CAD-a-Blog has primarily been a blog about Tips and Tricks in AutoCAD. I have dabbled in Impression Tips, and have mentioned other design programs too. I have decided to move forward. I want to expand the horizons (and content) of CAD-a-Blog. I have started down a journey to learn new software. This will accomplish two main objectives: I will learn new skills, and I will expand the content of CAD-a-Blog.
The plan is to get my hands on a good training or reference manual and go through it, As I teach myself to use Inventor, I will blog about it. As I learn, my readers can learn. As I have questions, I will ask them and you can respond. Your input will help me along this journey.
I am very excited to get started. First I will have to install this beast! The case has seven DVDs in it. That's because it is the Professional Suite. Not only does it come with Inventor, but it also had AutoCAD Mechanical. Should I start there and work my way to Inventor later? I'm not sure yet. I want to learn both and I feel that Inventor will be the biggest challenge.
Have you used either program? How do you use it? How was your switch from CAD to Inventor? How does it compare with other software? (FYI: This is not the only new software I'm trying to learn.) Should I install Vault? Are you using Inventor LT? If so, why LT and not "regular" Inventor?
If you have written a book that teaches Inventor and/or AutoCAD Mechanical 2011 let me know. I am interested in seeing it.
I can't wait to get started.
Sounds Interesting. I look forward to reading about what you find out!
ReplyDeletePersonally I have looked at Autocad Mechanical as a separate piece of software. I have never used it before and I have no legacy data in Acad Mechanical, so I jumped straight into Inventor.
There is a link in the way you do things between Autocad and Autocad Mechanical. There is no link between Autocad and Inventor.
I still use Autocad for ground plans and 'sketching' out details. I use Inventor for all my 'Shop' drawings. It's a great tool!
Thanks Paul. I can't wait either. My first step is to find a good training manual or some sort. Any recommendations?
ReplyDeleteI've never been sent an Autodesk Inventor file I'm had to create toolpath on! SolidWorks totally dominates the market in San Diego, CA from what I can tell. The same held true when I lived in Phoenix, Arizona. Despite this fact, I finally see the potential in Autodesk Inventor 2011 to surpass SolidWorks. I first realized the potential power of Autodesk Inventor 2011 when I saw a video on You Tube showing what an Inventor 2011 user can do with the Alias For Inventor plug in. This is the direction I feel Autodesk needs to move in to get Inventor to stand out as a far better modeler than SolidWorks. The same can be said for the potential power of Autodesk Inventor Fusion as SolidWorks has no real direct modeling tools. Autodesk Inventor 2011 is the first sign I've seen that Buzz Kross's dreams might have a chance in hell of coming true. The massive amount of work that appears to have gone into Autodesk Inventor 2011 is the same effort that's needed for the next release of Autodesk Inventor. The focus for Autodesk needs to stay in the two areas I mentioned... Alias integration into Inventor and a much more powerful direct editing in order to surpass and to convert SolidWorks users to Autodesk Inventor.
ReplyDeleteJon Banquer
San Diego, CA
Good luck learning Inventor, I would suggest this book.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.amazon.com/Mastering-Autodesk-Inventor-LT-2011/dp/0470882875/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1271634202&sr=1-3
Also, I would rue the day that Jon Banquer switches to Inventor and started trolling in those discussion groups.
If the effort is made by Autodesk to really beef up Inventor Fusion and Alias For Inventor you will see many SolidWorks users switch with the release of Inventor 2012 besides just me.
ReplyDeleteHope this helped, :P
Jon Banquer
San Diego, CA
The Mastering Inventor 2011 book won't be published until August, according to Amazon. Is there anything else out there now?
ReplyDeletehttp://tinyurl.com/y4s8vnx
ReplyDeletehttp://tinyurl.com/y7nck6q
Jon Banquer
San Diego, CA
Thanks Jon. I'm having trouble finding Inventor 2011 books. i guess it's just too early still.
ReplyDeleteHave you considered video training? I personally find it to be a much better way for me to learn CAD or CAM.
ReplyDeleteVideo training for Autodesk Inventor 2011 is probably the same as books with very little available just yet.
Jon Banquer
San Diego, CA
Hi Brian,
ReplyDeleteIts CAD Professor, here (Sunith Babu) from India, I havI have been blogging about Autodesk Inventor since last Nov 2008. I have now started writing about Autodesk Inventor 2011.
Pls visit the site in case you need some learning materials.
http://CADProfessor.in
Brian,
ReplyDeleteMy Blog on Autodesk Inventor has been rated No 1. in the US, Canada, UK and India.
As you read the content and articles you will feel the difference
Thanks Sunith for the link. I will make sure to check it out.
ReplyDeleteHi Brian,
ReplyDeleteI have Inventor LT 2001 Suite. Am working on learning Inventor, slow going, ill health lately.
Interested in were your at in learning Inventor since last post on May 4th, 2010
Nowhere really. I hope to pick it up soon though.
ReplyDelete