Quote:
Originally Posted by Gherkinman
However, I have noticed that Inventor doesn't like it when you organize your work into sub-folders. I like to keep my computers organized but inventor has trouble finding the path names when i put parts in subfolders. This leads to many whiny pop-ups demanding pathnames whenever I try to open my project and seems like an oversight on the designer's part : /
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The problem is not in the software in this instance, I'm afraid, but in what you are not telling us about
HOW YOU make sub folders I have to believe.
In my profession (CAD Drafter/Designer) we have ISO standards that we have to follow that says where things are stored and how.
If I created an Assembly from parts laying on my Desktop, and then MOVE those parts, then yes, even the best software will complain about not finding my parts.
SolidWorks does it too, and any software that needs external references.
Where I work, we have set directories where we keep certain part files, and what not. If someone were to even rename every folder we have created in advance for this organizational purpose, it would definitely yell at me with some annoying errors.
The best thing I can tell someone who is starting to learn CAD and especially 3D cad with external references (ie: An assembly file that uses separate part files) is to set up an organized folder system in Windows
BEFORE you start any modeling.
For Example, a robot could have a folder for hardware, chassis parts, arm parts, grabbers, ramps, and what not.
I have been using
TRUE 3D Modeling softwares for 5 years now (Not Autocad's fake version of 3D using wireframes and what not, but softwares like Autocad Mechanical Desktop, Inventor, SolidWorks, and Pro-E.)
The biggest gripe I hear at work from the new 3D modeling users is that when they make parts, they forget to put something where it is supposed to go in the directory structure, realize it a week down the road, go to move it and all of a sudden now their assembly files yell at them for not being able to find the parts.
I wonder why.
And I agree 100% with what worldbringer said about Inventor being a professional CAD system. Search Careerbuilder, or Monster.com for CAD Jobs and see what softwares you see come up and the salaries for each. The more "professional" the software, the higher the pay rate. Programs like AutoCAD Inventor, and SolidWorks are at the low end of Professional CAD Softwares, that's true, but they are no MS Paint. Programs like Pro-Engineer Wildfire, Catia, and others are high end.
The true power and "professionalism" in a sotware lies not in what the print looks like at the end of the day, but what Engineering tools are available within the software. When GM makes the fully 3D model of your car, they probably use something similar to Catia, which has stress analyzation tools, and also many more
Engineering tools built in.
Yes, for you SolidWorks users out there who are following along with me, even more high end than COSMOS.
Global companies do not use MS Paint to make a CAD Drawing, but it could suffice for a simple sketch to get an idea across, and that's about it. (And yes, I'll admit, I did that before at work for a quick and VERY dirty job.)
While my background in 3D is mostly in SolidWorks and I complained about the differences when attempting to help the students this year as to the intuitiveness of Inventor, it was not a complaint about now unpowerful the system was, but what I was used to as far as SolidWorks went..
If I was hired at a company, as a Drafter, and I was told to make
actual drawings in MS Paint, I would deny that position right away, cause it's more trouble than it's worth and isn't that professional and would look like a joke on a resume'.
They shouldn't have a need for a CAD operator if they are using MS Paint.
Anyone can draw something in MS Paint. You may as well just use a napkin, or a piece of notebook paper, or as the machinist at my place calls that approach, AutoPAD.
