CHICAGO, National Design and Engineering Show, Feb 25, 2004 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- Autodesk, Inc. (Nasdaq: ADSK), the world's leading design software and digital content company, and Pathtrace, Autodesk's Global Preferred CAM Partner, today announced that the combination of Autodesk Inventor(R) Series and Pathtrace's EdgeCAM Solid Machinist has increased sales, reduced costs, and shortened programming time from three days to less than two hours for JELD-WEN Engineering, one of the world's largest manufacturers of windows, doors, and millwork. The challenge for JELD-WEN was to reduce retooling costs and allow customers to meet retail customers' need for a steady supply of new types of residential doors and windows. EdgeCAM Solid Machinist is an Autodesk Inventor Certified Application, providing tight integration for Autodesk Inventor Series, the number one selling 3D mechanical design software. Both products are being exhibited here this week in Autodesk Booth #4011.

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Increasing Sales and Output

The increased productivity has helped JELD-WEN keep costs down while boosting sales and output. Moreover, the increased speed freed designers to create a greater variety of designs and more elaborate products. This in turn spurred more sales and gave staff more time to meet with customers. Further, the sharp increase in programming and machining productivity translated into decreased die costs. "These lower costs are a significant factor in our profitability and our competitiveness," said Glenn Davina, JELD-WEN Engineering's programming manager.

"The interoperability and associativity between Autodesk Inventor and EdgeCAM has made my life a lot easier as a tooling designer and programmer," added Davina. "Whenever I make a change to a model in Autodesk Inventor, EdgeCAM picks it right up through its Solid Machinist for Inventor module without losing any data."

Automating Processes

Anything standardized that is periodically modified within unvarying parameters, such as tooling for doors and windows, is ideal for automation. Davina has taken full advantage and cites this automation as the secret to his success.

"Our programming productivity gains average 90 percent, thanks to extensive automation with EdgeCAM and its tight integration with Autodesk Inventor," said Davina.

With a series of five Pathtrace PCI macro-programs, Davina simply downloads the Autodesk Inventor file and selects surfaces and boundaries. By entering a few variables into the macros, the software assigns the tools, the tool paths, and the cutting parameters such as speed and feeds.

A typical job requires an average of 14 CAM programs and Autodesk Inventor for the design work, including detailed engineering and decorative touches. To ensure tight CAD-to-CAM integration so that design intent gets to the machine tools, JELD-WEN Engineering also uses Pathtrace's Solid Machinist for Inventor software. This ensures that any change in an Autodesk Inventor file is automatically and completely reflected in updates to the tool paths within EdgeCAM.

"Autodesk Inventor Series offers tremendous value and business benefits to our customers. When combined with our partner solutions, like those offered by Pathtrace, manufacturers are able to extend that value even further," said Robert Kross, vice president of the Manufacturing Solutions Division at Autodesk.

A Comprehensive Portfolio of Manufacturing Solutions

Delivering on its strategy to help customers create, manage and share their digital design data and solve critical business challenges, Autodesk offers the most comprehensive portfolio of integrated 2D and 3D design and data management solutions on the market. Autodesk's manufacturing solutions include Autodesk Inventor Series, the number one selling 3D mechanical design software, and Autodesk Inventor(R) Professional-both with Autodesk Vault data management built in; AutoCAD(R) Mechanical and AutoCAD(R) Electrical software; and the Autodesk Streamline(R) collaboration service. In addition, customers can take advantage of widely available third-party applications purpose-built for Autodesk software.

The easiest way to keep Autodesk design tools up-to-date is through the Autodesk(R) Subscription Program including Support services. For an annual fee, the program provides the latest versions of licensed Autodesk software, offering a budget-conscious way to stay current with the latest technology. For products like Autodesk Inventor Series and Professional, the program provides a timely cycle of new releases with rich new content as soon as it becomes available. Customers can also access Autodesk Consulting and Training services to maximize the value of their investment in Autodesk technology. For more information about Autodesk Subscription, visit www.autodesk.com/subscription.

About Pathtrace

Pathtrace Engineering Systems is the developer of EdgeCAM an extremely powerful, but easy to use software solution devoted to automating the process of NC programming for metal cutting machine tools. For information about Pathtrace and EdgeCAM visit www.edgecam.com. EdgeCAM is Windows 2000 Professional and XP compliant and has over 28,000 users worldwide. Pathtrace Engineering Systems is a division of Pathtrace plc. Offices are established in the United States, China and Japan, complementing a worldwide network of resellers.

About Autodesk

Autodesk is the world's leading design software and digital content company, offering customers progressive business solutions through powerful technology products and services. Autodesk helps customers in the building, manufacturing, infrastructure, digital media, and wireless data services fields increase the value of their digital design data and improve efficiencies across their entire project lifecycle management processes. For more information about the company, see www.autodesk.com.

NOTE: Autodesk, AutoCAD, Autodesk Inventor, and Autodesk Streamline are registered trademarks of Autodesk, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders.

SOURCE Autodesk, Inc.

Sarah Singleton of Fleishman-Hillard Inc., +1-415-318-4160, or
Singlets@Fleishman.com, for Autodesk, Inc.
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