You’re reading Engineering Paper, and here’s the latest design and simulation software news.
A few months ago I reported that an AI copilot was in the works for Siemens NX X Manufacturing that would automate CAM programming. That feature is now live as AI Make Machining Suggestion, or MMS.
Living up to its name, AI Make Machining Suggestion makes machining suggestions to NX X Manufacturing users. It works on a face-by-face basis—users select a face, right click on it, click Make Machining Suggestion, and the AI will generate “augmented suggestions” for toolpaths, tools, and parameters to machine the feature. It’s optimized for 2.5 and 3-axis machining.
If a suggestion looks suitable, users can click it to automatically set up the operation. If none of the suggestions suffice, users can choose to upload previous part files so that MMS can learn from historical CAM data. It will then generate “personalized suggestions” based on that history. Users can also customize the AI suggestions and save them as “rule based suggestions” that are available alongside the “AI based suggestions.”
This blog post from Siemens’ Michael Taesch provides an overview of MMS, including this video demonstration:
Siemens plans to increase the capability and autonomy of MMS in stages, according to Robert Meshel, director of Siemens’ manufacturing network.
“Currently, AI-MMS focuses on feature-based suggestions, offering automated machining strategies for prismatic features such as faces, holes, and pockets,” Meshel told me over email. “The upcoming level aims to broaden automation to include more complex geometry recognition, allowing users to select any geometry, not just features, and receive multiple optimized machining strategies, covering tool selection, toolpath planning, and setup configuration.”
Meshel continued: “Single-run, full-part programming is a key goal for future releases. At these higher autonomy levels, the system will analyze entire solid models, factor in tooling and machine details, and leverage historical shop knowledge to generate comprehensive machining plans. This capability will be delivered via ‘agentic workflows,’ which integrate decision-making, optimization, verification, and simulation into a unified, reliable process.”
If you’ve used MMS, message me some feedback at malba@wtwhmedia.com.
More Autodesk layoffs
Last week Autodesk CEO Andrew Anagnost announced that the company will eliminate about 1,000 positions, representing about 7% of global staff. It’s the worst kind of déjà vu for Autodesk employees: it hasn’t even been a full year since Anagnost made a strikingly similar announcement of 1,350 job cuts, or 9% of staff.
“I want to be clear that this will not become an annual process at Autodesk and these changes are not driven by the external environment or an effort to replace people with AI,” Anagnost wrote in the most recent letter.
The main driver of the changes, according to Anagnost, is Autodesk’s attempt to modernize its go-to-market model. He wrote that Autodesk’s customer-facing sales team will be most impacted by the layoffs.
As I wrote about this time last year, best of luck to all those affected.
How are you using AI-driven design?
Revolution in Simulation, aka Rev-Sim, has launched a survey on AI and generative design.
“We’re gathering insights from engineers and designers to understand how generative design, including emerging AI-powered Generative Design tools, is being used today and where adoption is headed. Whether you’re actively applying it or just beginning to explore the fundamentals, your perspective matters,” Rev-Sim writes.
To clear up any potential confusion, generative design meant something different before the recent AI boom. I covered generative design a lot circa 2020 (what else was there to do during the pandemic?). Back then the term was often used to refer to computational techniques like topology optimization, shape optimization, or lattice generation, which, while cool, don’t require machine learning or LLMs or any of the sexy AI tools of the ChatGPT era.
All this to say that Rev-Sim’s survey is focused on recent AI-based generative design tools, not the kind of generative design that could, say, make a monstrosity of the Golden Gate Bridge.
The survey will close around early spring, according to Rev-Sim. I’ll report on the results when they’re available.
Quick hits
- Simulation developer Flexcompute has teamed up with cloud-based CFD platform Bramble on motorsport simulation. Flexcompute’s GPU-based Flow360 CFD solver will be embedded in Bramble to deliver tailored workflows for high-performance vehicle development, according to Flexcompute.
- ECAD developer Zuken has released a free migration module to transfer PCB designs, schematics, and libraries from Cadence OrCAD to Zuken’s PCB design platform, eCADSTAR. Licensed eCADSTAR users can download the module from LogicSwap Solutions, which developed it with Zuken.
- CAM developer Ency (formerly known as SprutCAM) has announced that its CAM platform is now Solidworks Certified.
One last link
Miles Budimir, senior editor of Design World, looks back on the 40th anniversary of the Challenger disaster.
Got news, tips, comments, or complaints? Send them my way: malba@wtwhmedia.com.