GETTING STARTED

Project Falcon is a new way to investigate aerodynamic performance. Its speed and accuracy work in concert with physically intuitive controls for defining wind direction and speed. At the heart of Falcon is a cutting-edge approach to CFD simulation that removes barriers to meshing coupled with a unique numerical method that allows a broader design audience to benefit from simulation early in the design process.

The technology preview can be used as a standalone application with no other license required or as an add-on for Inventor or Revit. To get started with Falcon, access the download link on the right side of this page.

STANDALONE

If you are using the standalone version, upon opening the software you’ll get to try out one of the included vehicle sample models. Next you can either search the web for other models or create your own in virtually any Computer Aided Design (CAD) tool.

To get started with the Project Falcon standalone application:

1. Login (or register) on this labs site. Download the Project Falcon installer, and run the installer.
2. Double-click on the desktop shortcut to start the application.
3. The application will load a sample file and begin simulating air flow around it
4. You may explore flow around that sample, investigate the others, or load your own geometry files in *.stl, *.obj, *.3DS, *.lwo, *.off, *.ply, or *.tpf format. For those interested in creating their own models but don’t have CAD we recommend checking out Autodesk 123D or Autodesk Inventor Fusion.

The current version of the standalone includes the following:

• Available on both Windows and Mac platforms
• Simple, easy to use controls for wind tunnel settings and results visualization
• Reads in formats from almost all CAD systems and many online CAD model providers (*.stl, *.obj, *.3DS, *.lwo, *.off, *.ply, *.tpf)
• 2D and 3D flow lines, planes, pressure shading, drag coefficient and drag force outputs

INVENTOR

If you are using Falcon for Inventor, after installing the add-in simply open Inventor and load a saved solid part or assembly model. You can turn on the flow simulation by hitting the Falcon button available in the Environments tab.

To get started with the Project Falcon add-on for Inventor:

1. Login (or register) on this labs site. Download the Project Falcon installer, and run the installer.
2. Start Autodesk Inventor and load a model.
3. Click on the ribbon element to work with Project Falcon.
   

The current version of Falcon for Inventor includes the following:

• Compatible with Inventor 2013 Professional (32 and 64 bit)
• Ribbon-based controls for wind tunnel settings and results visualization
• Wind tunnel simulation can be left "on" to dynamically update while making top level part/assembly changes on standard Inventor solid geometry
• 2D and 3D flow lines, planes, pressure shading, drag coefficient and drag force outputs
• Customizable wind tunnel size and model resolution

REVIT

If you are using Falcon for Revit, after installation you will see a new Falcon tab added to the interface. You can load a 3D model or create some geometry from scratch, then turn on Falcon by hitting the start button on the Falcon ribbon.

To get started with the Project Falcon add-on for Revit:

1. Login (or register) on this labs site. Download the Project Falcon installer, and run the installer.
2. Start Autodesk Revit and load a building information model.
3. Click on the ribbon element to work with Project Falcon.

The current version of Falcon for Revit includes the following:

• Compatible with Revit 2013 (onebox, Architecture, Structure, and MEP in 64 bit versions)
• Ribbon-based controls for wind tunnel settings and results visualization
• Wind tunnel simulation can be left "on" to dynamically update while modifying geometry in Revit
• 2D result planes showing velocity or pressure, user specified velocity and pressure measurement probes, option to save result screen captures within the Revit file
• Customizable wind tunnel size and model resolution
• Optional wind profile input to account for wind shear

AUTOCAD

If you are using Falcon for AutoCAD, after installation you will see a new Falcon tab added to the interface. You can load a drawing or create some geometry from scratch, then turn on Falcon by hitting the start button on the Falcon ribbon.

To get started with the Project Falcon add-on for AutoCAD:

1. Login (or register) on this labs site. Download the Project Falcon installer, and run the installer.
2. Start AutoCAD and load a drawing.
3. Click on the ribbon element to work with Project Falcon.