Industry Info and CAD Tips

Virtual reality computing may come to the masses sooner than we expect. Microsoft unveiled two holographic computers earlier this year. The Microsoft HoloLens is a headset with a fully untethered, holographic computer built in. The Surface Hub is an interactive whiteboard that doesn’t use a keyboard or mouse because of its touchscreen capabilities. Microsoft hopes to be a leader in what they call interactive holograms rather than creating an entire virtual reality environment.  They’re more interested in how this new form of computing can be incorporated into homes and businesses as a replacement for a regular computer rather than used for immersing a user into an alternate world. The inventor of HoloLens, Alex Kipman, said of holographic computing, “We are constantly processing terabytes of information from all around us. Imagine if technology has the same sensing capability to process all of this input about the world around us, so it can see the world as we see it.” The Microsoft HoloLens is one of the first computers designed as a standalone device that operates solely on voice and gesture-based commands. It is made up of a headset with a visor and projectors that create a holographic view of images that are projected directly in front of you. It’s one of the first virtual reality “wearables.” It is hoped to eventually replace the home computer. The projected release date has not been announced but is expected to be within a year. Microsoft says the cost will be significantly more than a video game console. The most expensive home console on the market now is the Sony PlayStation 4, which runs about $400. The Surface Hub was intended for use in an office for presentations or business meetings. It has dual high-resolution cameras and several microphones so that voice and gesture commands can be heard and seen in a group. It also allows any device, such as a smart phone or tablet, to communicate with it making it easier to share files. It also has videoconferencing built-in to make it easier for people to meet even when they’re not in the same location. Microsoft started selling the device this summer. Prices started at $7,000 for a 55-inch model and went up to $20,000 for a model with an 84-inch display. Both devices use Microsoft 10, the newest operating system released by the company this summer. The Surface Hub can run other applications, much like a regular home computer, including Skype, games such as Minecraft, and computer-aided design software such as AutoCAD. HoloLens has an app called HoloStudio that will allow a user to create and print 3D designs. The availability of this form of virtual reality computing will have an impact on people in many industries, including builders, architects, and designers. Collaboration between designers and builders may become easier because everyone will have better access to files and will be able to work on projects together in real time remotely. There is speculation that HoloLens will be compatible with AutoCAD, which could cause major advancements in the creation of 2D and 3D drawings. Outsource Your Design Work to Indovance! Unbeatable AutoCAD Services! Selecting the right partner for your business can be the hardest part of deciding to outsource. When you choose us, you won’t have to worry.  We offer quality resources to help ease your fears about hiring an outside vendor. We can handle AutoCAD services, BIM modeling, engineering, architecture, plus more. Our goal is to provide you with cost-efficient, quality, and timely results so that you can save money and resources. Give us a call today!

A common theory among many businesses is that it’s best to keep all work in house. This especially rings true for those developing new innovations and ideas. However, those that choose to outsource CAD and other services like BIM and more, find that this is the best choice for two reasons. Outsourcing to a company like Indovance helps you save time and money. How Can Indovance Help Save Time? If you’re working on a project that needs to be completed quickly, but your staff is already overwhelmed with other duties, you can hire a firm to help out. You don’t want other projects to suffer because you are focusing all of your efforts on one with a rapidly approaching deadline. Repetitive CAD conversions can be difficult and time consuming. Outsourcing those monotonous jobs can be beneficial to your company because they’ll be done in a timely manner by someone who doesn’t have other obligations. Some outsourcing companies won’t work with you to get the job done quickly. That shouldn’t be the case. Working with Indovance offers access to outsourcing overseas. This will ensure that the job gets done quickly as the time difference will be beneficial! Indovance Helps You Save Money Below, you’ll find several reasons why working with Indovance can help you save money, even when you’re sure you can do everything in-house. You won’t have to hire in-house expertise that costs too much. Make sure there aren’t any hidden fees or other expenses that might hinder the overall money saving benefit, before signing on with the company. Software is expensive. Keeping it up-to-date can be, as well. If your company is not able to get the latest updates but needs access to the technology, hiring an outside firm will allow you to have access to the best tools and a staff who knows how to use them. Working with Indovance offers you the latest and greatest software without having to purchase it. Many times, a project might call for a program you aren’t currently using. Eliminating the need to buy it and learning how to use it is a major cost saver, as well as time saver. Saving money by eliminating the need to buy computers, printers, ink, paper and other office supplies is possible, as well. You don’t realize how much you spend until you start adding it up! Choosing to outsource offers benefits far beyond saving time and money! These are just the most exciting benefits that everyone loves to learn about! Making the decision to outsource might not be easy, but you can be confident in your choice when you select the right partner. We are here to offer quality resources to help ease your fears about hiring an outside vendor. For Unbeatable AutoCAD Services Call Indovance Today! If you need help with engineering or have other specialty needs, like AutoCAD services, and are interested in lowering costs within your business, consider working with Indovance! When you outsource these needs, you’re able to decrease your drawing time, as well as, gain the ability to get redundant tasks completed in a timely manner, without hiring in-house staff. All you have to do is let Indovance earn your trust by providing the best customer service in the market. Each and every outsourcing service we offer helps businesses grow and succeed to new levels. We will lower your overhead costs and help you gain profitability, as well! You won’t be sorry you decided to take advantage of our BIM, engineering, and AutoCAD services! Let us help you with all of your drafting needs. Please give us a call today to learn more!

