Best way to learn Inventor

[ashergill]

Hello there,

 

I am a professional in a non-technical, non-design field, but have an interest in learning either Inventor or Solidworks. I am a small-time inventor/tinkerer, and mostly fabricate things with a few moving parts. I draw my designs the old-fashioned way, with pen and paper. I have now been itching to move past garage-tinkering, and develop some of my inventions into professional prototypes. As such, I think that learning one of these designing softwares will be very helpful in years to come, allowing me to skip the pen and paper deal.

 

My question is this: with no real computer-aided design background (dabbled in AutoCAD for fun in college, about 10 years ago), should I be looking to enroll in a rapid, professional course (which are quite expensive - about $1500 or so for a few that I've looked up); or, are these programs learnable with online tutorials or Bible type books? Community college isn't an option, since the schedule doesn't work for me. Also, are there any other methods/courses/resources etc. for learning one of these programs?

 

Also, which might be better (Inventor or Solidworks) suited for a novice, with the intent to design fairly simple objects (think a rabbit-type wine opener, or a CD storage case, or desktop PC chassis etc. for the level of complexity of my designs) The intent is to move directly from a computer-aided design to rapid prototype with plastics.

 

Thank you for taking the time to read, and for any advice you may be able to provide. Cheers!

 

AJ

[Pablo Ferral]

If you just want to 'scribble out' ideas in 3D I suggest that you look into google Sketch up, I'm suggesting this only because it's free.

 

If/when you want to get into some serious engineering software - then it's time to invest in a solid modeler. You might also want to look at Alibre, beacuse it's even cheaper than Inventor or Solidworks. (Price = Alibre>Solidworks>Inventor - there may be others...)

 

Weather you invest in Alibre, Inventor or Solidworks might just come down to compatability. Who do you want to share information with? What software to they use? What file types do they require?

 

Proffesional training is recommended to get the most out of all these products. This might also affect your decision - depending on what training is available in your area. You can make the most of the proffesional training you can afford by buying a book, useing online tutorials and joining peer-to-peer groups (like this one) before you attend your training session, but don't try and go it alone; you won't get the most out of your investment and you may end up extremly frustated. One hour with a good trainer can be worth weeks of trying to figure it out by yourself.

 

My personal prefererence is Inventor - But then I've never used Solidworks. As a you are a novice I'm sure that they will all be equally easy/difficult for you to learn. I suggest that you get hold of a free trial of each, take them for a test drive and see which makes the most sense to you. If the software will produce the file types you need, there is support for you locally and you can afford the price tag then you will be all set...

[JD Mather]

I am a professional...

 

How did you become a professional in your field?

 

Inventor and SolidWorks are professional tools and require a professional level of preparation. In my experience about 90% of users of these programs do not know what they are doing. Functionally incompetent.

 

Given that information, I think a motivated person with natural apptitude can probably go a long way on their own.

 

First you need to get the software - neither one comes cheap.

Students and displaced (unemployed) workers can get Inventor and SolidWorks for free. For Inventor 13-month student license http://www.autodesk.com/edcommunity For SolidWorks purchase the Howard and Musto SolidWorks (search Amazon) book and you will find a link to download 150-day student version.

 

You might also try free Inventor Fusion http://labs.autodesk.com

Be aware that Inventor Fusion is much different than Inventor. It is supposed to be easier to learn, but until I attended a class I struggled with Fusion.

 

There are a number of tutorials in my signature and other locations on the internet. Also, http://au.autodesk.com on-line classes.

 

If you make a decision on which program to learn (and actually obtain the program) I can give you many more references.

 

On the programs themselves I find Inventor and SolidWorks to be essentially identical.

[shift1313]

Hey AJ. Well the complexity of something like a PC case is far more involved than something like a cd storage case. A pc case would make use custom made dies, sheet metal parts, weldments as well as molded plastic parts. Something like a storage case would be much less involved.

 

As far as which software to use. I think either are a good choice and are somewhat complimentary. They both offer about the same level of functionality. In my eyes Solidworks is a bit more user friendly, but that doesnt mean everyone feels that way. I know that Inventor can be downloaded as a 30day trial. I dont think SW can but I am not 100% sure on that. I feel that solidworks puts a bit more time into its user interface which makes it easier to get into. Inventor offers nearly the same functionality(if not more in some areas) but certain things are harder to work around. Im speaking mainly in terms of short-cuts, view manipulation and things like that. These are really the things that make or break the software in users eyes.

 

I have no formal Solidworks or Inventor training, but I dont feel that I personally benefit from that form of education. I would rather work through it on my own. Some people are the exact opposite. The built in help files in both Inventor and Solidworks are very good and I think the best resource. This forum obviously is a great resource. There arent many Solidworks users here but there are more Inventor users.

 

Purchasing the software. For what you want to do(use the software as a personal side venture) both of these software packages are going to be expensive. The very basic stripped down version of SW i think is at least $4000. If you get into higher levels which add motion, simulation and many additional useful features you are getting into the $8000 range I think. Inventor has the benefit of coming with Autocad when you purchase but you will still be paying for a professional software not really targeted at a hobbyist. There are many other cad software packages out there depending on what your budget is. Alibre(which pops up at the top of this forum) is around $2000 and there are many others out there.

[Tiger]

Ashergill, I have merged your threads, please do not double post.

[ashergill]

Thank you for the replies, Pablo, JD and Matt. I appreciate the input.

 

While I have no doubt that professional training is far better than trying to learn on my own, what I wanted to get a sense for is whether workable knowledge of either of these programs (Inventor and Solidworks) can be gained on one's own, through books and other tutorials etc. I have taught myself several other programs, such as Photoshop and Dreamweaver, without any professional training, but those were comparatively simpler programs. I'll also admit that I am nowhere near as proficient with those as a pro might be, but then I don't need to be since my purpose for using them is much different.

 

Similarly, my intent here is not to become a professional designer or engineer. It is simply to take my own designs, and put them on the computer rather than paper. I am gathering that this much can be achieved, if I put in the requisite time (this is not something that I have to learn by next month, or even the next year since my livelihood does not depend on it). I suppose I'm looking for affirmation from others who may have taught themselves to use these programs, and get an idea about which might be more user-friendly, or better for self-teaching; which has better resources and a better self-help community etc.

 

Thanks for mentioning the student version, JD. I think I might enroll in an Inventor college course (even though I won't be able to attend regularly) so that I may download a copy. Again, I appreciate the input.

 

@Tiger: please pardon the double post. I wasn't sure if solidworks posters regularly peruse the inventor forum and vice versa or not. My query applies to both groups and that is why I posted twice.

[JD Mather]

Like Matt, I mostly am self-taught in these programs, but I have picked up a lot by attending Autodesk University and SolidWorks World user conferences. Sometimes you get set in your ways of doing things and it is a real eye-opener to see how a number of other individuals approach a problem.

 

Do you have any children (any and all students can get the free student license, but of course, for commercial use you must purchase a commercial license and start over).

 

@Tiger: please pardon the double post. I wasn't sure if solidworks posters regularly peruse the inventor forum and vice versa or not. My query applies to both groups and that is why I posted twice.

 

In my opinion it was proper for you to ask for Inventor comparison in Inventor group and SolidWorks comparison in SolidWorks group. But of course, whoever responds in whatever group is obviously using the best solution.

[FunkyFresh]

There are programs like VTC, Lynda and a bunch of other to check out. I am sure one of them offers a tutorial on how to use the program. The best thing is they are video