The document discusses a presentation about the Design Automation API given by representatives from Autodesk, Risersoft, and BIMobject. It provides an overview of the API and demonstrations of how it can be used to process DWG files without needing to install or run AutoCAD locally. Risersoft demonstrates their UnitCAD tool which uses rules to automate CAD model creation. BIMobject discusses how they provide parametric BIM content and how the API could be used to generate DWG files from their BIMscripts.

1. Albert Szilvasy, Autodesk
Abhishek Singhal, Risersoft
Ben O'Donnell, BIMobject
Drawings! Drawings! Everywhere!

2. Agenda
• Overview of Design Automation API
• Demo
• Clients
• Risersoft
• Bimobjects

3. AutoCAD.IO
Design Automation API
Forge DAA
Nicely captures the simplicity of this API
As in: It is simple!

4. The problem
• There are billions of DWG files “out there”
• Lot of people want DWG files
• You need AutoCAD to access/create DWGs
• Requires HW, license, personnel to maintain

5. Solution: Design Automation API
• A simple DWG processing service
• Simple:
• Input url(s) + output urls(s) + autocad commands
• Service:
• no license, no hw, no maintance
• Available since November 2014
• Daily volume of over 50,000 dwgs

6. The API
HTTP Endpoint
/Activities
/WorkItems
/AppPackages
/Engines
Programmingconcept
Function definition
Function call
Shared library
Instruction set
AutoCAD concept
Script file
Script execution
Plugin (crx)
AutoCAD version

7. DAA: output = f(input)
(r1, r2, r3) f(p1, p2, p3…pN) {
inst1 p3,p2
inst2 p1, r1
…
}
Activity:
• sequence of commands to execute + formal parameters/return
value decl
• Engine: version of AutoCAD to use
• AppPackage: code for custom commands
Activity
Named file
Named file
AutoCAD commands
Name
Function
Input parameter
Return value(out parameter)
Instructions
Name

8. Notes on f()
• Activities like functions are stored and
reusable. Create once use many times.
• AppPackages like shared libraries are stored
and reusable. Upload once use many times.
• Engines are like CPU architectures. Clients
can enumerate them.

9. DAA: output = f(input)
var v = f(https://xyz, https://qfq, https://lsf )
• WorkItem:
• invoke f() with concrete input/output arguments
(URLs + headers). A function call.
• Input/outputs are NOT stored, they are
downloaded/processed and THROWN AWAY

10. Demo: Your data at the center
If it is accessible over HTTP then it works for us:
• AWS
• Azure
• Forge Data Management API
• …

11. Abhishek Singhal
CEO, Risersoft
UnitCAD
Automate your drawings

12. About Risersoft
Engineering and Manufacturing Solutions
© 2016 Autodesk
Parametric
Enterprise
Jet-Set-Go
With Cloud
Engineering
Driven
Manufacturing
Enquiry to
Cash

13. About Risersoft
Maximprise Enquiry to Cash solution
The complete flow actually
consists of several sub flows:
Enquiry to Quotation
Enquiry  Engineering  Quotation
Order to Planning
Customer Order  Engineering 
Planning
Procure to Pay
Planning  Procurement  Receipt
 Payment
Order to Cash
Planning  Production  Dispatch 
CashEngineering is at the center of
universe (Of Operations)!
Planning

14. UnitCAD Architecture
Easy Automation
AutoCAD and Inventor
GUI based
rule entry
Excel
Formula
Language
Database
Storage
1. Rules Driven
Creation of CAD
Models and drawing
2. Replaces
Programming
paradigm with
a) Familiar Excel like
Formula Language
b) Database
c) Front end GUI

15. AutoCAD IO – Enabling new UnitCAD workflows
•Browser based
•Based on Web API
•List Rules
•Generate Output
•Call UnitCAD API in
your own apps
•Based on Web API
•Generate Output
•Standalone App
•Based on Web API
•Create Rules
•Generate Output
•AutoCAD Environment
•Based on AutoCAD API
•Create Rules
•Generate Output
Add-
In
Win
App
Web
App
Web
API

16. AutoCAD IO Development and Transition Notes
1. UnitCAD architecture  model-view-controller. The
models are reused across variants.
2. UnitCAD engine  split UI and execution. The engine
remains same for all variants.
3. AutoCAD IO offline  the engine needs to be provided
all data as “in-memory”.
4. Test  Always test in local accoreconsole before testing
in the cloud.
5. Test  Crash information is not available when testing
in cloud.

