Autodesk and GE Additive Collaborate on Design-to-Print Workflow

Autodesk and GE Additive are joining forces on an integrated workflow for GE Additive machines to simplify metal additive manufacturing (AM). Based on the Autodesk Fusion 360 platform and GE Additive Build Preparation interfaces, the workflow will connect all phases of additive manufacturing from design to machine analytics.

Autodesk says it shares a common goal with GE Additive to help customers bring better products to market faster, improve workflow efficiency, and enable designers and engineers to take advantage of GE Additive’s machines and other advanced technologies.

The additive workflow will offer predictive insights using GE Additive software algorithms, interfaces and specialized data models to provide cost and timeline projections in early design stages. This workflow will allow for engineering and business decisions during design without physically producing parts, coupons or components. Leveraging a secure file transfer, final build data will also be sent back to Fusion 360 to provide a complete history of the part and help inform decision making.                                     

This integration will enable use of Autodesk generative design technology in Fusion 360, allowing designers or engineers to input design goals—along with parameters such as materials, manufacturing methods and cost constraints—to explore all the viable solution permutations. The designs can then be validated, prepared and sent for printing through the collaboration’s integrated services.  

The agreement with GE Additive highlights the convergence of design and manufacturing, where traditional siloed applications are replaced by an integrated workflow to provide a seamless user experience that can be automated by new technologies such as generative design.

“Working with Autodesk will provide a powerful design-to-print environment for customers, helping to lower the barriers of additive adoption while accelerating a customer’s time to the first part,” says Lars Bruns, GE Additive software leader.