Autodesk Unveils Netfabb 2017

When Autodesk acquired the German 3D printing software company netfabb last year, the company indicated that it would integrate netfabb’s industrial design and manufacturing tools into its own additive manufacturing solutions, including the Spark 3D printing platform.

That development has continued, and Autodesk has now released Netfabb 2017 for 3D production printing. The solution integrates design enhancement, manufacturing preparation, and build simulation tools in one environment. Netfabb remains an important 3D print prep tool, and is an important part of Autodesk’s plans to bundle all of its manufacturing software.

“Additive manufacturing is having a profound impact on how manufacturers of all sizes look at product design, production, distribution and economies of scale,” said Samir Hanna, vice president and general manager of digital manufacturing at Autodesk. “With Netfabb 2017, Autodesk has created a single set of industrial tools that help move from design to finished part quickly and easily.”

The solution includes a CAD import module for rapidly converting CAD files into editable STL files, as well as additional model editing tools. The simulation utility handles simulation of full layer deposition and predicts structural stresses and deformations in metal parts. The tool also allows users to quickly create build supports.

Generative design enhancement features help enable fast light weighting and refinement of parts, while an advanced toolpath engine can specify hatching patterns and control print speed, focus, and other parameters.

Netfabb is a subscription-based solution that Autodesk offers in a variety of configurations. The standard package allows users to optimize and prepare models for additive manufacturing or 3D printing; the Premium subscription allows users to simulate and verify builds, create build supports, and automatically pack parts; the Ultimate plan also provides optimization and verification.

Source: Autodesk