The agenda covers factory design workflow, available utilities, effective learning methods through courseware, and partnerships in the industry.

Monthly Meetups and Topics

Structure of Meetups

Mechanical engineering virtual meetups occur every second Thursday of each month with varying topics relevant to the industry.

Other series focus on specific professions such as architects, civil engineers, plant designers, etc., with links provided for further exploration.

Guest Introduction: Rusty Belcher

Background Information

Rusty Belcher has over 20 years of experience in mechanical applications and has worked extensively with Autodesk's factory design utilities since their inception.

His background includes shipbuilding and working with various Autodesk tools like Inventor and Navisworks.

Insights on Factory Design Utilities

Passion for Tools

Rusty expresses enthusiasm about factory design tools that have significantly influenced his professional journey over the past decade.

He recalls being introduced to factory utilities by Shabai Bek Chi during his work on Navisworks integration.

User Experience

Initial skepticism about ease-of-use was replaced by surprise at how intuitive the factory utilities were upon first use.

Teaching these tools often leads students to expect complexity but they find them surprisingly straightforward after initial training sessions.

Evolution of Factory Design Tools

Advancements Over Time

As tools evolved, more intelligence was added to assets allowing for versatile designs that communicate effectively within projects.

Factory Design Workflows and Tools

Overview of Factory Design Tools

The discussion highlights the collaboration with professionals across various industries to enhance asset information integration, enabling automatic layout on factory floors.

Acknowledgment of the historical context of factory design tools, emphasizing the original intent behind their development and the role of early product managers.

Workflow Structure in Factory Design

Introduction to workflows in actual design utilities, with a preview of four courses created for customer success regarding application usage.

The speaker shares their experience writing a textbook for these classes, reflecting on changes in learning methods from traditional textbooks to online formats.

Course Content and Learning Approach

Emphasis on process analysis as a foundational step before CAD implementation, focusing on conceptual mapping tools for productivity analysis.

Transitioning from 2D AutoCAD layouts to 3D modeling using Inventor is discussed as essential for effective space planning and material flow management.

Integration Between 2D and 3D Workflows

Explanation of how users can seamlessly transition between 2D and 3D environments, allowing updates in one dimension to reflect automatically in another.

Description of factory utilities built upon AutoCAD that facilitate initial layout designs using basic shapes representing machines.

Advanced Visualization Techniques

Discussion about reaching saturation in 2D design necessitating a shift to 3D modeling for comprehensive factory development.

Introduction to Navisworks as a tool for virtual reality experiences within completed factory designs, enhancing user interaction with complex processes.

Importance of Digital Mock-ups

Highlighting the critical role Navisworks plays in presenting complex data clearly during project discussions with stakeholders.

Mention of ongoing projects involving incineration plants where digital mock-ups simplify intricate processes for better understanding by users.

Course Accessibility and Navigation

Announcement that courses have been published with downloadable files and exercises available for exploration by participants.

Factory Utilities Integration in AutoCAD

Overview of Factory Utilities

The integration of factory utilities into AutoCAD allows users to utilize classic commands while incorporating new functionalities, such as converting polylines into conveyor runs.

Users can explore assets via the asset browser, enabling drag-and-drop placement of machines within the building context, enhancing project collaboration among multiple users.

Collaborative Design Environment

A collaborative environment is emphasized where multiple individuals can work on different areas of a facility as long as they share the same zero-zero point.

The project focuses on designing a packing station that includes processes for folding and packaging cardboard boxes, showcasing real-world applications.

Project Details and Asset Management

The specific line discussed involves a palletizing or packing station where packed boxes are moved via robots and conveyors to shipping areas.

The dataset used for this project is kept simple for easy download while addressing essential concepts applicable to various factory sizes.

Utilizing the Asset Browser

Accessing assets from the asset browser allows users to place components accurately within their layout; it features both local and extensive cloud libraries.

Users can create custom assets, expanding the library continually with user-generated content, which enhances flexibility in design.

Dynamic System Capabilities

The factory utilities provide a dynamic system where users are not restricted to static libraries; they can build machines tailored to their specifications.

A new tab in AutoCAD introduces an extensive library of components that integrate seamlessly into 2D layouts, allowing for efficient design representation.

Converting Polylines and Asset Placement

One significant utility is converting polylines into rows of assets, simplifying the process of placing multiple components together like Lego bricks.