Autodesk, one of the most prominent design and drafting software developers, is the most recent to go to a subscription only service. The company develops computer aided design software such as the Autodesk Design & Creation Suite, which includes AutoCAD, one of the top programs used by engineers, architects and builders. The company recently announced that starting July 31, 2016, new commercial licenses of most Autodesk products will be available only through a pay-as-you-go subscription service. Subscriptions can be purchased monthly, quarterly, annually or in multi-year bundles.  They’re hoping that by offering several choices, it will allow customers to buy only what they need. They have a portfolio of products with the option of single user licensing or shared network licensing for businesses. While the bulk of their customers are businesses that use their design suite software for infrastructure and product development, they do have products that individuals may be interested in using at home or in schools. Sketchbook Pro and Maya are for animation and video game development, and are popular among students and educators. Autodesk is the most recent company to go to a subscription service business model. When the Adobe Creative Cloud and Windows Office 365 were released, they were only available with a subscription. Andrew Anagnost, vice president of Autodesk’s Industry Strategy and Marketing, said, “The way we design and make things is changing: every industry is being disrupted by changes in production, demand and products. Autodesk is embracing this new norm and evolving our business so that customers can thrive in theirs.” The company believes that the flexibility of subscription based services gives customers an advantage because they are able to select only what they need. There is a lower cost upfront, and they won’t have to worry about upgrades in the future. They will always have access to the newest version of the software. A cloud-based subscription service is also available. There are several advantages with this option. Businesses won’t have to dedicate server space to the large amount of space that CAD software needs. The software can be accessed across desktops, laptops and mobile devices, allowing for more collaboration among project teams. Offering their products in a subscription based model can also give Autodesk an advantage. More people are likely to try the software because of the lower cost of investment. Small businesses may also be able to get access to software they wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford. The downside is that some businesses like the idea of paying once for software and using it as long as they can. If they feel that’s more beneficial they can purchase a perpetual license of their software before July 31, 2016, and not be affected by the subscription-only service. They can continue to own and have full usage rights to the version of the software they purchased. They can also keep maintenance benefits for as long as they continue to renew the maintenance. Outsource Drafting and AutoCAD Services to Indovance to Save Time & Money! Get the most for your money by outsourcing your AutoCAD services to one of the top design firms in the world. If you’re interested in reducing costs within your business, give Indovance a call. We can help you decrease your project time, giving you an advantage over your competitors. We offer AutoCAD, BIM modeling services, engineering, architecture services and more. Call us today to learn more about all of the outsourcing services we offer to businesses that want to grow and succeed to new levels, while lowering overhead costs and gaining profitability.

