×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

Opinions on Inventor

Opinions on Inventor

Opinions on Inventor

(OP)
We are currently looking at replacing our existing 3D modeling and 2D design package with another system and would like user opinions on Inventor. What does it do well, how easy is it to use, any bad points, annoyances or bugs etc?
We would be using it to create 3D solid models for NC programming and for creating 2D machining detail drawings from the solid.

Your opinions would be appreciated.

RE: Opinions on Inventor

There is plenty of discussion on 3d cad program selection.. Most highly biased by user experience... But I'll throw in my 2 cents.
I use it and have very little problems with it.. (no more than any other 3d modeling package). All programs have bugs.

My best suggestion is to get 30 day demo versions of both Inventor and Solidworks (and any other one you are looking at) and play around doing something you would typically do in both programs.. Both programs IMO are identical.. However, Solidworks has the greater market share and more compatible/partner program support IMO.
 
Also, look at what you customers/vendors are using.. Its much easier to share data if you are both on the same program and version.
Remember..3d cad is not backwards compatible so if you are on a newer version your customers,etc... cannot open those native files.

RE: Opinions on Inventor

I would base it around your CAM interoperability. Look into SolidCAM or InventorCAM or whatever you may be currently using and choose a package that will communicate the best. It can be a real headache if you choose the wrong package. On the modelling side they are all pretty good, Inv, SWx, SE..

RE: Opinions on Inventor

I have used both Solid Works and Inventor. I prefer Inventor only because I have lots of hours in it. I use the professional 2011 now and find the FEA pretty good as only for a first review of the stress analysis while using math and then maybe a test to be completely safe. Inventor is a memory hog. I now use a windows 7, x64, 8 gigs and it run really smooth, no issues. Our new interns learn inventor in a very short time frame.

RE: Opinions on Inventor

I think the most important question is what you're using now.  Secondary concerns are how big your group is, what kind of parts you make, how much time/money you have to spend on the transition, and why are you switching in the first place.  

I've used SWx, Inventor, and Pro/E (now Creo) and they all have highs and lows.  Inventor and SWx are more intuitive and easier to use but cannot handle some high-level functionality that Pro/E can.  Look up 'trajpar' and see if that means anything to your products.  Between SWx and Inventor I prefer SWx, both because it has more interoperability in the industry and because the quality of support and upgrades is several years ahead.  Honestly it's better at importing 2D Autocad drawings than Inventor is - Inventor just cheats this by including a seat of Autocad when you buy it.  

It's a big step to switch (to/from anything), make sure you take your time and compare function and price apples-to-apples across the different platforms.  A side-note, if you post in the Inventor forum you're more likely to find defenders/apologists than anything else.   

 

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources