In a totally unexpected move (unexpected by me anyway), Autodesk has just bought online website Instructables.com for an undisclosed sum. This looks to be a move to further Autodesk’s use in the home CAD industry currently owned by other lower-cost, and typically less feature rich, alternatives.
In today’s press release announcing the purchase, Autodesk says it believes Instructables will introduce its existing customers “to a thriving community of like-minded, smart individuals, with whom they can learn and share their personal inspiration or hobbies.” In turn, it sees existing Instructables members benefiting from (i.e., buying) Autodesk’s wide variety of design tools.
It kinda makes sense, if Autodesk could release something like 3dsMax or Autocad “lite” targeted at these home hobby designers and didn’t cost the hundreds or thousands of dollars.
