Zurich, Switzerland, January 11, 2011: AutoForm Engineering, the leading supplier of software solutions for the sheet metal forming industry, has announced the worldwide market introduction of EasyBlank Inventor. This add-on module for Autodesk Inventor software is specially designed for sheet metal part designers, tool and die designers, and tool cost calculators.

The latest AutoForm software product, EasyBlank Inventor, is embedded within the Autodesk Inventor mechanical design and engineering software environment. Autodesk Inventor software takes engineers beyond 3D to Digital Prototyping by enabling them to design, visualize, and simulate products before they are ever built.

Using the well known AutoForm simulation technology, it rapidly calculates the developed blank outline from CAD part geometry. EasyBlank Inventor is also specialized for determining the optimal nesting layout while taking into account several important parameters such as coil width, pitch or required bridge span. Several types of nesting layouts are available to users. The material data base, which includes additional important parameters for the most commonly used materials in stamping, is already incorporated in EasyBlank Inventor. In addition to these innovative features, EasyBlank Inventor also enables users to assess product feasibility for the first time. Since cost reduction is ultimately required at every stage of product development, early feasibility assessment eliminates costly, late changes to part design and thereby enables the early optimization of material cost.

The analysis results are summarized in an HTML-based report which contains detailed information on blank outline, optimal nesting layout, material consumption and cost, thinning distribution of the part, feasibility plot and the associated FLD diagram. EasyBlank Inventor enables the easy and rapid creation of such reports, which facilitate internal communication and are useful for quotation purposes. The benefits for users are early cost and manufacturability analyses, optimal material usage and minimization of scrap and costs.

Chris Douglass, Senior Business Unit Manager, Autodesk Manufacturing Industry Group, stated: “EasyBlank Inventor is available to customers through our reseller network. The benefits of AutoForm simulation technology incorporated within EasyBlank Inventor are certainly attractive to our customers and we are glad that we can expand our technology in tool and die shops as well as in the stamping fields.”

“Due to its ease-of-use, EasyBlank Inventor fits perfectly into the Autodesk portfolio. The analysis of stamped parts is now embedded within the Autodesk Inventor environment, making it easily available to the broader audience”, added Dr. Markus Thomma, Corporate Marketing Director at AutoForm.

AutoForm Engineering GmbH:
AutoForm offers software solutions for the die-making and sheet metal forming industries along the entire process chain. With over 200 employees, AutoForm is recognized as the leading provider of software for product manufacturability, tool and material cost calculation, die face design and virtual process optimization. All of the Top 20 automotive OEMs and most of their suppliers have selected AutoForm as their software of choice. Besides its headquarters in Switzerland, AutoForm has offices in Germany, The Netherlands, France, Spain, Italy, USA, Mexico, India, China, Japan and Korea. AutoForm is also present through its agents in more than 15 other countries. For detailed information please visit: www.autoform.com

Contact:
Dr. Markus Thomma
Corporate Marketing Director
AutoForm Engineering GmbH
Switzerland
Phone:  +41 43 444 61 61
Email:   markus.thomma@autoform.ch
www.autoform.ch

Autodesk, Autodesk Inventor and Inventor are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., in the USA and/or other countries. All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders.