Re: Why Inventor?
 

I guess you aren't familiar with Inventor Contact sets. The ratio method is actually far less processor intensive than contact solving which becomes readily apparent in large and/or complex assemblies.

Inventor Dynamic Simulation is pretty cool too. Just throw in gravity, define your forces...
http://images.autodesk.com/adsk/file...whitepaper.pdf
http://engineersrule.org

Re: Why Inventor?
 

Additionally, it seems that many colleges (maybe I'm wrong, I'm mostly only familiar with Olin and UMichigan) use solidworks.

As long as there are going to be many different CAD packages, it's likely that you'll have to learn a different one eventually. Getting used to transitioning between them as a result of using inventor in FIRST (Although my team used UG, and only a little inventor for learning), and then learning another program later helps prepare you more for the job market, in addition to the benefit of being able to manipulate multiple software packages.

(Also, solidworks has a pretty cool add-in called "cosmos motion" that can simulate interactions and forces.)

Re: Why Inventor?
 

Why would i use inventor over other drafting programs? because it's easy and fun. I've used AutoCAD and the environment is just not the same. with inventor i can whip up 2d representations, quick sketches, illustrations for ideas, finished products, and exploded views of assemblies... in several minutes - if i have everything i need. it helps that i enjoy doing it, too. :)


sometimes i even put down my PS2 controller and make stuff in inventor...

Re: Why Inventor?
 

Wow...how boring ARE your games? haha

Re: Why Inventor?
 

This may have just been my team, but when we got our copy of Inventor, it included a copy of AutoCad Mechanical. If Inventor is such a bad program, just use the copy AutoCad that was given out. and for some of us (the mechanically inclined portion) inventor is a much easier program to use. being able to start with a block and add and remove material just like you were actually machining them.

Re: Why Inventor?
 

hey, Guitar Hero is very hard to put down, and i do it, just so i can play with Inventor.

Re: Why Inventor?
 

Haha, I tried to play Guitar Hero a few times. I'm kinda glad I didn't get good at it, otherwise, I'd probably spend more time playing that than going to class :p