Design & Engineering Workflow AutomationPurpose
1.2. Automating format normalization reduces manual errors, expedites design review cycles, facilitates collaboration across software ecosystems, and streamlines the flow of assets between stakeholders and fabrication teams.
Trigger Conditions
2.2. Automate conversion on form submission or project management update (Asana, Jira, Monday.com).
2.3. Automator monitors a designated FTP/SFTP or email inbox for new attachments and initiates conversion.
2.4. Scheduled automation at predefined intervals or on webhook reception from upstream CAD/BIM tools.
Platform Variants
3.1. Autodesk Forge
• Feature/API: Model Derivative API automates conversion of CAD/BIM to OBJ, STL, STEP, IFC, and more.
• Sample: Configure POST /modelderivative/v2/designdata/job for automation on upload.
3.2. SolidWorks PDM
• Feature/API: Convert Task; automate file conversion to DWG, STEP, IGES, PDF.
• Sample: Automate Convert Task settings in workflows or via REST API.
3.3. Revit + Dynamo
• Feature/Node: File.Export automatedly triggered by script to export to DWG, IFC, PDF.
• Sample: Automate the Dynamo script upon file save or project sync.
3.4. Bentley MicroStation
• Feature: Batch Convert Tool; automate format conversions via VBA or integration API.
• Sample: Automate batch script to standardize DGN, DWG, DXF outputs.
3.5. Rhino3D + Grasshopper
• Feature: Bake and Export Node automates STL, OBJ generation.
• Sample: Automate Grasshopper script to run on file update.
3.6. Blender
• Feature: Python scripting API automates import/conversion/export in batch.
• Sample: Automate with bpy.ops.export_scene.automa...
3.7. Onshape
• Feature/API: Export API automates output to STEP, IGES, STL, Parasolid, DWG.
• Sample: Automate POST /api/documents/{docId}/exports.
3.8. AutoCAD Web API
• Feature: Batch Plot/Export; automate PDF/DWG/DXF conversion events.
• Sample: Automate API jobs on drawing submission.
3.9. Bluebeam Revu
• Feature: Automation plugin for batch PDF output from design files.
• Sample: Configure watched folders for automated conversions.
3.10. Fusion 360
• Feature/API: Automated Export API for STL, STEP, IGES, and others.
• Sample: Automate export task via Fusion 360 Scripting API.
3.11. SketchUp
• Feature: Export3DModel function for batch automated conversions to DAE, OBJ, STL.
• Sample: Automate Ruby script to trigger on save.
3.12. BricsCAD
• Feature: LISP automation or BricsCAD Communicator for DWG, DXF, STEP automation.
• Sample: Schedule batch conversion jobs.
3.13. Vectorworks
• Feature: Marionette scripting or Batch Export for automated PDF/DWG/IFC exports.
• Sample: Automate export in project close workflow.
3.14. Tekla Structures
• Feature: Open API for automating export to IFC, DWG, DGN.
• Sample: Automate plugin triggers on model changes.
3.15. Navisworks
• Feature/API: Automation via Navisworks API for NWC, NWD, DWF conversion.
• Sample: Automate conversion after model aggregation.
3.16. A360/Autodesk Docs
• Feature: Automated transmittals and format conversions using APIs.
• Sample: Configure automated delivery rules.
3.17. SharePoint/Power Automate
• Feature: File conversion flows for DWG, PDF, DXF using mapped connectors/actions.
• Sample: Automate Power Automate flow on file upload.
3.18. Zapier
• Feature: Automation between file storage, CAD tools, and file converters.
• Sample: Configure automated workflow — trigger: upload, action: convert.
3.19. CloudConvert
• Feature: REST API for nearly all engineering/CAD file conversions.
• Sample: Automate job creation on new file signal.
3.20. AWS Lambda
• Feature: Serverless function to automate calling custom conversion scripts or APIs.
• Sample: Automate trigger from S3 upload to execute conversion script.
3.21. Google Cloud Functions
• Feature: Automates file conversion upon GCS file events using Python/Node.
• Sample: Automate via event-driven function tied to bucket.
3.22. Make (Integromat)
• Feature: Automated scenario linking file storage, CAD export, and third-party converters.
• Sample: Automate scenario to convert on file arrival.
Benefits
4.2. Automated workflows minimize errors from misconfigured exports or missed files.
4.3. Automate conformance to client and regulatory deliverable standards.
4.4. Automatedly deliver files in the right format for downstream 3D printing or CNC cutting.
4.5. Automator ensures uniformity and version control across distributed collaborators.
4.6. Automating conversion increases throughput for design review and client presentation cycles.
4.7. Automation enables scalable workflows, centralizing and standardizing model making processes.
4.8. Automating archival and versioning as part of the process aids compliance and audit trails.