I so agree on this one even our cadd and drafting instuctor has never even seen the inerface on inventor!! we get it and install it but in the end we use good old reliable auto cadd! 
This is what I think…
Inventor is like a stepping stone into CAD drawing. It is full of nice graphics and help files and is really good for someone who wants to learn what things like extrude, lathe, or loft mean. Our team has just started getting into CAD and so far no one knows AutoCAD, only Inventor. We havn’t really needed to use AutoCAD for anything, though those who plan on getting into a carrer that uses CAD should definately learn AutoCAD.
I’m more of a 3dsmax person myself. We modeled our entire robot last year in 3dsmax and not a CAD program. As far as I’m concerned, if it looks right, it’s fine (of course, precise measurements would be neccessary if you wanted to show someone how to build your bot).
*Originally posted by Jay Lundy *
**This is what I think…Inventor is like a stepping stone into CAD drawing. It is full of nice graphics and help files and is really good for someone who wants to learn what things like extrude, lathe, or loft mean**
So, it doesn’t offer any really useful features that AutoCAD might not? In particular, I’d like something that can be dynamic, while still maintaining the precision of AutoCAD.
I’ve designed much of our practice robot and it’s drive train in AutoCAD 2000, in complete 3D, and we can probably use that for everything we need. But, AutoCAD lacks the ability to easily work with moving parts, like hinges or pistons and things. Or, maybe I just lack the knowledge of how to accomplish something like that.
Yeah autocadd lacks the ineresting and graphical interface but it is basic and easy to use I am much more proficient in auto cadd than 3dsmax.
They teach inventor at our school for some Intro to Engineering design class…but the animation instructor that we have from Ivy Tech State College says that Inventor is some program to mess with once you learn autocad…if i were to vote between autocad and inventor id say autocad
I couldnt imagine that autocadd carried so much weight with so many people I would agree that autocadd is much easier than inventor
Okay, a few things -
First, did everyone receive their copies of the software already??? We’ve yet to receive ours, and we aren’t sure if that’s unusual.
Second -
I’ve finally had the chance to play with a copy of Inventor kindly provided by the nice folks at FESTO. I have something of a love/hate relationship with it.
First, why I dislike it:
I’m used to AutoCAD - so, Inventor is backwards and upsidedown to me.
I’m used to AutoCAD - I can’t stress enough how differently the two software packages work.
Making every bit as a separate part, and then placing them into an assembly is a little unusual.
Why I like it:
It’s disgustingly clever. It really does work like I do, starting with a rough sketch and taking that initial idea all the way through to finished product.
It has the ability to make changes on the fly, more or less, by adjusting dimensions rather than redrawing an entire part as you might do in AutoCAD. That saves a lot of time.
The assemblies are great for seeing how something will move and what it will bump into and stuff like that.
Overall, I think it’ll take some getting used to for an experienced AutoCAD user. But, for our students, I think it’s a really easy, intuitive tool, and they should pick it up pretty quickly.
We do have our software even though it took quight awhile to get. just finally got it a few days ago. I agree on the points made above, however i am a little old fassioned and still prefer autocadd.
I personally think that Inventor is much easier to use the AutoCAD but maybe thats because i use it every-other day at school for a class and i have had it at home for about 1 year now… Another CAD program i have that i like a lot if Solid Edge. I havent used it for awhile now but i expect to once we have our training on the new verison for technokats.
I have never seriously sat down and learned Inventor, but it seems like it is a waste of time, colleges dont use inventor in their classes (as far as I know) and most companies use AutoCAD, Unigraphics Solutions, or whatever…but i dont see what people see in Inventor
Vote in my survey about Inventor and autoCAD in the general forum
*Originally posted by D.J. Fluck *
**I have never seriously sat down and learned Inventor, but it seems like it is a waste of time, colleges dont use inventor in their classes (as far as I know) and most companies use AutoCAD, Unigraphics Solutions, or whatever…but i dont see what people see in Inventor **
That is true, but you have to remember that inventor is a fairly new software. It may catch on eventually and it’s probably a good idea to have a least a basic knowledge of how to use it.
Also with the speed at which updates are coming out (2 since last year), Autodesk is probably hoping this product will catch on.
autocad models have less faces than inventor models do. it’s been a proven fact from last year’s animation competition. i am not using inventor this year. lol 
ahhh
here is the software that 449 is gonna use for our photoreal animation this year:
- lightwave version 7
- Rhino 3d
- inventor… only if it impresses us enough…
- PHOTOCHOP
- Primere
w00t
No 3d Studio Max???
Wouldnt it be a good idea to use since its the “Autodesk” award…
just wondering?
(even though it doesnt state u have to use it)
*Originally posted by Clark Gilbert *
**No 3d Studio Max???Wouldnt it be a good idea to use since its the “Autodesk” award…
just wondering?
(even though it doesnt state u have to use it)
well, it doesnt say exspressly that you must use autodesk products, and Lighwave has higher render quaility… also, my group is not playing to win as much as we are playing to play and to make the Best Looking animation in first history, even better then the professional one done by the Big Machine 3 years ago… that is our goal…
*Originally posted by Zeinin *
**well, it doesnt say exspressly that you must use autodesk products, and Lighwave has higher render quaility… also, my group is not playing to win as much as we are playing to play and to make the Best Looking animation in first history, even better then the professional one done by the Big Machine 3 years ago… that is our goal… **
Awards.pdf, Page 12, Section C4.1.3:
…Using graphic imagery and animation developed with 3ds max (as well as other Autodesk products if you wish),…
ehhh
wasnt there last year, or the year before for that matter.
well then
still sticking to origonal thesis, lightwave has higher render quality and therfore is the winner… wait, if they let you use pshop, premire, and all that good stuff, they cant just say “no other rendering apps other than MAX”
im gonna have to submit an email about that
*Originally posted by Zeinin *
**wait, if they let you use pshop, premire, and all that good stuff, they cant just say “no other rendering apps other than MAX”
im gonna have to submit an email about that **
Two things on this way of thinking…
-
The quote from the Manual that i mentioned specifically said “other AutoDesk products”…as far as I know, Photoshop, Premiere, etc. don’t fall under this category…
-
As far as I’m concerned(personally), they can put any restrictions on what you can use for your submission. After all, FIRST says “no nother control systems than the one from Innovation First.” It’s Autodesk’s award to give, so they can put whatever restrictions on it they want…and of course, they’re going to choose 3dsmax as the allowed program…they are donating it to all 660+ teams this year, after all…
well it really is a moot point. i will put it this way, if we had a animation comp. using ONLY autodesk products, there would be no textures, sloppy video editing, ect. moot because there is no way for them to tell what is done in max and what is not. im not saying i condone minterpitation of directions, i am just stateing fact.