Assets function similarly to blocks in AutoCAD but have connections to an asset library that provides 3D counterparts when transitioning between 2D and 3D designs.

Transitioning from 2D to 3D Design

After designing a 2D layout in AutoCAD, users can open it in Inventor with one click; this action populates a linked 3D representation based on the original footprint.

3D vs 2D in Factory Design

Importance of 3D Visualization

The speaker emphasizes the limitations of traditional 2D drawings in understanding complex factory layouts, advocating for the use of 3D models to capture details that are often overlooked.

Utilizing tools like Navisworks allows designers to immerse themselves in a virtual environment, identifying potential design issues and enhancing overall layout before physical implementation.

Brownfield Projects: Challenges and Solutions

The discussion shifts to brownfield projects, where existing buildings must be adapted rather than starting from scratch. This presents unique challenges in workflow integration.

Verifying initial conditions is crucial; this may involve on-site data collection through various methods including photographs or laser scanning to accurately represent the existing structure.

Data Capture Techniques

The importance of capturing accurate data about the existing building is highlighted as a critical first step for effective factory layout planning.

Initial designs typically begin with a 2D AutoCAD footprint, which can then be enhanced by integrating laser scans or other data sources into the design process.

Integrating New Designs with Existing Structures

Once the initial footprint is established, designers can start placing machinery and analyzing spatial efficiency within the existing building framework.

Tools like AutoCAD Architecture facilitate quick creation of building footprints, allowing users without architectural training to effectively contribute to design processes.

Transitioning from 2D to 3D Models

The speaker notes that while AutoCAD Architecture can create detailed floor plans quickly, more complex structures may require specialized architectural software like Revit for comprehensive modeling.

Factory Design Utilities and Point Clouds

Overview of Factory Design Utilities

The speaker discusses their experience with factory design utilities, particularly focusing on point clouds. They highlight the process of scanning a building to create a digital representation.

Emphasizes that scanned data can be used as 3D assets within models, suggesting that point clouds are integral to modern design workflows.

Scanning Machinery vs. Buildings

The speaker proposes an alternative approach: instead of scanning entire buildings, one can scan specific machinery to create detailed 3D representations.

By scanning machinery directly, designers can bypass traditional modeling processes if the scans are accurate enough, saving time and resources.

Creating 2D Representations from Point Clouds

Discusses the limitations of laser scans in producing visible edges for drawings; users often need to trace over them manually.

Once a machine is scanned into a software like Inventor, users can align it with coordinate systems and create identifiable 2D sketches beneath the point cloud for better visualization.

Efficiency in Asset Creation

Tracing existing machines from point clouds significantly reduces development time compared to starting from scratch; this method allows for quick asset creation.

The integration of point clouds with 2D drawings enables comprehensive assembly designs that combine various asset types effectively.

Integration of Digital Assets

A small sample point cloud is provided as part of training materials, illustrating how different asset types (2D drawings and 3D scans) can coexist in a single model.

Users can snap assets onto walls represented by point clouds, showcasing the seamless integration between reality capture technology and factory design utilities.

Historical Context and Maturity of Tools

The speaker reflects on how factory utilities were among the first tools to adopt point cloud technology over ten years ago, indicating its maturity in manufacturing applications.

Combining Asset Types for Effective Design

Summarizes that users have the flexibility to combine various asset types—2D drawings, scans, and models—into cohesive assemblies tailored for factory floors based on required detail levels.

Best Practices in Parametric Design

Parametric Design in Inventor

Understanding Dynamic Assets

Dynamic assets can be created by incorporating parameters such as length, width, and height into the design process. This approach is essential for users familiar with parametric design in Inventor.

Parametric Thinking in Design

When designing components, it's crucial to think parametrically by including necessary parameters during the modeling phase. Existing models can also have their parameters backfilled if needed.

Testing and Publishing Models

After ensuring that changes to dimensions update the model correctly, users can publish their designs through Factory Utilities without needing coding skills. The process is straightforward and does not involve any "secret sauce."

Best Practices for Asset Development

Keeping assets simple is vital; complex production-level designs with excessive details are unnecessary. Focus on creating recognizable shapes that occupy the correct space rather than overcomplicating designs.

Utilizing iLogic for Automation

iLogic allows for automation within designs, enabling control over aspects like shape or position. This feature enhances the functionality of parametric design within Inventor.

