CAx Addon (CAx)¶

1. Product Description¶

1.1. Solution Overview¶

AICAx is an add-on for Autodesk Fusion 3D CAD/CAM/CAE software which provides integration with AI-assisted optimization modules developed in AIMDO and AIMDG. Using this add-on designers can interact with the AIDEAS Machine Design Optimizer (MDO) / AIDEAS Machine Synthetic Data Generator (MDG) directly from Autodesk Fusion which shortens the design process by eliminating unnecessary steps. Designers no longer need to export the design from CAD software, import it to the MDO, run the simulation, and import optimised geometry back to CAD software but can accomplish all of this in the CAD software itself.

The main features and functionalities offered by the CAx add-on are the following:

Login to the MDO / MDG.
Upload the model from Autodesk Fusion in STEP format to the MDO and create corresponding digital twin.
List all existing digital twins stored in the MDO / MDG.
Start simulation for the selected digital twin with provided parameters for single or multiple flows.
List simulations that have been run for the selected digital twin, show parameters used to run the simulation and the simulation status.
Download simulation results as a PDF document for successfully finished simulations.
Retrieve optimized model from the MDO / MDG and open it in Autodesk Fusion or update current model.
Notify the user when simulation completes.

The main purpose of this solution is to provide user friendly means of interaction with MDO / MDG directly from the CAD/CAM/CAE software.

1.2. Prerequisites¶

• Hardware Requirements¶

For the Plugin itself there are no specific Hardware requirements. The hardware must be able to run the Fusion solution. Thefore we can say that the minimum requirements are such as suggested by AutoDesk:

System Requirements for Autodesk Fusion (Windows)
	Minimum	Recommended
Operating System	Windows 10, 22H2 (Build 19045 or newer) Windows 11, 22H2 (Build 22621 or newer) Microsoft Modern Lifecycle Policy Pre-release and Insider Windows builds are not eligible for product support. Note: The final version of Windows 10, 22H2, will reach end of support from Microsoft on October 14, 2025.	Windows 11, version 22H2 (Build 22621 or newer) Microsoft Modern Lifecycle Policy Pre-release and Insider builds are not supported.
CPU (Processor)	x86-64 processor 2 performance cores, 4 threads 3GHz+ turbo clock rate Example: Intel Core i3, AMD Ryzen 3, or similar 32-bit processors are not compatible with Fusion ARM64 devices can run Fusion on Windows 11 using XtaJIT64/Prism emulation. This functionality has not yet completed certification by Autodesk Fusion.	x86-64 processor 8+ performance cores, 16+ threads 3GHz+ base clock rate Example: Intel Core i7, AMD Ryzen 7, or similar
RAM (Memory)	8GB	32GB+
GPU (Graphics)	1GB Memory Dedicated/Integrated Graphics DirectX11 (Direct3D 10.1 or greater) Example: Intel UHD and Iris Pro, AMD Radeon RX Vega, Nvidia MX series Legacy graphics drivers are not supported. Driver updates must be supported by GPU manufacturer.	8GB+ Memory Dedicated Graphics DirectX11 (Direct3D 10.1 or greater) For professional Fusion usage, Autodesk recommends Certified Graphics Hardware like AMD Radeon Pro WX, Intel Arc Pro, and Nvidia Quadro or similar. For hobbyist usage, consumer graphics similar to AMD Radeon RX 7000, Intel Arc A700, and Nvidia GeForce RTX 4000 series are generally compatible with Fusion, but have not been validated for use with the application by card vendors nor Autodesk.
Display Resolution	1366x768 @60hz (100% scale) Standard canvas graphics	3480x2160 (4K) @60Hz (200% scale) High resolution canvas graphics
Storage	8.5GB for installation Hard Disk Drive	15GB+ for installation and cached data Solid State Disk
Input Device	HID-compliant mouse or trackpad, optional Wacom tablet and 3Dconnexion SpaceMouse support
Internet	5 Mbps download; 1 Mbps upload See also: Ports and Domains required by Fusion	25+ Mbps download; 5 Mbps upload See also: Ports and Domains required by Fusion
Dependencies	SSL 3.0, TLS 1.2+, .NET Framework 4.5 or newer required to submit crash reports

System Requirements for Autodesk Fusion (macOS)
	Minimum	Recommended
Operating System	macOS 13.7.4 Ventura Note: Fusion will not install or launch on unsupported legacy OS versions. Legacy Fusion client versions are not available for download. (Learn more) OpenCore Legacy Patcher is not supported See also: Autodesk Fusion Unsupported Mac Hardware Configurations	macOS 14.7.4 Sonoma or newer macOS 15.3.1 Sequoia or newer Note: Relief Pattern appearance on macOS 14 w/ Apple silicon
Processor/Chip	1.4GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor or Apple silicon M1 chip	Apple silicon M1 Max chip or newer
RAM (Memory)	4GB	16GB+
GPU (Graphics)	Intel HD Graphics 5000 or Apple M1	Apple M1 Max chip or newer For professional usage, Autodesk recommends Certified Graphics Hardware
Display Resolution	1366x768 @60hz Retina scaling disabled Standard canvas graphics	3480x2160 (4K) @60Hz Retina scaling enabled High resolution canvas graphics
Storage	8.5GB for installation Hard Disk Drive	15GB+ for installation and cached data Solid State Disk
Input Device	HID-compliant mouse or trackpad, optional Wacom tablet and 3Dconnexion SpaceMouse support
Internet	5 Mbps download; 1 Mbps upload See also: Ports and Domains required by Fusion	25+ Mbps download; 5 Mbps upload See also: Ports and Domains required by Fusion
Dependencies	SSL 3.0, TLS 1.2+, Rosetta 2 Note: While Autodesk Fusion itself is a native Apple silicon application, some specific commands are transitioning to ARM64 and will prompt for installation of Rosetta 2 as-needed.

