Autodesk Inc. has named Magic Wheels Inc., a developer of multigear wheel systems for manual wheelchairs, the Autodesk Inventor of the Month for August 2007. The Inventor of the Month program (
www.autodesk.com/inventorofthemonth) recognizes the most innovative design and engineering advancements made by the extensive community using Autodesk Inventor software. Magic Wheels’ selection bears particular significance during National Inventors Month, the one month that the nation takes to recognize invention and creativity.
Magic Wheels was co-founded in 1996 by Steve Meginniss, the successful inventor and product developer of the Sonicare toothbrush, the Clarisonic skin care system and the Quinton Quik-Prep electrodes used in stress testing. The company sought to improve the wheel systems for rear-push manual wheelchairs, which had essentially remained the same for 150 years. Traditionally, these wheels provided only one gear, which made it difficult for wheelchair users to ascend and descend hills or navigate rough and uneven surfaces.
To address these challenges, Magic Wheels developed the MAGICWHEELS two-gear wheelchair drive. This mechanical wheel system works much like a two-speed bicycle, providing the user with two easily shifted gears for mobility enhancement to navigate ramps, hills and all types of varying terrain. The availability of different gears can lessen the incidence of repetitive stress injuries to the shoulders, arms and hands due to high driving loads.
“In the process of literally ‘reinventing the wheel,’ we had to explore a lot of different design ideas,” says Cisco Sabin, mechanical design engineer at Magic Wheels. “By creating digital prototypes in Inventor, we were able to fully explore and optimize our designs before producing expensive physical prototypes.”
“There has never been a more exciting time to be an inventor than now,” says Robert “Buzz” Kross, senior vice president of Autodesk Manufacturing Solutions. “Companies like Magic Wheels are using Digital Prototyping to refine the invention process, leveraging software that is as groundbreaking as their ideas. We are thrilled to name Magic Wheels as our Inventor of the Month for August. They are a true embodiment of the creativity and innovation that National Inventors Month represents.”
Each month, Autodesk selects an Inventor of the Month from the pool of Autodesk Inventor software users. Winners are chosen for engineering excellence and groundbreaking innovation. For more information on the Inventor of the Month, contact Autodesk at
IOM@autodesk.com.
Autodesk Moving Lakeside In July 2007, Autodesk began operating its Manufacturing Solutions software unit at a new 44,000 square-foot facility in Lake Oswego, OR. The division had been located at a smaller location in Tualatin, OR, since 1997.
Autodesk Manufacturing Solutions, one of the company’s largest divisions, has experienced steady growth resulting in the need to expand five times over the past ten years. In 2006 the decision was made to look at real estate options that would support the division’s expanding needs. After reviewing current market trends and local business parks in the nearby area, the division selected space in the Kruse Oaks II development in a suburban Portland office property.
“Our new facility at Kruse Oaks provides a dedicated home base for the Autodesk Manufacturing Solutions group and gives us an unrivaled R&D site for Autodesk’s industry-leading 3D digital prototyping software solutions,” says Buzz Kross, senior vice president of Autodesk Manufacturing Solutions. “Autodesk employees and customers alike will benefit from the new, improved facilities and the innovation they will foster.”
The building features elements for creating an environmentally sustainable work environment. In the fall of 2007 the office will open its state-of-the-art customer briefing center. In addition to offering easy access to downtown Portland, the Kruse Oaks office space provides a host of attractive amenities, including natural lighting and views, ergonomic furniture by Haworth and a leafy setting with walking paths and outdoor eating areas.
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