What is APS?

APS stands for Autodesk Platform Services. It is a set of services that allow you to build applications that manipulate CAD data or data related to the entertainment industry (3ds Max, Maya...).

AutoCAD, Inventor and Revit in the Cloud

Imagine you want to set up a feature on your website that allows your customers to download plans or 3D models that need to be customized. For example, for an AutoCAD drawing, you want to fill in the customer's name and the project location in the title block. To do this, you can use the Automation API, which allows you to send tasks to be executed on servers running AutoCAD.

You start by installing a .NET add-in, a script, or an AutoLISP program in APS, then you can send DWG files to be processed, along with other data (such as customer or project information in our example). The processing takes place and a new DWG is sent back to you, which you can then forward to the customer via email.

This also works for 3D models, in which case you would use Inventor, Fusion, 3ds Max, or Revit. Since these applications can handle many file types, the possibilities are extensive.

As for the cost, it is proportional to processing time. There is a free option to let you experiment. Otherwise, you can either Prepay or Pay as You Go. The first option lets you control your budget, while the second lets you pay only for what you use.

Viewer

APS also offers a viewer that you can embed in your web pages to display 3D models or 2D drawings. This can be useful, for example, for your spare parts catalog.

The viewer offers many features for exploring the model:

• You can zoom, pan, rotate and orbit the model
• You can select objects and view their properties
• You can visualize the model structure
• You can section the model
• You can take measurements

Furthermore, the viewer is optimized and capable of displaying very large models.

Other Services

There are many other APIs available, especially for the construction industry:

• Autodesk Construction Cloud and BIM 360: for construction project management
• Civil 3D: for design and management of civil engineering projects
• Model Derivative API: for converting CAD files to web formats (SVF)
• Reality Capture: for creating 3D models from scans
• Tandem Data: for digital twins
• VRED: for virtual reality and augmented reality

Feel free to contact me if you would like to learn more about Autodesk Platform Services and if you are looking for solutions for your business.