Simplifying Complex Designs

Importance of Simplification Tools

Using tools like shrink wrap or derive component helps convert detailed assemblies into simplified shapes, which is often more effective for asset development.

Focus on External Shapes

For layout purposes, only external shapes matter; internal details such as gears or cables should be omitted to maintain clarity and focus on the overall design envelope.

Finalizing Asset Details

Process Analysis in Design: Key Insights

Simplifying Production Level Designs

Tools exist to simplify complex production designs into manageable assets. Designers can create a new file to mock up simpler versions without excessive detail.

Importance of Process Analysis

With limited time, the discussion shifts towards process analysis, focusing on its application within design software like Inventor and alternative tools.

The practical implications of process analysis are emphasized, highlighting its role in improving workflow efficiency rather than just theoretical understanding.

Utilizing Process Analysis Effectively

Designers often rush into CAD without fully utilizing process analysis. This tool serves as an animated flowchart generator that helps organize ideas and processes before detailed design work begins.

It allows tracking of essential factors such as time and output, enabling designers to model workflows effectively without needing CAD systems initially.

Modeling Scenarios for Workflow Optimization

Process analysis enables modeling various scenarios (e.g., adding machines or personnel), allowing designers to predict impacts on overall production times and efficiencies.

This early-stage analysis is crucial for validating designs and generating reports that support decision-making before moving into more complex design phases.

Limitations and Alternatives in Process Analysis

While effective, process analysis is described as a lightweight tool compared to high-end alternatives like FEA (Finite Element Analysis). It provides foundational insights but may lack depth for advanced needs.

Data from process analysis can be exported for further statistical evaluation in Excel, enhancing the ability to analyze throughput and timing metrics comprehensively.

Integration with Other Design Tools

The tool can produce initial workflow diagrams compatible with AutoCAD, facilitating seamless integration across different software platforms (AutoCAD → Inventor → Navisworks).

A mention of Pro Model highlights it as a separate purchase option that offers enhanced capabilities beyond what is available in Inventor's built-in process analysis tools.

Differences Between Process Analysis and Pro Model

How Task Analysis and Factory Design Utilities Work

Understanding Task Duration and Analysis

The duration of a task typically ranges from 8 to 11 minutes, with an average around 10 minutes.

Unlike traditional process analysis that provides a single estimate, the pro model runs hundreds of simulations to account for various scenarios before delivering a final result.

This advanced computation method offers more statistical analysis compared to standard process analysis tools.

Autodesk University Overview

Autodesk University is set for November in Las Vegas, but this year it will be more accessible as it has been democratized for broader participation.

The event will be free and feature online keynotes, on-demand classes, and live answer bars scheduled over several days.

Community engagement is emphasized with local events available in different languages tailored to specific regions.

Course Availability and Upcoming Events

Courses created by Rusty are available on the customer success hub; links will be shared during the session.

A mechanical engineering meetup is planned for the second day of Autodesk University, celebrating achievements from the past year.

Addressing Specific User Needs

A question arises about re-engineering existing assets; factory layout utilities focus on optimizing factory design rather than machine design.

Users can incorporate parametric design into existing models to enhance adaptability based on dimensions like length or width.

Differentiating Software Tools

Clarification is provided regarding differences between AutoCAD Factory Design Utilities and AutoCAD Plant 3D; each serves distinct purposes in manufacturing processes.

Plant 3D focuses on material processing through piping systems while Factory Design emphasizes machine layout within factories.

Factory Design and Automation Insights

Advanced Controls in Factory Models

Discussion on the integration of advanced controls for factory models using programming languages like C++.

Confirmation that while not all functionalities of factory design utilities are accessible via API, C++ can connect and control Inventor effectively.

Emphasis on the importance of referring to developer documentation for detailed capabilities.

Comparison Between Revit MEP and Inventor

Explanation that Revit is primarily an architectural tool, while Inventor serves different purposes in factory design.

Recommendation to maintain factory layouts within Inventor during production phases, utilizing Revit files as needed.

Mention of Navisworks as a tool to integrate data from both Revit and Inventor for comprehensive project visualization.

Recap and Future Engagement

Summary of the session's content, highlighting that all discussed materials are available through courses created by Rusty.

Encouragement to register for Autodesk University next month for further learning opportunities.

Announcement about upcoming mechanical engineering meetups focusing on new projects related to factory layout adjustments due to social distancing measures.

Closing Remarks