Information on Inventor,3Ds

Hi

Here is trouble! I am using cad since last 2-3 years. I used 2005, 2008. My work is mainly creating layouts, wiring diagrams, construction details for substations. My background is electrical.

So we are doing this substation which does not include any 3-D drawings or such. It’s just making layouts, and then creating elevations from that and providing details drawings for construction. I do about 40-50 such drawings for each job and now got good command over what I do.

Now My Company has upgraded all computers to AutoCAD mechanical 2010 and also installed inventor, vault. They do this from our head office, I’m only one doing drafting at my office.

So they think I am good at drafting so bombarded with all these new softwares!! My fear is if in future I am asked to do some 3d drawings how should get prepare for that?

1) So question is if someone like me who wants to learn 2D,3D drawings (say mainly for electrical substations) What course or training I should go for.

2) For electrical installations Is it good idea to have Autocad Electrical instead of Mech?

3) How difficult is to learn using Inventor? For someone who is good with basic cad?

4) Last question, even after installing service packs etc, my 2010 becomes very slow for commands like PLOT, properties etc.

Sorry for long message, thanks for all great help

im only going to reply on 1 and 3, couse there are better people here at 2 and 4.

Well.. it depends on what experienses you have before you try to learn 3D cad programs like inventor. An mainly, if you really want to learn it then its pretty easy.

I learned inventor all by myself, no tutorial, nothing.. i had used lots of other 2D cad/cam programs before and i had enough experiense to solve my errors.

it took me 0.5 year to learn almost everything, not everything. now if i need to learn a command it only takes a matter of seconds. F1 button is a life saver very good help documentation in the box! and some tutorials too!

BUT.. stick to the question, there are lots of tutorials online.. i wouldnt buy any courses. i mean.. i made it all by myself?

If you grab the tigers theeths and tries to learn the software, you wont regret it

kanpai

well if you know the elevations it will be easy for you to lay these out in 3d then do a flat view.

If you go into the Inventor help file there are several tutorials and great help files. One is Help For AutoCAD users. The folks at Autodesk know that several of their new users will be coming over from AutoCAD so they have a tailored section just for this. JDMathers is an instructor that teaches this stuff so he would probably be the best to answer questions like this.

Since you have a handle on what you do already, and are planning ahead i dont think you will have a ton of trouble. You really just need to learn the difference between the Inventor envirnoment and autocad, and what tools you have available to you. Take your time and learn the cable/harness routing portion of inventor and i think it will speed your design time up!

Big thank to you all!

King,

Thanks! Yes I am more or same like you. Have been never to school to learn what I am doing ritenow on cad, only thing is I have not dome any 3D drawings.I am going to work on your advise, from moment.

JD Mather,

Is it necessary to 3D exp for this? Your class description absolutely suits me but I want to make sure I got minimum cad knowledge that you asking for.