Anyone use AutoCAD and AutoDesk Inventor?

[fuzzybabybunny]

Anyone here use AutoCAD and also AutoDesk Inventor? I want to figure out which program to start exploring with.

On the AutoDesk Inventor site the first thing they show are the top 10 reasons to move FROM AutoCAD TO Inventor...

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/s...teID=123112&id=8410325

So does this mean I should just start with Inventor and try to figure it out?

 

[theflyingpig]

No, they are not easy to learn. No, you should not just "try to figure it out". You'll fail if you do. Everyone knows this.

 

[Ticky]

Originally posted by: theflyingpig
No, they are not easy to learn. No, you should not just "try to figure it out". You'll fail if you do. Everyone knows this.

 

[BoomerD]

If I can learn the basics of AutoCad...anyone can...BUT, there's a lot you need to know that's not as intuitive as with most software. Take a class.

 

[Born2bwire]

I used AutoCAD a lot years ago but for prototyping I got to like parametric CAD software a lot more. Inventor is one but I never used it past the demo software but I have used Pro Engineer and like that suite a lot. It was annoying to go from the mindset of drafting in AutoCAD/TurboCAD to Inventor/ProE but I think the latter are much more powerful and can generate the desired plans and the necessary CAM or rapid protyping files faster.

Can you just figure things out? No, despite the fact that theflyingpig takes this position too.

Besides, why you would want to drop $5K or so on AutoCAD when you're not in industry is beyond me.

 

[wwswimming]

Originally posted by: fuzzybabybunny
Anyone here use AutoCAD and also AutoDesk Inventor? I want to figure out which program to start exploring with.

On the AutoDesk Inventor site the first thing they show are the top 10 reasons to move FROM AutoCAD TO Inventor...

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/s...teID=123112&id=8410325

So does this mean I should just start with Inventor and try to figure it out?

i've had a chance to learn a number of CAD programs over the years. AutoCAD was not the easiest; also it's changed a bit with recent revs. one of my classmates in an animation class (of 3D Max) gave me a test drive (of AutoCAD).

are you trying to do drawings or to create 3D spaces ?

http://www.lynda.com/home/ViewCourses.aspx?lpk0=361

has some decent training for AutoCAD.

 

[jaha2000]

Most industry in our area has moved to solidworks...
I just took a week long training on it, pretty powerful stuff.
the 2d stuff is good to know, but honestly, its all about 3d these days..

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

wait, so are AutoCAD and AutoWorks Inventor extremely different from each other? Inventor seems like it natively creates things in 3D space. First individual 3D parametric parts, then all the parts being fit together into a final product, then the final product exploded apart in a presentation / owner's manual type of look, and then finally converted to 2D for manufacturing. And googling "is autocad easy to learn?" seems to return results that it's pretty straightforward.

I'm not in the industry, but i'm going to need it if i want to start producing products to sell to people, no? Nothing too complicated either, just metal parts fitting together. No electronics to begin with. I've already got an idea that I think could sell.

 

[LordMorpheus]

Originally posted by: theflyingpig
No, they are not easy to learn. No, you should not just "try to figure it out". You'll fail if you do. Everyone knows this.

Inventor is much easier than AutoCAD (imo).

You CAN learn inventor all by yourself, but not by fiddling around with it.

There is a very very good set of tutorials, if you carefully run through them in order you can easily become proficient all by yourself.

SolidWorks/CosmosWorks also has a really great set of tutorials.

I've found ProE's set to be lacking somewhat.

 

[ultimatebob]

Originally posted by: fuzzybabybunny
wait, so are AutoCAD and AutoWorks Inventor extremely different from each other? Inventor seems like it natively creates things in 3D space. First individual 3D parametric parts, then all the parts being fit together into a final product, then the final product exploded apart in a presentation / owner's manual type of look, and then finally converted to 2D for manufacturing. And googling "is autocad easy to learn?" seems to return results that it's pretty straightforward.

I'm not in the industry, but i'm going to need it if i want to start producing products to sell to people, no? Nothing too complicated either, just metal parts fitting together. No electronics to begin with. I've already got an idea that I think could sell.

What are you going be producing? Please tell us that it has something to do with fuzzy bunnies

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

EDIT: Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh....

I just realized that AutoCAD was a 2D design program and that Inventor is a 3D design program! I had just assumed that AutoCAD was also a 3D design program (considering the times?), which is why I was so confused on what was the big difference and all between the two.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Originally posted by: LordMorpheus

Originally posted by: theflyingpig
No, they are not easy to learn. No, you should not just "try to figure it out". You'll fail if you do. Everyone knows this.

Inventor is much easier than AutoCAD (imo).

You CAN learn inventor all by yourself, but not by fiddling around with it.

There is a very very good set of tutorials, if you carefully run through them in order you can easily become proficient all by yourself.

SolidWorks/CosmosWorks also has a really great set of tutorials.

I've found ProE's set to be lacking somewhat.

Are you talking about the tutorials that come with Inventor or ones from some other site?

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Originally posted by: ultimatebob

Originally posted by: fuzzybabybunny
wait, so are AutoCAD and AutoWorks Inventor extremely different from each other? Inventor seems like it natively creates things in 3D space. First individual 3D parametric parts, then all the parts being fit together into a final product, then the final product exploded apart in a presentation / owner's manual type of look, and then finally converted to 2D for manufacturing. And googling "is autocad easy to learn?" seems to return results that it's pretty straightforward.