3D printing is an exciting innovation that is changing the way things are made. As the technology progresses, it becomes more amazing. In our latest report about 3D printing, we talked about a huge step in the right direction concerning 3D printing and how it’s changing house building and the global construction industry. China has created a printer that was able to construct a building. In fact, according to globalconstruction.com, “Chinese company Winsun has already claimed to have built 10 3D constructed houses in one day at a cost of just $5,000 per house. In addition to making housing more affordable, many architects also hope that 3D printing will increase their ability to customize homes and buildings. Earlier this year, Winsun took its 3D printing construction beyond single houses, building a five-story apartment building and an 11,840-square-foot villa. Winston used a large 3D printer that fabricates the building parts in large pieces at the company’s facility. Winston then assembled the pieces on-site adding steel reinforcements and insulation.” We also reported on a man who 3D printed a small castle in the U.S. It was printed from a printer he constructed. This amazing invention actually uses a form of concrete for construction. The Dutch are also getting in on this new technology, in hopes of 3D printing a steel bridge. According to OPP.Today, “The bridge, at a location still to be confirmed, is planned to go ahead in 2017, and could take two months for the robots to build, but when finished, it should be a visible indication of the promise of 3D printing by robots and the fact that large-scale infrastructure can be printed in-situ. Unlike other 3D buildings constructed from resin or plastic, the bridge will be made from a strong new steel composite created by the University of Delft.” This is exciting and we hope to report on the construction of the bridge as it unfolds. Have you been keeping up with 3D printing and how it’s changing the global construction industry? Big things are happening. In addition to the way things are constructed, it’s also possible the 3D printed materials will be sustainable enough to help save our planet. For more 3D printing news, be sure to check back with us in the near future. We are committed to bringing you the latest news, as it’s available to us. Global Leading 3D CAD Services | Indovance If you need help with design of any kind, and need to lower costs, maybe it’s time to consider sending out some of your work to one of the top 3D CAD services companies in the world – Indovance. When you outsource your drafting needs, you’re able to decrease your drawing time, as well as gain the ability to get help with your engineering or architectural needs as well. All you have to do is trust Indovance to offer you the best customer service available! Call us today, to learn more about the benefits we offer to businesses that want to grow and succeed at new levels, while lowering overhead costs and gaining profitability. You won’t be sorry you decided to take advantage of our BIM, mechanical design, or 3D drawing services!

Are you considering assembling your own BIM department? This team will be very beneficial for teams that work in-depth with the software. You’ll find that having a BIM team will help projects run more smoothly, keep construction in line and improve productivity overall. Making sure you assemble the right team is key, and below, you’ll find a few guidelines that might help you. Key Team Members BIM Manager – Overseeing the entire team, this manager will work directly with the BIM software and also ensure that the team is managed successfully and working up to speed without error.  They should have an overall knowledge about construction of all stages, beginning to end, as they’ll be involved with every stage of the building. BIM managers make final decisions for the BIM team. BIM Lead – This key member of your team will manage various teams that work on-site, at home on various projects, or in the office. Depending on the projects going on and how often they need monitoring, the BIM lead will make sure the BIM manager’s standards and processes are carried out without issue. According to augi.com, “The BIM Leads are the most knowledgeable and BIM-savvy of the group, reporting directly to, and sub-par only to, the BIM manager.” BIM Detailer – Experienced in working with BIM and have completed projects using software like AutoCad MEP, Autodesk Revit,  Autodesk Navisworks, this employee will help all projects run as smoothly as possible. In addition to having a team that works specifically, on different levels for your firm, you’ll also need to keep in mind that the software itself will need maintenance. The BIM manager is usually responsible for this, but depending on how big your firm is, and how busy things are, you might find that adding another team member – BIM director – is crucial. This director will be responsible for managing the team and projects, so that the BIM manager can actually focus on more specific details of software management and more. Selecting the right team members will be most beneficial for your BIM team. They’ll ensure the entire firm runs smoothly, as well as the projects going on within the firm. First-Rate BIM Modeling Services | Indovance If you’re more interested in learning about outsourcing BIM modeling services, rather than hiring in-house, consider working with Indovance, instead! You’ll be surprised at how beneficial you’ll find our services! Why stress over the costs of hiring in-house expertise when we are here to help eliminate those extra expenses? Indovance saves you time and money, all while helping you offer your clients the best quality services possible. Making the decision to outsource might be easy, but selecting the right partner can be overwhelming at times. Thankfully, Indovance is here to offer you quality BIM modeling services to help ease your fears about hiring an outside vendor. To learn more about Indovance and all the outsourcing services we offer, give us a call! We also offer BIM, CAD, engineering, and architecture services. Let us help your business with costly planning, designing and constructing. Our goal is to provide you with cost efficient, quality, timely results.

