inventor/mechanical desktop

[computhief263]

i need a little help on any ideas on an easy way to learn how to use inventor and mechanical desktop.


if u can help me out jus responde to this thread or im me


Thanks,
Ducky

[SarahB]

The best way to learn Inventor is to just play around. Try opening up an ipt, play around with the 2-D sketch tools, experiment with dimensioning and constraints. Then right click-> finish sketch(you might have to right click-> done first) to get to the 3D environment and play around with the tools there. Its pretty simple once you get used to it. Also try some of the tutorials that come with it in the help file.

If you run into any trouble feel free to IM me, my sn is Sourgirl672.

[Clark Gilbert]

I'm going to have to agree with SarahB. I've been using Inventor since the days of Release 1 and i aquired that my freshman year. I had no clue what it was, so I instaled it on my computer and started playing. Through TechnoKats I got a later version, and then i enrolled in the Project Lead The Way course at my school last year. Because of my experience with just messing with Inventor I was way ahead of everyone in the class, and now I consider myself pretty proficient with the program. Heck I'm even modeling a "hog roaster" for a kid that goes to a county school (I guess it's his senior project).

Start off by playing with the program, play around with the settings (turn on "edit dimension when created" or something to that effect), and then try out the tutorials or even grab a pair of calipers or something and model something around your house. It can be anything from an ink pen, to a floppy disk, etc..

Have Fun!

[ItsPat]

Anyone have an idea as to how to construct a buckball in inventor?

by buckyball i mean a buckminsterfullerine, shaped like a soccer ball. made out of hexagons and pentagons. model of the carbon 60 molecule.

[JVN]

Originally posted by Clark Gilbert
...and then i enrolled in the Project Lead The Way course at my school last year.

Quick Aside here:
You have PLTW?
That's really cool, I didn't know how far it spread.
I only know about it because, our HS's up here have it, and I believe it was founded (at least in part) at "Shenedehowa HS" (where I went to school!).

[petek]

Inventor is a "pick it up and play with it to learn" program. I found that going through the tutorial project (a shower valve, I think) helped a little to get started. After that just start modeling stuff around you, learn when to use extrude vs. revolve, etc.

Once you're comfortable with the basic sketching and modelling operations spend some time learning about constraints - mastering them is really important if you want to do complex parts and assemblies.

There are a number of online resources with Inventor tutorials, too. Some good links:
http://www.cbliss.com/inventor/
http://www.sdotson.com/index.asp
http://www.mymcad.com/

Mechanical Desktop on the other hand is a royal pain to learn without a good tutorial and/or taking a course. It takes a lot of effort to do real engineering drawings in MD, but it will make you appreciate Inventor! MD does do a better job on 2D drawings than Inventor, though. It just takes more work.