How do I make thee? Let me count the ways...

THE FUTURE OF MAKING is Autodesk's follow-up book to IMAGINE DESIGN CREATE. THE FUTURE OF MAKING tells remarkable stories of how emerging technologies are changing how we make things, who makes things, and the very nature of the what we make. The book expands on Autodesk’s vision of how the building, manufacturing, and digital story-telling industries are converging. Filled with beautiful images, infographics, and provocative ideas, it shows how leading designers, architects, manufacturers, and makers are making more and better things with less.

One of the chapters of THE FUTURE OF MAKING addresses the evolution of fabrication.

 

Our view of the future of making includes generative design, where the computer acts as a collaborator in the design process, that is aware of the various ways that a thing can be made.

• FORMING: Mechanical forming includes rolling, extruding, eroding, and stretching.
• CUTTING: CNC [computer numerical control] machines perform a computerized version of cutting.
• CASTING: Computerized casting utilizes precision injecting and grinding to remove imperfections.
• MOLDING: Machine-molded parts have to be carefully designed to allow for flow and cooling patterns.
• JOINING: Robotics easily automate the process of fastening objects.
• ADDING: Additive manufacturing, usually known as 3D printing, is essentially a robot precisely depositing a layer of material. ^{[pages 150-151]}

 

Autodesk's innovation with generative design has progressed in the 7 years we’ve been working on it. We’ve seen how it’s changing not just what our customers design and make, but how they design and make; however, we know all of our customers are not all going to retool around additive manufacturing. So we’re working on how we can help them explore how any design can be made across the full manufacturing spectrum — from milling to molding, from casting to composites — all from the same design space.

We want our customers to be able to manage a portfolio of viable options rather than learn a portfolio of features. Our vision is to allow customers to explore the full solution space and have a clear line of sight right from part to production.

How something is made affects how it is designed, and our solutions recognize that.

Designing for making is alive in the lab.