Are you getting ready to transition your firm from AutoCAD software to Revit? If so, a BIM manager might be beneficial for the overall changeover. Because the process is long – sometimes lasting several months to a year – an overseer can help you through the discussion, setting an action plan, as well as make sure these plans are carried out in the most efficient way. Transitioning from one platform to another won’t be easy. It’s intense and time consuming. It’s often too much for in-house employees or managers to handle along with their typical workload. Having support is key in this crucial undertaking, in order to get started on the right foot in the early stages. Hiring a BIM manager might be the only way to ensure this happens. In addition to helping a firm with their conversion from one software to another, there are several other things a BIM manager can help with, as well: Software Training Hardware Consulting Content and Template Creation Developing, Documenting and Implementing Company Standards Employee Assessing and Improving Project Support Hiring a Great BIM Manager There are a few ways to ensure you find the best BIM manager for your firm. Following these guidelines will help. Look for someone with a well-rounded knowledge of the overall construction industry. Without some background information, a BIM manager won’t be able to fully help in the process of transition. This manager should be familiar with all stages of construction from pre-construction, during and after. 3D modeling is a large part of a firm’s work and almost every team member understands how it works or works directly with it in some way or another. The BIM manager you hire should understand this. It’s not just about creating 3D models. BIM managers are hired to help your firm move from one software to another without any glitches or holdups. This person should also be able to empathize with every single member of your firm’s team. From the engineer to contractor and owner, they should be able to identify with what they’re going through. They also need to understand each person’s role and how the software switch will affect them. If you’re more interested in learning about outsourcing BIM, rather than having the software, in-house, consider working with Indovance, instead! You’ll be surprised at how beneficial you’ll find our services to be! Why stress over the costs of hiring in-house expertise when we are here to help eliminate the need to do so? Save time and money, all while offering your clients the best quality services possible. Only the Best BIM Service Outsourcing | Indovance Sometimes, making the decision to outsource might be easy, but selecting the right partner for your business can be the hardest part of the overall process. Thankfully, companies like ours are here to offer quality resources to help ease your fears about hiring an outside vendor. To learn more about Indovance and how our BIM service outsourcing can help, give us a call! We also offer CAD, engineering, and architecture services. Let us help your business with costly planning, designing and constructing. Our goal is to provide you with cost efficient, quality, timely results.

3D printing is helping make huge advancements in the healthcare field. From using it to print drugs to creating medical devices and implants to artificial bones, this new technology is opening up doors to what doctors will be able to do in the future. Using computer-aided design (CAD) software, a 3D digital model can be created and then sliced into pieces, which are then printed layer by layer until a solid object is formed. Items have been created out of plastic, metal and ceramic. In the medical field, a pharmaceutical company recently printed pills using their patented ZipDose technology, which created medicine in porous layers. These layers allow for the pills to be dissolved quickly when they come into contact with water. Researchers are looking to develop more ways to use 3D printing for drugs, including customizing drug treatments for individual patients. 3D printing technology is also being used in the dental field. Invisalign, the clear alternative to metal braces, was created as a result of 3D technology. The impressions of teeth were created using a 3D model created using 3D CAD services, then the actual braces, or aligners, were created for each stage of the straightening process. The aligners were created using stereolithography, which turns a liquid into a solid object. The pliable materials made it possible to customize the aligners for each patient. Several years ago, a patient received a splint in the tubes that carry air to her lungs in order to keep them open. She had tracheobronchomalacia, a disease that weakens those tubes, making it difficult to breathe. The splint was printed with 3D technology. So far, according to reports in a 2013 medical journal, the patient had no problems relating to it. In China, a company announced that it had created a process called Filament Free Printing that can create 3D bones. The process recreates the intricate structure inside of bones in a material that is biodegradable. They implanted one into a rabbit and the bone began growing cells on its own almost immediately. The experiment proved that the treatment could help in bone loss and damage in humans. Research is also being done on using 3D printing for skin grafts and printing of organs and tissues but it requires complex bioprinters that can recreate human cells. The process is similar to any 3D printing project in that it begins with a CAD design. In this case, it is of a human tissue that’s printed layer by layer using “bio-ink,” which are liver cells and hydrogel mixed together. The hydrogel fills the spaces in the tissue. The cells are then put in an incubator where they fuse together and form the full liver tissue. It hasn’t been tested on humans yet, but as technology advances, researchers hope that they can fine-tune the process. The production of medical devices also benefits from the advances in 3D CAD services and printing. They can be made more efficient so that they reduce surgery time. In addition, treatment can be more customized to the patient, giving better results when surgery is the only option. Overall, the future looks bright for 3D printing in the healthcare industry. Indovance – Affordable 3D CAD Services and Design If you need help with design of any kind and need to lower costs, maybe it’s time to consider outsourcing your work to one of the top 3D CAD services companies in the world – Indovance. When you partner with us, you’re able to work with highly trained experts who can get the job done quickly. Call us today to learn more about the services we offer.