17. UnitCAD Basics
• Hierarchy of rules produces hierarchy of AutoCAD Blocks
• Rule Types – Parameter, Child, Action, Snapshot
• Create geometry such as line, circle, ellipse etc through child
rules
• Use existing AutoCAD Blocks
• Create parametric 3D Solids
• Formula Language:
• Familiar Excel functions like Engineering, information, logical
• Special functions for CAD model query
• All variants use same data and backend service

18. 1. Add-In
2. Win App
3. Web App
Demo

19. Welcome to Office Mix
WATCH
CREATE
SHARE
Delete this slide (Delete key) and open a new slide (Ctrl + M) when you are ready to createyour first Mix
1
2
3

22. UnitCAD API
1. Synopsis
• Use UnitCAD in your own apps
• Create rules in one of the other variants
• Call API and get the CAD model back
• Request Data: Startup component and parameter
values
• Response: URL where result is stored
• Pattern: Fire – Acknowledge – Poll
• Call pattern similar to AutoCAD IO
2. Demo

24. Risersoft Parametric Enterprise
 Typically, Engineering organization
has their own domain specific tools,
which are spreadsheet based or
custom designed.
 Typically, all of that output can
ultimately be given as a collection
of parameters, ranging from
dozens to thousands.
 Rules are defined in the familiar
easy-to-use Excel like formula
language.
 Use rules and parameters to create
enterprise data in addition to CAD
automation.
© 2016 Autodesk

25. Status
• App suite under testing
• Release within 4-5 weeks
• Per user per month pricing
• Registration portal with e-commerce:
• Buy App suites with auto provisioning on cloud
• Manage tiers
• Manage multiple users within single account
• Manage API Apps

28. Cloud solutions branded BIM content
High prof iled brands
Parametric and conf igurable
+ 4 million articles (sku)
Properties and inf ormation , classifications like COBie
LOD 100-400 and dy namic LOI
Support the entire process
Multiple f ormats and 22 languages supported

30. Mass production of BIM content
Industrialise the creation
processes
Create an unbroken , information
chain

31. BIMobject.com
BIMscript®
An open developer script
that enables smart objects in
a cloud environment and
single source of truth

32. The process from Mech CAD to BIM objects
BOPC™ Properties
Downloadable parametric
objects for:
ArchiCAD
Revit
Sketchup
Viewable and configurable in:
Web GL, (on fly creation)
Mechanical CAD formats
imported into Rhino:
IGES
Solidworks
STEP
STL
CATIA
UG NX
Parasolid
Alias
Inventor
PRO E Delete geometry not needed
Optimize the geometry
Add geometry for LOD 100
Drag drop into script editor
Build intelligence
test, analyze and upload BIMscript™
to bimobject.com cloud
IFC
3DS
DWG
BIMscript™

34. User
BIMscript to DWG
BIMobject.com
Design
Automation API
Start
Lookup BIMscript for Product page
Setup Parameters ofthe Product
RequestDWG File of the Product
Convert BIMscript to AutoCAD script
using Parameters selected
Amazon S3
Upload AutoCAD scriptinto S3 with
a unique name
Save AutoCAD scriptfor later use
Return result
Create Work Item for Design
Automation API
referring the AutoCAD scriptin S3
Upload Work Item & Start Polling for
the Result
Start Work Item

35. User
BIMscript to DWG
BIMobject.com
Design
Automation API
Finish polling & RequestResult
Extract DWG file & Return Result
Amazon S3
Save DWG file
Lookup AutoCAD script
Return Result
RequestAutoCAD script
Execute AutoCAD script
resulting DWGfile
Return result
Lookup Work Item Result
End

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