how to learn inventor
 

I need to learn how to use inventor. Does anyone know where i can get cheap tuturiols.

Re: how to learn inventor
 

You shouldn't have to pay anything. Start with the built in tutorials (You can find them in the ribbon under getting started).

- Alex

PS if you haven't already done an evaluation of solidworks vs inventor, I highly recommend trying solidworks, it is much more standard in the FRC community runs better on slow machines and at this point you haven't put a bunch of time into learning inventor. To get a copy you have to request it from solidworks, there is a form on their site.

Re: how to learn inventor
 

Dead serious I learned from a 10 minute "this is how things work session" And If I didn't know what I was trying to do I would do the tutorial or plug and chug until I got what I wanted.

Also Yes look at all the programs to make sure you are getting into what you want. Who know's Inventor might not be suited to well to you. As for being more prominent in the FRC community well... I think that its pretty much even distribution, but thats me.

- Andrew

Re: how to learn inventor
 

I don't actually know that it is more prominent overall, but a majority of the teams who posted their CADs, when I asked said that they could give me a native solidworks files or a .step

Re: how to learn inventor
 

What I've found that helps people learn inventor is to learn to use all of the 2d functions (line, rectangle, circle, etc.) and extrude. Then learn to make simple parts (L-bracket, I-Bolt, etc.); Then move up to basic assemblies (use plates to make a cube). This will give most people the basics. To get good will take practice using the constraint system and some of the advanced design tools.

Re: how to learn inventor
 

Everything you need should be here
It's a wiki page for Inventor, and has video's and instructions on how to do pretty much everything you need. In the top left corner , you can change it to 2011 if you dont have 2012 yet.
also, within the inventor program itself is an in-depth help page. i think pressing something like F5 will pop it up, but you can find the little "?" icon at the top somewhere. Those two combined should give you all the information you need.
Also, as for the actual CADding, try and think of objects and then go CAD them. Better yet, look around your shop, and start out with easy stuff like batteries and mountain dew cans (:p ), and eventually work your way towards bandsaws and robots.
As for popularity, i would definitely say that Inventor is the most common, especially considering there's an Autodesk Design Award. However, SolidWorks is a great option and is a close second in commonality.
Hope this helps,
-Duke

Re: how to learn inventor
 

Right now, I don't think this is the place for an Inventor vs. Solidworks debate. The OP needs to learn Inventor, at least that's what he said (emphasis mine).

Help->Tutorials gets you to the best place--the built-in tutorials. It's been years since I used those, but I can still do that (I think--the last time I got my mouse on a copy of Inventor was back around 2007--since then it's been Solidworks because that's what is used at my college).

Lemiant, I don't think Solidworks is more "standard" in FRC; there are a number of teams who use Inventor (and Inventor also comes free to FRC teams, or used to). As a matter of fact, there isn't really a "standard" CAD platform in FRC...

The top 3 debates you don't want to bring up in a group of nerds: Mac vs PC vs Linux, Best Programming Language, and Best CAD Program.

Re: how to learn inventor
 

It actually gets easier than that. When you open up Inventor Professional 2012, the large ribbon near the top says "Getting Started". This ribbon has buttons that go to tutorials, animations, the wiki that was mentioned before and a couple other things. Also, I don't think you need internet to access the wiki, so if you are stuck somewhere you should still be able to access it.

I second that. Inventor vs. Pro-E was... interesting.

Re: how to learn inventor
 

Don't forget... It's "Creo" now :p

Re: how to learn inventor
 

Inventor has some good tutorials, better than solid works, so without a teacher it is probably easier to learn, If you want more practice, what I like to do is CAD unique solutions to older FRC games. read about a few good robots from a prior game and then design a better one.

As for choosing between solid works and inventor, I think solid works allows for faster Modeling, and more efficient use of time, however Inventor makes AWESOME renders, and the FEA in inventor blows the analysis tools in solid works out of the water. The file management and virtual parts in solid works are excellent, and again allow much faster development.

Re: how to learn inventor
 

We are in the training phase of Inventor and the old 3DsMax, however we are trying to make sure we are doing this right. Can anyone explain if PTC cad fies can be converted into DWG files to be used on Inventor. Or is there a DWG library of files for FTC parts that we can download from. Any info is very helpful.

Re: how to learn inventor
 

you can import PTC cad files right to inventor, but the constraints might not be right, and BTW Inventor uses .ipt

Re: how to learn inventor
 

All I have to say is make discoveries through clicking buttons, and google. Thats how I learned everything I know about Inventor, AutoCAD and Revit.

Re: how to learn inventor
 

Learning a 3d CAD Software is definitely a learning curve. It may appear difficult at first, and I'm sure you gape at some of the CAD you've seen before. I still do.

However, I can assure you it's not nearly as difficult as it may appear. When opening Inventor for the first time, I suggest, as many others here already have, gravitating towards the built in help tutorials on the Ribbon. That was my very first introduction to CAD, and while some may seem somewhat daunting, they really do help. After that, you're best of experimenting on your own for a while.

It is impossible to learn to CAD in 3d without practicing, practicing, practicing until you can't think of another object to work on. I very much suggest purchasing a set of dial calipers. They will make your experience MUCH easier and your work infinitely more accurate.

From this point, I press you to check out Rob Cohee's youtube channel. It is very lucky that Autodesk has a specific "Technical Evangelist" whose sole job is to provide tutorials on the software (meanwhile promoting it, of course). I will warn you that by this point, he has such a massive collection of videos that finding his core tutorials may take a while. Thankfully, youtube provides "folders" for their videos.

All in all, I really hope you follow through with your learning Inventor. It can be very rewarding and, though you may never have imagined, addictive. I can tell you from my experience that after spending one summer learning Inventor (with no prior background), I was promoted to CAD captain on team 1836 (though this is hardly impressive, the previous one graduated). That being said, it entitled me to make perhaps the greatest number of design decisions of anyone of the team, second to the team Captain. That is very rewarding.

Also, feel free to contact me at msimon@msedesign.net at any time for help. I am very willing to help people work through their Inventor problems.

Good Luck!

Re: how to learn inventor
 

You might start here
http://home.pct.edu/~jmather/skillsusa%20university.pdf
then after doing the built in Tutorials and Skill Builders search Google for Rob Cohee Inventor youtube for more tutorials and also a bunch here
http://www.mcadforums.com/forums/vie...30303d3 45bd2
When you finish thes I can recommend some others...

Re: how to learn inventor
 

I'd also like to highly recommend Dr. Mather's tutorials. They saved me an incredible amount of frustration and time, I only wish I'd found them sooner!

I'd also recommend trying to find someone proficient in the CAD program of your choice in your immediate area. A 30 second, "How do I do this?" kind of Q/A can save you hours and have a dramatic impact on the steep initial learning curve of many of these packages.

Plus, and take this to heart, it can keep you from developing some very bad habits....

Doc

Re: how to learn inventor
 

To learn inventor, I would go to the "Built by Design" videos that were made by seven FIRST robotics students this summer. I hope they can help you learn inventor.

Re: how to learn inventor
 

I am just learning how to use inventor myself and I have found the tutorials to be very helpful. Practice what you learn by building various household objects, such as tables and chairs at first, but then move on to more detailed designs. I have even built my guitar.

Hope this helped. :D