A common theory among businesses is that it’s best to keep all work in house, especially when it comes to developing new ideas. But sometimes outsourcing AutoCAD services is the best choice because of the time, money and resources that your company can save. If you have a business that doesn’t specialize in drafting blueprints or product models, then you probably don’t have the staff you need to work on a design project. Instead of creating a new position and going through the hiring process to find someone you only need once, you can hire a design firm to handle the job. They have experts ready to complete your project before you can even get through that pile of resumes. Temporary drafting services are also good for companies who may need someone with specialized training that your staff may not have. Rather than training your employees, which can be costly, take a lot of time, and keep from their other job duties, you can hire a firm to work on the project. Companies like Indovance can turn around your project quickly. A technician experienced in the area you need will be able to complete the job faster and more efficiently than a beginner. Deadlines are another reason to consider outsourcing your CAD work. If you’re working on a project that needs to be completed quickly, but your staff is already overwhelmed with other duties, you can hire a firm to help out. You don’t want other projects to suffer because you are focusing all of your efforts on one with a looming deadline. AutoCAD software is expensive, so keeping it up-to-date can be costly. If your company is not able to get the latest updates but needs access to the technology, hiring an outside firm will allow you to have access to the best tools and a staff who knows how to use them. If your project requires software that your company doesn’t have, finding a firm who does can also be better than purchasing it, especially if you only need it for one project. Finding someone on your staff to work on those boring, repetitive tasks such as CAD conversion can be difficult. No one likes to do them, and they take away from time that could be spent on other more important duties. Outsourcing those monotonous jobs can be beneficial to your company because they’ll be done in a timely manner by someone who doesn’t have other obligations. Not to mention, your staff will appreciate that you didn’t delegate an unpleasant task to them. If you decide to outsource work, make sure you do your homework and find a reputable company. Ask for references and make sure their skill set aligns with your needs. When you have chosen a company, establish what your expectations are and make sure they’re able to meet them. Using an outside firm should save you time and money, and not cause any unnecessary headaches. Indovance – Quality AutoCAD Services and Outsourcing Solutions Making the decision to outsource might not be easy but you can be confident in your choice when you select the right partner. We are here to offer quality resources to help ease your fears about hiring an outside vendor. We offer AutoCAD services, BIM, architecture services and more. Let us help your business with costly planning, designing and constructing. Our goal is to provide you with cost efficient, quality, and timely results. To learn more about Indovance and all the outsourcing services we offer, give us a call. We’d be happy to answer any questions you might have!

