[Andy A.]

Originally Posted by Molten

1. What makes you a professional?(how long you have used it, awards, jobs, etc...)

So far I've used CAD software in two jobs, including my current. One was a summer internship as a machinist at a hospital supporting the research staff and general maintenance. Typical CAD jobs consisted of prototyping new surgical equipment and test apparatus, generating prints of complex part features and documenting interesting things that came out of the shop for publication. I was the first person on staff able to use CAD and I like to think I made some positive changes.

My current job is at a company that manufacturers consumer level robots. My typical uses of Inventor are to document the existing designs as 3d models (as opposed to 2d autocad prints), and to help evolve the current designs through incremental changes and refinements. For instance many of the parts used are injection molded. Many of the molds are quite old and due to be replaced soon. So I am currently involved in refining the mold design to help speed up cycle time and remove some long standing defects. I use Inventor to generate the molds and some 3rd party software to simulate the injection and cooling process. It's way cool and just a little over my head. I'm learning quick though.

Originally Posted by Molten

2. What is the greatest advantage Inventor has over other drafting softwares?

These days theres a lot of convergence in the mid level software. There really isn't a whole lot of difference in Solidworks and Inventor. What is there is mostly a matter of preference, and preference is largely based on what you learned to use first. I started with Inventor, and my employer decided to buy it, so I've not used Solidworks enough to really give a good side by side comparison. It's far more common, so it's obviously good.

I think Inventor benefits a lot from autoCAD. Autodesk has a lot of experience in the industry and a built in network of users and company's supporting the brand. So there are lot of classes you can attend and a lot of web based support forums and such. Solidworks is probably fine in this respect, but I've never run into it.

I think it also has a pretty 'clean' interface that lets you put up a lot of tools while still maintaining a large work area. It also lets me move a good many of the tool bars and menus to a second screen, something solidworks isn't as good at. I think both programs need better dual monitor support though.

Originally Posted by Molten

3. How would you describe the thought process used with CAD?

My own process when creating a part or assembly from scratch is to consider how it will be made in the shop. From there I can construct the part in Inventor in a similar fashion. I think this helps me avoid creating features that are difficult or impossible to actually manufacture or just plain useless (are those fillets really needed?).

Over all we use CAD because it's (potentialy) faster then drafting by hand in the long run. So in that sense the thought process is about speed; how to do it faster, how to do it cheaper.

I'm lucky to be in the industry now and not 50 years ago. I can't draw by hand to save my life. So I'm always thinking 'thank you whoever dreamed this software up so I don't have to draw this crazy section!'

Originally Posted by Molten

4. What is your favorite tool and why?

My most used is the general dimension tool. It's pretty obvious why, but hey, nothing gets done with out it. So you learn to love it even if it isn't terribly sexy.

My favorite would have to be the symmetric constraint. So often we have to design things that are symmetric, or have symmetric features. This little guy saves me an enormous amount of time both during initial drafting and during revisions.

I also like the circular and rectangular pattern tools as well.

Originally Posted by Molten

5. How do you teach this software to someone new?

I've never had the need. However, I think the best approach is one that very slowly evolves in complexity. I'm not a big fan of dumping every possible tool and feature on me when learning a new program, so I think I'd probably teach assuming everyone else is the same. I imagine at least the first hour of real instruction would revolve solely around working with sketches before ever doing something 3d.

After that, I guess I would slowly introduce each feature in turn. Part of that would include demonstration of how to properly annotate each new feature in a drawing. I don't think you can properly teach any CAD software if you don't devote equal time to print generation as you do model generation. One is useless with out the other.

All this assumes that the person I'm teaching already has a solid basis in design. Otherwise it's like teaching me Photoshop- I can learn what the buttons do but I can't apply them and I won't understand 90% of what I'm told.

Of course I'm still learning this stuff, and will always be. I wouldn't feel comfortable teaching anyone yet.

Originally Posted by Molten

6. What companies do you know that use this software? (if any)

Right now only the one I work for. I know that Solidworks is the dominate package in the class, but Inventor is still widely used. Larger companies like Bosch or Black and Decker probably use a mixture of Pro/E, Catia and other high level programs based on project needs.

Originally Posted by Molten

7. Please list the tools that you would show in a 5-7 minute demonstration?(for them to understand, not to be able to use)

I would probably demonstrate a simple sketch, extrusion of a block and placement of a hole. I would then create a corresponding peg that's dimensions are dependent on the hole. Then create a quick drawing of both. Then demonstrate that when the hole size changes, so does the peg and so does the drawings, all by changing one dimension. I hope this would convey the true power of parametric CAD- the ability to quickly and easily make changes to models and drawings.

If I were demonstrating the program to some young students or someone who'd never seen CAD software I might just make a simple a part and then incorporate all the really flashy features into it like sweeps, revolves and lofts. I would also like to have a fairly complex assembly that I can then drive in order to show how Inventor can be used to demonstrate a complex working device. That always gets lots of ooohs and aaaahhhs.

Originally Posted by Molten

8. Is there anything else you can think of that is of importance?

Speed is life in this job (mine anyways). I've got to do everything faster and cheaper then the guy in China I replaced. I've also got to do it better and avoid the problems that lead to my being hired in the first place. But hopefully I'll do my job right, and in 10 years when all the products need to be changed around I'll be able to do it quickly and efficiently. Better yet, I'll be able to have a intern do it for me. I like that idea.

Originally Posted by Molten

9. What is your primary CAD software?

At work I use Inventor v11. At home I have Inventor v10, and a student version of Solidworks 06. I like both, but Inventor gets more use because it's a full version and my work is already in the right format. I wish I could cherry pick elements of both and make the perfect modeling software. For instance I really like COSMOS, and I don't like the equivalent in Inventor.

I hope all that helps. I'm still pretty 'green' in the industry, but I'm making my own little dent.

-Andy A.