I'm not in the industry, but i'm going to need it if i want to start producing products to sell to people, no? Nothing too complicated either, just metal parts fitting together. No electronics to begin with. I've already got an idea that I think could sell.

What are you going be producing? Please tell us that it has something to do with fuzzy bunnies

http://forums.anandtech.com/me...=2304757&enterthread=y

Kinda sorta but better? In a multitasker kind of way.

 

[LordMorpheus]

Originally posted by: fuzzybabybunny

Originally posted by: LordMorpheus

Originally posted by: theflyingpig
No, they are not easy to learn. No, you should not just "try to figure it out". You'll fail if you do. Everyone knows this.

Inventor is much easier than AutoCAD (imo).

You CAN learn inventor all by yourself, but not by fiddling around with it.

There is a very very good set of tutorials, if you carefully run through them in order you can easily become proficient all by yourself.

SolidWorks/CosmosWorks also has a really great set of tutorials.

I've found ProE's set to be lacking somewhat.

Are you talking about the tutorials that come with Inventor or ones from some other site?

The ones that are part of Inventor. I haven't used Inventor in five years, but that version shipped with really good tutorials.

My Solid/Cosmos Works experience is more recent and it also had really good (better than Inventor's) tutorials.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Originally posted by: LordMorpheus

Originally posted by: fuzzybabybunny

Originally posted by: LordMorpheus

Originally posted by: theflyingpig
No, they are not easy to learn. No, you should not just "try to figure it out". You'll fail if you do. Everyone knows this.

Inventor is much easier than AutoCAD (imo).

You CAN learn inventor all by yourself, but not by fiddling around with it.

There is a very very good set of tutorials, if you carefully run through them in order you can easily become proficient all by yourself.

SolidWorks/CosmosWorks also has a really great set of tutorials.

I've found ProE's set to be lacking somewhat.

Are you talking about the tutorials that come with Inventor or ones from some other site?

The ones that are part of Inventor. I haven't used Inventor in five years, but that version shipped with really good tutorials.

My Solid/Cosmos Works experience is more recent and it also had really good (better than Inventor's) tutorials.

Should I be looking into going with Solidworks then? I always thought that the AutoWorks stuff was the industry standard, like Adobe is to graphic design.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: theflyingpig
No, they are not easy to learn. No, you should not just "try to figure it out". You'll fail if you do. Everyone knows this.

QFT...if you are really a licensed owner then taking a class or simply dedicating the time to learn the application fully is usually taken.

In real life you have some warez dude crying how hard it is or how he is an expert....neither are usually true.

I have worked with AutoCAD and would never have a need for it at home.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

I taught myself autocad for doing cable drawings and such at work. It took me a good bit of time, but I'm alright at it. I wouldn't start making major assembly drawings and such without a course or two though.

 

[Born2bwire]

Originally posted by: fuzzybabybunny

Originally posted by: LordMorpheus

Originally posted by: fuzzybabybunny

Originally posted by: LordMorpheus

Originally posted by: theflyingpig
No, they are not easy to learn. No, you should not just "try to figure it out". You'll fail if you do. Everyone knows this.

Inventor is much easier than AutoCAD (imo).

You CAN learn inventor all by yourself, but not by fiddling around with it.

There is a very very good set of tutorials, if you carefully run through them in order you can easily become proficient all by yourself.

SolidWorks/CosmosWorks also has a really great set of tutorials.

I've found ProE's set to be lacking somewhat.

Are you talking about the tutorials that come with Inventor or ones from some other site?

The ones that are part of Inventor. I haven't used Inventor in five years, but that version shipped with really good tutorials.

My Solid/Cosmos Works experience is more recent and it also had really good (better than Inventor's) tutorials.

Should I be looking into going with Solidworks then? I always thought that the AutoWorks stuff was the industry standard, like Adobe is to graphic design.

You really looking to plunk down $5000 on this without any prior knowledge or experience? Unless you're going to Uni and get student version you are looking at around $5K for AutoCAD Inventer or Solid Works. Pro/E maybe a bit cheaper, around $2-3K.

 

[Howard]

AutoCAD is fairly easy to learn, but I don't think you'll see much success unless you actually NEED to learn it. Same goes with SolidWorks.

I tried using AutoCAD's 3D functions, but I didn't like it nearly as much as SolidWorks, obviously.

 

[imported_Imp]

AutoCAD is easy in 2D. 3D is a bit tricky, but once you get the hang of it, it's just as easy. Then again, I've only done small shapes and floor plans, section details with CAD (civil stuff). Course was one semester and about $800 if you price it out of my program.

 

[BoomerD]

http://www.journeyed.com/depar...0106&SKW=DPengineering

 

[Oil]

I currently use AutoCAD 2009. The new ribbon interface is slow but I can deal with it. As others have said, don't learn it unless your job requires it because you won't be using this program at home

 

[Pollock]

I had to learn to use Inventor during my first quarter, which felt like a step backwards, since I had learned to use Solidworks prior to that. Inventor will work, but I much prefer Solidworks.

 

[Modelworks]

Autocad started out nearly a decade ago . As such it does a lot of things that people new to the field might not quite understand. It is always tough releasing new versions of software while keeping the older users happy . Without knowing exactly what you want to do with a program it is hard to recommend anything.


If you just want to prototype something then I would go more with something like Rhino.
It is easy to learn and much cheaper on the wallet.
http://www.rhino3d.com/

 

[BoomerD]

There's always sketch-up.

Not nearly as good as a real CAD program, but you CAN do lots of things with it...and the basic version is free.

http://sketchup.google.com/download/index.html