Why We're Opening a Generative Design Field Lab in Chicago

Our new workshop space will showcase the technology from start to finish.

Every new technology comes with a learning curve, but we don’t want that to keep our customers from exploring what’s possible with our tools. We believe every manufacturer should be able to consider new and better ways to make things, and that’s why we’re opening a new public workshop space—Autodesk’s Generative Design Field Lab—in Chicago to show our customers what generative design is, how they can use it, and how it’s going to change the future of manufacturing.

What is generative design?

Generative design is an AI-based technology that uses design constraints (like weight, strength, and manufacturing method) entered by engineers to generate a set of solutions that fit within those constraints. Instead of coming up with a design and performing simulation studies to ensure it works, generative design takes the guesswork out of the process, letting designers and engineers focus more on creativity because they already know the solutions are sound.

Ready to visit the Generative Design Field Lab? Get in touch with us today!

Last year, we made generative design available to users of Fusion 360, our product development platform that combines design, engineering, and manufacturing in one place. It's an incredible tool, but it's also a different approach that offers a new way to tackle design problems. That gave us another reason to create a place where people could come to experience the technology firsthand.

Joining forces

We partnered with MxD* (Manufacturing x Digital) in Chicago to open the Field Lab at their 100,000 square-foot innovation center. It's the perfect setting for visitors who want to get hands-on with new manufacturing technologies. “MxD was founded back in 2014 as part of a network of institutes focused on manufacturing innovation. We're committed to deploying solutions like generative design that help advance American manufacturing by making it more productive, efficient, and workforce-friendly,” says Caralynn Nowinski Collens, MxD board member. “What Autodesk is doing on the manufacturing floor brings things to life. That’s inspiring for our visitors and an important part of what we do.”

Chuck Kennedy of Farsoon Technologies working on a generatively designed part that was plastic laser sintered on Farsoon’s eForm system.

Investing where it matters

Chicago is located at the heart of the American heartland, a manufacturing "super-region" that performs better than the rest of the country on key economic indicators, according to the Brookings Institution’s “State of the Heartland” report. However, further investment in advanced manufacturing—like preparing workers for the digital factory of tomorrow—is needed to drive growth in this sector. Having a venue like MxD allows us to understand how to teach and apply these digital skills to create real impact for both the workforce and the industry.

“MxD is an ideal place to open the Field Lab,” said Sean Manzanares, senior manager of business strategy and market development at Autodesk. “It’s an industry hub here in the Midwest where we can show customers and partners what we’re up to, and we can also welcome other important stakeholders—like students and manufacturing workers—who have a vested interest in understanding the technology. Generative design is an opportunity for everyone, and we’re doing our best to ensure anyone can access and use the tools.”

Machine-minded

The Field Lab is equipped with cutting-edge machinery so that customers can see how to design, prototype, and manufacture products in real time. Alongside a DMS hybrid additive/subtractive 3-axis router, visitors will encounter a Datron Neo CNC mill and a Farsoon eForm laser sintering system. Today’s manufacturers have many options when it comes to making parts—from traditional CNC machines to the latest 3D printers. Generative design allows users to select their preferred manufacturing processes right from the beginning, ensuring that whichever solution they choose will be manufacturable with the equipment they have on hand.

Autodesk’s Adam N. Smith and SRAM’s Dhiraj Madura discuss how generative design could be used for developing bicycle components.

Racing to innovate

One of the first customers to visit the space was SRAM, a high-end bike components manufacturer based in Chicago. Known for its quality and performance engineering, the company is always looking for innovation. “If I think about the tools I’ve used in my 18 years as a designer director at SRAM, not much has changed,” said Dhiraj Madura, Global Industrial Design Director at SRAM. “My team still uses the same CAD packages to create 3D models, then we print them out and test them. That whole cycle hasn’t changed at all, and it hasn’t helped us improve our manufacturing.”

Madura is excited about the ability for his team to explore more design options from the beginning and iterate more quickly. “We do a lot of iteration when designing parts, but sometimes it’s not fast enough given our time constraints. The final product may not always meet our specs, but we get as close as we can. As our products become more complex, we need to look at new methods and tools, and that’s why we’re here at the Generative Design Field Lab. We’re ready to test new things like generative design and additive manufacturing because that’s how we’ll continue to improve in our industry.”

Next steps

“To move manufacturing forward, we need to think about the entire product life cycle, starting with the earliest stages of design. We can now make things that weren’t possible before because partners like Autodesk are bringing innovative solutions to the table,” said Chandra Brown, executive director at MxD. “What Autodesk is doing—walking people through the entire process of design to make—is such an important part of delivering on our mission and vision.”

Contact us if you’re interested in visiting the Field Lab at MxD or learning more about generative design. We hope to hear from you soon!

*MxD was formerly known as the Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute (DMDII) until February 2019.

Co-kneader

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