Latest suggested requirements are available here: System requirements for Autodesk Fusion

• Software Requirements¶

The PlugIn is running inside the Fusion solution by AutoDesk (link) which is officially supported only on Windows and Mac desktop operating systems

• External Dependencies¶

A valid user account issued by IANUS Simulation GmbH
An active and stable connection to the public internet

2. Installation¶

2.1. Environment Preparation¶

The system needs to have installed either the Windows or Mac operating system and the Fusion solution by AutoDesk. An user account with IANUS services must be anbled and working for communication with cloud backend servers.

2.2. Step-by-Step Installation Process¶

To install the add-in, you have to do the following:

Download the zip file and extract it to the %appdata%\Autodesk\Autodesk Fusion 360\API\AddIns folder.
In Autodesk Fusion go to Utilities toolbar and click ‘Add-ins’.
In the ‘Scripts and Add-Ins’ dialog box go to the ‘Add-Ins’ tab and click plus button near the ‘My Add-Ins’ label.
In the ‘Select Folder’ dialog box select the aideas-cax-addon folder.
The CAx add-in should be now listed in the ‘My Add-Ins’ section. Select it and click ‘Run’ button.
To open the CAx, go to the Utilities toolbar, click dropdown arrow from Add-ins tool and select ‘AIDEAS CAx’ menu option.

3. Initial Configuration¶

3.1. First Steps¶

3.2. Main Workflows¶

The CAx plugin enables seamless integration between Autodesk Fusion and the AI-assisted modules of AI-MDO (Machine Design Optimizer) and AI-MDG (Machine Design Generator). Below is a step-by-step guide outlining the primary workflows:

• Workflow Description (Step-by-Step)¶

🔹 Upload a Model and Create a Digital Twin¶

Open or design a 3D model in Autodesk Fusion.
Select “Upload to MDO/MDG” from the AICAx interface.
The plugin converts the model into STEP format.
The model is transmitted via HTTPS to AI-MDO/MDG and stored as a new digital twin.
A success or error notification confirms upload status.

🔹 List Digital Twins¶

Click on “My Digital Twins” in the plugin UI.
All associated digital twins stored in the MDO/MDG backend are listed.
Table entries display name, creation date, and geometry preview.

🔹 Start a Simulation¶

Select a digital twin from the list.
Input simulation parameters: inflow temperature, material type, throughput, number of flows, etc.
Click “Start Simulation”.
A simulation job is submitted to AI-MDO/MDG.
The plugin periodically polls job status and notifies the user upon completion or failure.

🔹 View Simulation Results¶

Navigate to the Simulations section of the selected digital twin.
All past simulations are listed with metadata (status, input parameters).
For completed simulations, click “Download Report” to retrieve a PDF document containing detailed simulation output.

🔹 Manage Digital Twins¶

Delete obsolete digital twins from the system via the “Delete Twin” option.
Receive instant feedback on operation success/failure through the built-in notification system (success/error types).

• Examples or Use Cases¶

3.3.1 Industrial Use Case: Spiral Distributor Optimization¶

Scenario: A mechanical design engineer at BBM is developing a spiral flow distributor for a polymer extrusion system.

Traditional Workflow:

Design in Fusion → Export STEP → Upload to AI-MDO → Run simulation → Download optimized model → Re-import into Fusion.

With CAx Plugin:

The engineer designs the geometry in Fusion.
Directly uploads the model to AI-MDO from within Fusion.
Launches a simulation with temperature and material parameters.
Receives a notification when the simulation completes.
Imports the optimized model directly into the design workspace.
Saves hours of iteration time and eliminates risk of file mismatches.

4. General Queries¶

4.1. Installation and Configuration Contact (If Service Provided)¶

For assistance with setup, credentials, or login issues:

Contact: support@ianus-simulation.de

4.2. Technical Support¶

Company: IANUS Simulation GmbH
Website: https://ianus-simulation.de/en/
Logo: IANUS Logo

4.3 Licensing and Commercial Terms¶

AI-MDO is available under the following models:

AGPLv3 (open source)
Private/Commercial License

Subject	Value
Payment Model	Available on quotation
Price	Available on quotation

Contact IANUS for licensing and pricing details.

5. Appendices¶

5.1. Glossary of Terms¶

5.1 Glossary of Terms¶

Term	Definition
AICAx	An Autodesk Fusion plugin developed by Xlabs that integrates AI-based simulation and optimization workflows directly into the CAD environment.
CAx	A general abbreviation referring to computer-aided technologies including CAD (design), CAM (manufacturing), and CAE (engineering).
Fusion	Autodesk Fusion (formerly Fusion 360), a cloud-based 3D CAD, CAM, and CAE software for product design and manufacturing.
AI-MDO	AIDEAS Machine Design Optimizer – a web-based simulation platform for evaluating and optimizing mechanical system performance.
AI-MDG	AIDEAS Machine Synthethic Data Generator – a tool for creating synthetic datasets and geometries for training and simulating mechanical models.
Digital Twin	A digital replica of a physical component or system used for simulation, optimization, and real-time interaction.
STEP File	A standardized CAD file format used to represent 3D geometry for exchange between different software environments.
Simulation	A virtual execution of physical behavior based on defined parameters (e.g., flow, temperature, material), executed within AI-MDO/MDG.
Optimized Model	A CAD geometry modified through AI-based simulation and design feedback to improve performance or meet design constraints.
UI/UX	User Interface / User Experience – refers to the design and interaction quality of the plugin within Autodesk Fusion.
PDF Report	A downloadable document automatically generated upon simulation completion, containing detailed results and visual plots.