NEED EASY-TO-USE 3D PROGRAM TO DO PROPOSALS FOR SALES DEPT. 3

[Kimberly1]

Don't know where else to post this, but here goes. I need a 3D rendering program so that I can create mock-up drawings for our sales department. It needs to be compatible with Inventor and Autocad 2008. Our engineers do not have the time to create proposals in Inventor, which is what they use. Our staffing has been cut and everybody is already stretched to the breaking point! Therefore, I need something that can create a vector based graphic to exact dimensions. We manufacture refrigerated deli and floral cases.
I need to be able to do quick visual representations which show the sizes and materials, such as glass, aluminum, etc. i also need to be able to import photos of people standing by them. Keep in mind, I don't have any Inventor experience, nor the time to learn it in addition to my laser programming job - most of my cad experience is in Autocad 2008. What would be the best and easiest software that would get such results.

Thank you in advance for any help you can give me.

Kimberly1

 

[AllHandlesTaken]

Google Sketchup

 

[KENAT]

You talk about 3D rendering, but then about drawings so I'm not quite clear what your requirement is.

Do you want to create 2D drawings/sketches/illustrations or pretty '3D' pictures?

Given that you apparantly have Inventor & ACad I'd be tempted to say use one of those.

I don't know much about inventor but wouldnt' have thought it was much harder to learn the basics on than Solid Edge or Solid Works which wouldn't necessarily be fully compatible with your current programs.

KENAT,

Have you reminded yourself of faq731-376 recently, or taken a look at posting policies:

http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?

What is Engineering anyway: faq1088-1484

 

[kslee1000]

Get on phone with AutoDesk, or "Inventor". Afterall, you want to link something to theirs products. They shall have very good/workable recommendations.

 

[mcgyvr]

You have Inventor...you don't need anything else
It's just as "magical" as any other 3d package. With the proper training your engineers can easily create a parametrically driven assembly that would adapt to any dimensions you put.
No matter what you think, adding another 3d package will never save time. With the proper person behind your Inventor program your problems would be solved. It's pretty obvious that your engineers are not skilled enough or not trained to properly use the software. Just from your brief description of what your company does/wants it should have been setup like you want from the start.

One can easily create an spreadsheet driven assembly so your sales just enters the desired dimensions in excel and out comes your model all ready to render/dimension... Inventor is the way to go but it needs to be setup to do what you want, just like any other 3d package.

 

[Twoballcane]

Are you using Acad in three d or in two d? Becase Acad is a three d software and it also can render 3d pics...

Tobalcane
"If you avoid failure, you also avoid success."

 

[chicopee]

You should have posted in the Autodesk:Autocad Forum.
While Inventor is more suitable for mechanical drawings, it still can do what you want but you'll have to learn it and to do the drawings in 3D becomes a little tougher.

 

[mcgyvr]

I would never consider Autocad a 3d program...
I would also say that Inventor is as easy if not easier than Autocad for drawings also.

 

[MiketheEngineer]

As said - try Sketchup

 

[tygerdawg]

If you must go with something other than Inventor, then I suggest looking into:

Alibre......nice inexpensive solid modeller
TurboCAD....never used it, but seen it used, and inexpensive

Don't know about TurboCAD, but with Alibre anything you model up can be exported in neutral format for the Inventor guys for continuation.


TygerDawg
Blue Technik LLC
Virtuoso Robotics Engineering

http://www.bluetechnik.com

 

[PeterCharles]

I second SketchUp, doesn't cost much either, like use the free version!