Where's a good place online to learn Inventor basics?!?!

[cvriv.charles]

I have a book but I dont have it with me. I want to find a good online resource of tutorials.

 

I need basics. For the life of me I can't figure out how to do the dumbest things by just playing around with it. Such as,... entering cordinates?!?! Can I even do that with INV?!?! Whats about entering specific angles or lengths,... dimenions?!?!

 

Isn't there angle snapping?!?! I figured out how to draw on the planes and how to switch them. I know most of the tools because I am somewhat familiar with AutoCAD 09 and Sketchup. But Inventor is a whole new ball game it appears. Atleast for a few things.

 

Please help. Thanks.

[Ritch7]

See http://www.cadtutor.net/forum/showthread.php?t=8842 that can help see the websites listed.

 

Inventor is not that different realy I used acad vanilla for a few years then switched to inventor it's still the same basics?! have you used autocad vanilla (basic) before?

[JD Mather]

http://home.pct.edu/~jmather/AU2007/MA105-1L%20Mather.pdf

 

Inventor (and SolidWorks and Pro/E and ...) use a sketching technique rather than the coordinate and direct distance (angle) drawing technique you use in AutoCAD. Get used to sketching, geometry constraints and parametric dimensioning and you will never look back.

[eribiste]

I agree with super guru J D Mather on this one, once you've got the hang of Inventor you'll start to neglect AutoCAD. You sketch the required shapes, extrude them into solids and then modify them as required. It can be hard going, especially with more complex shapes. I started off with an evening class in a college, an absolute boon and I recommend that you at least do that, if only because you won't feel like the only person in the world that can't do parametric modelling!

 

One of the things I like about Inventor is that in many ways the models are made like you would with real materials, i.e. start with a simple shape and cut and carve it into the required form.

 

BTW I picked up a really good piece of advice from JDM. Dimension your first line as soon as you've got it in place. This simple step can save a lot of wild mis-shapes appearing on your screen! If you've got lots of arcs on your sketch with no dimensions, then dimension after finishing a sketched shape, that can be really bewidering!

 

One other thing; keep your sketches simple and build models logically.

 

There's a very good book called Autodesk Inventor 2008 for Designers sold by a company called cadcim technologies I have no connection other than a satisfied reader. Not cheap, but very helpful.

 

Enjoy it, it's a nice program.

[cvriv.charles]

Sorry for the late reply. I have been busy. My girlfriend and I have been looking at houses. Anyways,...

 

Thanks for the info guys. I am starting to understand the concept behing INV with the whole sketch and contrain thing.

 

About eribiste's comment that it's kind of like prototyping with real materials, cutting and carving your way to your desired shape. I totally agree with you. I saw it coming when I was learning AC. I am just not use to that. I'm getting the hang of it though. I just have to get my mind to think that way.

 

I have a lot of reading to do. I mean I am so frustrated at the fact that I can't just real quick draw a line at 45deg or whatever. I mean I found the precise input bar but that thing doesnt look as if its used a lot. I dont know. I'll have to keep playing around with it.

 

Other than JD's link, I actually stumbled across the manula that comes with INV. It's actually pretty ok. Good enough kind of thing. I just have to remember to not forget my book. My book being Autodesk Inventor 2009 Essentials Plus. Not cheap. But so far so good. I'll figure it out.

 

Thanks again:)

[JD Mather]

I mean I found the precise input bar....

 

Forget you ever saw it. Don't use it (at least not now, maybe later with 3D sketches). If you start using the Precise Input you will never become very proficient at using Inventor.

The whole principle of constraints and parametric dimensioning is the ease and absolute certainty when editing (we never get things exactly right on first attempt). Get used to using lots of construction lines and don't erase them.

Attach some of your early parts here for advice on alternative techniques.

Always always always sketch one line (horizontal or vertical), arc, circle, polygon or spline and dimension it immediately before continuing and you will have far less frustration as you move forward.