We’ve become accustomed to being able to take everything with us, whether it’s our music collection on our iPods or our photo collection on our phones. We’re also able to take our work with us because everything we need can be found on a laptop. In the past, someone who used CAD software didn’t have that option because most laptops weren’t able to handle the complexities of drafting software. It required a work station with a higher processor and lots of memory.  They could easily take the designs they had created, but they weren’t able to modify them without heading back to the desktop workstation.  In recent years, that has changed. With the evolution of cloud computing and hardware virtualization, having access to complex software and files has allowed for CAD users to take their work with them. The market for mobile CAD workstations continues to grow as more designers want the ability to work from anywhere. There a numerous benefits to having access to AutoCAD drafting services on the go. The first one, obviously, is mobility. If you have the ability to access your work anywhere, you can be more productive. Its’ also beneficial when meeting with clients and investors because you’re able to show the work you are doing without being bound to an in-office workstation. If you’re working on building designs, you’re able to transport the designs if you need to find locations or get permits. Another benefit is the ability to collaborate. You can share your work via email, the cloud, or your company’s server. If you’re working with a team of people on a design, everyone can have access to it and be able to make modifications, no matter where they are. With mobile applications, the ability to make changes is more streamlined. If you’re working with a client who doesn’t know how to use CAD software, but is familiar with blueprints or CAD drawings, he or she can make changes easily that can be shared with you. Mobile AutoCAD drafting services are also is less expensive. The price of buying and maintaining a desktop work station can cost up to $10,000, but a mobile workstation will run about $2,000. CAD software monthly subscriptions for mobile are cheaper than for desktop stations. Some applications, such as ZWCAD Touch, are free to download. Another benefit of being able to take your design with you is what you’ll save on printing costs. There’s no need to print a copy of your design if you can pull it up on your mobile device if you’re self-employed or work as a consultant, investing in mobile technology can make it more affordable to run your own business. The trend of having every accessible on mobile devices isn’t going anywhere. The future is bright for the development of better CAD mobile technologies. Indovance – Affordable AutoCAD Drafting Services And Outsourcing Solutions If you need design work done but don’t have the staff or resources, consider outsourcing your projects to Indovance, one of the top CAD drafting services companies in the world. We offer AutoCAD drafting services, BIM, architecture services and more. Let us help your business with costly planning, designing and constructing. Our goal is to provide you with cost efficient, quality, and timely results. Call us today to learn more about the benefits we offer to businesses that want to grow and succeed at new levels, while lowering overhead costs and gaining profitability.

Here at Indovance, a lot of our articles talk about drafting and designing and how CAD software aids those efforts. What we don’t discuss, however, is what drafting and designing actually mean. Even further, we talk about draftsman and architects but never talk about the difference between the two. Are you familiar with them and how they’re different? If not, continue reading, we plan to share the answer with you! What is a Draftsman? According to study.com, “Draftsmen, also called drafters, perform some of the same tasks as architects and often work with architects. Draftsmen, like architects, prepare CAD drawings. However, drafting can be applied to many other areas besides construction and architecture. Drafting can be used to create drawings of circuitry or mechanical designs. A draftsman’s drawings include technical details and specifications such as materials, dimensions and procedures. In addition to using CAD, draftsmen also use calculators, tables and technical handbooks.” A draftsman doesn’t have to have the degree or requirements architects do. They’re able to design without regulation. Oftentimes, homes that are designed by only a draftsman have trouble in the building stages, due to inexperience and inability to resolve issues the way an architect would. What is an Architect? Architects design and build structures for people to live, work, worship and various other things in. They design homes, churches, schools, offices, hotels and more. They are also involved in every step of the overall construction process from the beginning design stage to the end results. Architects have the following skills and abilities: Written and verbal communication skills for numerous settings Team work skills Research skills Project management skills IT skills Expertise in design and drawing Executive skills Design and plan structures for aesthetics, security, and convenience Continue education throughout career Compliance and flexibility for dealing with unforeseen circumstances when necessary Capability of reflecting on, and improving professional performances CAD skills (computer-aided design) Building management Ability to turn concepts into reality Ability to solve glitches in a diagnostic, rational way Does this help you understand the difference between the two? We hope so! Hiring the right type of designer and drafter is important. You want to make sure the professional you choose is able to meet all your needs. Need Awesome Architectural Drafting Services? Call Indovance! If you need help with design of any kind, and need to lower costs, maybe it’s time to consider sending out some of your work to one of the top architectural drafting services companies in the world – Indovance. When you outsource your drafting needs, you’re able to decrease your drawing time, as well as gain the ability to get help with your other project tasks as well. All you have to do is trust Indovance to offer you the best customer service available! Call us today, to learn more about the benefits we offer to businesses that want to grow and succeed at new levels, while lowering overhead costs and gaining profitability! You won’t be sorry you decided to take advantage of our BIM, mechanical design, or CAD drafting services!