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Your CAD Automation Shouldn't Require CAD Licenses

Traditional CAD automation is trapped on the desktop. Sales teams can't generate quotes without an engineer. Customers can't visualize configurations without expensive software. APS moves your engineering logic to the cloud.

Desktop-Locked Workflows

Engineering automation that only works on engineers' machines.

  • License Bottleneck Every configuration request requires an engineer with a CAD license.
  • No Self-Service Sales and customers wait hours or days for engineering to generate outputs.
  • Can't Scale More orders = more engineers. Linear scaling with no efficiency gain.
  • No Collaboration Stakeholders can't view or interact with designs without CAD software.

Cloud-Powered Engineering

Autodesk's CAD engines running in the cloud, accessible via any browser.

  • Zero CAD Licenses for Users Sales, dealers, and customers use a web browser — nothing to install.
  • Instant Self-Service Configure products, generate drawings, and get quotes — in minutes.
  • Elastic Scaling Process 10 or 10,000 configurations — cloud scales automatically.
  • Interactive 3D Viewing Anyone can rotate, measure, and explore models in a web browser.
Results

What APS Enables

Browser-Based Access

Configurators and viewers that run anywhere — desktop, tablet, or phone.

Minutes, Not Days

Generate complete drawing packages in minutes instead of waiting for engineering.

Infinite Scalability

Cloud infrastructure scales with demand. No hardware limits.

System Integration

Connect design data to ERP, PLM, and CRM via REST APIs.

Technical Stack

APS APIs We Work With

We build solutions using the full Autodesk Platform Services ecosystem.

Core API

Design Automation API

Run AutoCAD, Inventor, Revit, and Fusion engines in the cloud. Execute iLogic rules, custom plugins, and scripts without desktop installations.

  • AutoCAD, Inventor, Revit, Fusion, 3ds Max
  • Headless model & drawing generation
  • iLogic rules & custom add-ins
Conversion

Model Derivative API

Translate 70+ file formats, extract metadata, generate thumbnails, and prepare models for web viewing.

  • DWG, RVT, IPT, STEP, STL, OBJ + more
  • Property & hierarchy extraction
  • SVF2 output for Viewer SDK
Visualization

Viewer SDK

Embed interactive 2D/3D model viewing in your web application. WebGL-based, no plugins required.

  • Rotate, measure, section, explode
  • Custom extensions & markup tools
  • 70+ formats supported
Storage

Data Management API

Manage files across Autodesk cloud platforms — BIM 360, ACC, Fusion Team. Upload, download, version, and organize project data via REST APIs.

Events

Webhooks & Authentication

OAuth 2.0 for secure access, webhooks for real-time notifications. Build event-driven workflows that respond to file changes and status updates automatically.

Solutions

What We Build on APS

Common solutions we deliver for manufacturing and engineering companies.

Most Popular

Web-Based Product Configurators

Sales teams or customers select product options in a browser. APS generates 3D models, 2D drawings, BOMs, and quotes automatically using Inventor or AutoCAD in the cloud.

  • • Real-time 3D preview via Viewer SDK
  • • iLogic rules enforce engineering constraints
  • • PDF drawings & STEP files on demand
High Impact

Cloud Drawing Automation

Generate production-ready drawings in the cloud without desktop AutoCAD. Batch process DWG files, update title blocks, enforce standards, and export PDFs at scale.

  • • AutoCAD engine in the cloud
  • • Custom .NET plugins or scripts
  • • No local licenses required
Collaboration

3D Viewer Portals

Embed interactive 3D model viewers in your website, customer portal, or internal tools. Let stakeholders explore designs without CAD software.

  • • Measure, section, explode assemblies
  • • Custom UI extensions
  • • 70+ file formats supported

CAD-to-ERP/PLM Integration

Extract BOMs, material specs, and iProperties from CAD models and push them directly into your ERP or PLM system. Eliminate manual data re-entry and create a connected digital thread from design to production.

Batch File Processing & Migration

Convert, update, and validate thousands of CAD files in the cloud. Format conversions, metadata extraction, standards compliance checks, and legacy file migrations — all without tying up local machines.

Why FDES

APS Requires Both Cloud and CAD Expertise

Building on Autodesk Platform Services isn't just web development. It requires deep understanding of the CAD engines running in the cloud — Inventor's parametric logic, AutoCAD's drawing database, iLogic rule authoring, and the nuances of each API.

We bring 15+ years of Autodesk API experience combined with modern web and cloud architecture. Our team has built production APS solutions for manufacturing companies worldwide — from product configurators generating thousands of variants to enterprise integrations connecting CAD to SAP.

See how we work

Deep API Knowledge

AutoCAD .NET, Inventor COM, iLogic, ObjectARX — we know the internals.

Cloud Architecture

REST APIs, OAuth, webhooks, scalable backends — production-grade systems.

Manufacturing Focus

We understand engineering workflows, BOMs, tolerances, and production processes.

Production Proven

500+ projects delivered. Real manufacturing workloads, not proof-of-concepts.

Who It's For

Is APS Right for Your Project?

APS is ideal when you need engineering automation that reaches beyond the desktop.

Configure-to-Order Manufacturers

You produce customizable products and want sales teams or customers to self-configure and get instant quotes with engineering outputs.

Dealer & Partner Networks

You need dealers or distributors to specify and quote your products without accessing your internal CAD systems or needing CAD licenses.

Teams Needing CAD-ERP Integration

You want to automatically extract BOMs, properties, and metadata from CAD models and push them into enterprise systems like SAP or Oracle.

ISVs Building on Autodesk

You're developing a SaaS product that needs to read, process, or visualize Autodesk file formats and want a development partner with deep API expertise.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Autodesk Platform Services (APS)?
APS (formerly Autodesk Forge) is Autodesk's cloud developer platform. It exposes the core capabilities of AutoCAD, Inventor, Revit, and Fusion as web APIs, allowing you to build custom applications that run these CAD engines in the cloud without requiring desktop installations.
Do end users need Autodesk software installed?
No. That's the key advantage of APS. The CAD engines run on Autodesk's cloud infrastructure. End users — sales teams, customers, dealers — interact through a web browser. No CAD software, no licenses, no installations.
How does APS pricing work?
APS uses Flex tokens — a pay-per-use model. You purchase tokens and consume them when using metered APIs (Design Automation, Model Derivative). There's also a free tier for development and testing. We help clients estimate token consumption based on their expected usage patterns.
Can APS work with SolidWorks files?
The Model Derivative API and Viewer SDK can translate and display SolidWorks files (among 70+ formats). However, the Design Automation API only runs Autodesk engines (AutoCAD, Inventor, Revit, Fusion, 3ds Max). For SolidWorks automation, we use the SolidWorks API with desktop-based approaches.
How long does a typical APS project take?
A simple 3D viewer integration can be delivered in 2-4 weeks. A full product configurator with Design Automation, custom UI, and ERP integration typically takes 3-6 months. We provide a detailed timeline after analyzing your specific requirements during the initial audit.
Track Record

Proven APS Expertise

15+

Years building on Autodesk APIs

500+

Automation projects delivered worldwide

5

APS engines we develop with

"FDES built our product configurator on Autodesk Platform Services. Our dealers now configure and quote products in minutes instead of waiting days for engineering. The 3D viewer alone transformed our sales process."

— VP Engineering, Industrial Equipment Manufacturer

Ready to Move Your CAD Automation to the Cloud?

Let's discuss your use case. We'll evaluate whether APS is the right platform and outline an architecture that fits your workflow.