Design technology: a catalyst for growth in manufacturing

MANILA, Philippines — As the manufacturing industry continues to flourish, 3D solutions provider Autodesk Inc. showcased how design technology goes beyond the aesthetic development of a manufactured product and raises the level of efficiency, collaboration, and democratization in the manufacturing industry.

In an interview with InterAksyon.com, Chris Lee, industry manager for the manufacturing industry Autodesk, ASEAN region, explained that manufacturing industry players should take advantage of the existing design solutions in order to boost and even expand their respective businesses.

According to Lee, the concept of digital prototyping is revolutionizing the process within the manufacturing industry. Aside from the ability to visualize and effectively simulate the product before it’s manufactured – which in itself renders savings for the manufacturer – it also empowers industry players with a heightened sense of collaboration and efficiency in the workflow.

“What Autodesk has done, through our digital prototyping concept, we have bridged the gap between design, simulation, manufacturing, visualization,” Lee said. “There is no point if you create a good product but you can’t sell it. So the moment your team comes back with the customer response, the marketing team already has access to that information and can start creating collaterals.”

Via Autodesk’s solutions for digital prototyping, various players within the manufacturing workflow can design the product, receive inputs, revise the design and get it ready for the market in less time, and in turn, less cost.

As a complementary tool for Autodesk’s workflow-based solutions, Lee also showcased how the cloud spells a huge advantage for today’s professionals in the industry. “The manufacturing process is now more globalized,” says Lee.

“Information is no longer constrained by location or by territory,” the Autodesk executive added. “You can design on the desktop.”

According to Lee, Autodesk, through its own cloud portal Autodesk Cloud 360, designers and manufacturers can leverage on a platform where they can work together wherever they may be.






Environment friendly

Furthermore, Autodesk moves forward along with the growing sensibilities on environmental sustainability, especially in the manufacturing sphere.

Lee explained that the solutions being offered by the company allows manufacturers to see how environment-friendly the product will be — even a prototype is even manufactured.

“Autodesk has enabled Eco-indicator in our technology,” Lee said. “With this we can track the number of materials in the product that are eco-friendly. When you design a product, you get to know how much or what percentage of a product is recyclable. And when you manufacture that product, you already have the report ready.”

What’s also notable is the growing popularity and accessibility of 3D printing.

Lee pointed out that 3D printing is effectively democratizing the manufacturing industry and expanding the manufacturing capability from the factories to the home.

“Autodesk plays a critical role in democratizing 3D software and allow everyone to be able to do 3D printing,” he emphasizes.

Autodesk offers free consumer applications to enable anyone – even those with no previous technical training – to start developing and designing their own items or products, which they can easily print via a 3D printer.

Lee also shared how this can be helpful in the Philippines.

“It is interesting how manufacturing in the Philippines has grown so drastically,” Lee said.

And with this, local industry players should see this time as an opportune moment to leverage on design solutions to further boost their respective businesses.

source: interaksyon.com

Pretty pleats

What’s next to wear? Break into the in-between season in refreshing up-to-date fashion. Design and pattern come to play as pleats unfold the current style setting. As we transition into the “ber” months, global fashion gives a preview of the most important trends to come for the holidays. Fusing all these trends into one, the current presence of pleating has transcended into a wide range of must-have looks for the coming season.

From the trendy neo-gothic to oriental and nouveau punk to classic glam, pleats are echoing these statements and definitely are seamlessly pleased to stay. Adding touches to a simple piece, modern incantations present pieces with accent detailing as seen on a variety of embroidery and lace. Aside from the usual display of autumn colors, on the upfront is the resurgence of candy tones that will be top on the style meter and into this season’s wardrobes.

In the Philippines, local trendsetting brand Kikay is taking the spotlight on pleats. The fashion-forward name keeps ahead of the game in Manila’s retail landscape as it presents a wide range of dresses, skirts and tops, which are all on the radar. Definitely a current must-buy this season, this is one trend you wouldn’t want to miss.

source: philstar.com

Designing Aquascapes

MANILA, Philippines — Aquascaping is the art and science of arranging aquatic plants, rocks or driftwood in an aquarium. It’s creating and maintaining a garden that happens to be underwater. Hobbyists specializing in aquascapes are called aquarium gardeners.

This is an easy way to do gardening since you don’t need to water the plants. They aren’t prone to diseases and pests are never a problem. But the plants will need sufficient natural or artificial light, a source of carbon dioxide and fertilization to survive.

It is possible to create an aquascape without fish. Plants or even just rocks will suffice. Although the primary aim is to create an artful underwater landscape, the technical aspects of aquatic plant maintenance must be considered. For professional aquarium hobbyists, this would include a system for water filtration, maintaining dissolved carbon dioxide, substrate and fertilization for plant growth, lights to promote plant photosynthesis and algae control. There are “natural” methods of meeting these requirements. For instance, a few small fish and a snail in the tank can clean the algae in the glass.

More than a hundred plants species can thrive underwater. They’ve been tested to survive in water and under artificial light. These plants are collectible and belong to different plant families like ferns, aroids and even carnivorous plants.

There are a number of designs to choose from. There’s the Dutch style which features a lush arrangement of various types of plants. They’re arranged like terrestrial plants in a flower garden or a dish garden. This style was developed in the Netherlands in the 1930s when freshwater aquarium equipment became commercially available. Plants are emphasized and placed on terraces of varying heights. Rocks and driftwood aren’t used. Plants are grouped based on their size and color, with the small plants placed on the front and the much taller plants ensconced behind to hide the tank’s equipment. More than 80 percent of the aquarium floor is covered with plants, and little or no substrate is left visible.

The Nature style is fitted with multiple large gray stones to simulate natural mountain peaks or cliffs. Small stones or rocks are arranged upfront while the larger rocks are placed in the back. Some of the stones are carpeted with small, low, fine green plants to simulate a forest as viewed from a distance.

The Jungle style is very similar though it requires a bigger tank. It’s brightly lit from above and is densely populated with plants of varying leaf shapes, as if growing in a tangle. Most plants are green while a few have red or yellow foliage. Low green plants are on the front, with taller, differently colored plants placed behind them. Driftwood and rocks are incorporated. Bold, coarser leaf shapes such as Echinodorus bleheri are used to provide a wild-like appearance. Small brightly-colored blue or red fish complete the look.

Another design is the Biotopes which replicates the aquatic habitat of a particular geographic location. Plants and fish aren’t a must but if you insist on having them you’ll have to find the same types found in the habitat you’re trying to emulate. This also goes for the gravel, hardscape materials and chemical composition of the water. An example is the habitat in fast running streams. You’ll be required to use course gravel, a few large stones and driftwood.

If you want to have a miniature Amazon River, you’ll be doing a representation of lush vegetation and submerged roots of trees. You can capture this look with driftwood and a school of gentle moving Discus fishes.

One colorful, yet challenging design is the Saltwater reefs design. This one mimics a marine ecosystem and contains actual marine fish and animals. An arrangement of rocks, corals and other marine invertebrates and coralline algae can effectively represent freshwater plants.

A home aquarium could certainly be more than decorative. It’s a mini-garden that offers the chance to tend some unique water plants and a few fish. It also adds a lot of serenity to a room and is therefore a form of relief from stress.

source: mb.com.ph