3D CAD users. A question
Discussion
Possibly not the best section for this but couldn't think of a better one.
I've used Solidworks for about 15 years now so am very comfortable with it, warts and all.
I'm pondering a switch to contract roles which will mean that from time to time I'll need to use other CAD packages. So would like to get a little experience with one or two other packages to enhance the CV. One that keeps coming up is Inventor.
I believe I can download a 30 day trial version so I will do that in the not too distant future when I know I can devote some time to it.
In the meantime I'm curious about the following:
1) How easy is it to switch to a new CAD system with all those years of accumulated muscle memory on another system?
2) Is Inventor itself relatively user friendly?
3) Anybody here regularly switch between software and find it manageable?
4) Would it be fair to assume that if my laptop works okay with Solidworks, it'll manage Inventor okay?
I've used Solidworks for about 15 years now so am very comfortable with it, warts and all.
I'm pondering a switch to contract roles which will mean that from time to time I'll need to use other CAD packages. So would like to get a little experience with one or two other packages to enhance the CV. One that keeps coming up is Inventor.
I believe I can download a 30 day trial version so I will do that in the not too distant future when I know I can devote some time to it.
In the meantime I'm curious about the following:
1) How easy is it to switch to a new CAD system with all those years of accumulated muscle memory on another system?
2) Is Inventor itself relatively user friendly?
3) Anybody here regularly switch between software and find it manageable?
4) Would it be fair to assume that if my laptop works okay with Solidworks, it'll manage Inventor okay?
It's like using an iPhone and then using a Samsung. It does the same stuff, its just you have to learn the new steps.
I've used, Pro-E, then wildfire, ACAD 3D (a long time ago), Inventor and NX.
Inventor is very easy to pick up, a 30 day free trial and watching some online tutorials will have you fairly comfortable.
If you can use one 3D package you can (with time) use them all.
I've used, Pro-E, then wildfire, ACAD 3D (a long time ago), Inventor and NX.
Inventor is very easy to pick up, a 30 day free trial and watching some online tutorials will have you fairly comfortable.
If you can use one 3D package you can (with time) use them all.
Strangely enough, I went the other way.
I was trained using inventor, but the company I've been working for, for the past six years, use Solidworks.
I found the transition easy enough, it probably took me about a week or so of doing a few tutorials to be able to scrape by using it and then after about a month, it was second nature.
I'm guessing going the other way would be about the same!
For reference I've been using CAD in general for about 12 years in total.
I was trained using inventor, but the company I've been working for, for the past six years, use Solidworks.
I found the transition easy enough, it probably took me about a week or so of doing a few tutorials to be able to scrape by using it and then after about a month, it was second nature.
I'm guessing going the other way would be about the same!
For reference I've been using CAD in general for about 12 years in total.
IMHO
Solidworks is better than Inventor, but another feather in your cap certainly won’t do you any harm. The Nuclear industry has lots of Inventor seats.
Switch systems – some are easier than others; I thought SolidWorks was very easy to pick up.
Inventor User friendly? – yes - not as much as Solidworks
Regularly switch? Maybe not that regularly now - but I have done in the past.
Laptop? – the key with CAD I’ve found over the years is to have an NVidia card in it. Given the power and capability of just a £500 laptop today, I don’t think it’s an issue. Although I would want to see it running on a machine…
The systems I’ve used since 1989 (Hell's Bells…)
Cadds 4X, Anvil 4000/5000, Cadkey, Unigraphics, I-DEAS, AutoCAD 12/AME, CIMCAD, Pro/E, ME10, Solid Edge, Solidworks, Inventor
As above though… “If you can use one 3D package you can (with time) use them all.”
Solidworks is better than Inventor, but another feather in your cap certainly won’t do you any harm. The Nuclear industry has lots of Inventor seats.
Switch systems – some are easier than others; I thought SolidWorks was very easy to pick up.
Inventor User friendly? – yes - not as much as Solidworks
Regularly switch? Maybe not that regularly now - but I have done in the past.
Laptop? – the key with CAD I’ve found over the years is to have an NVidia card in it. Given the power and capability of just a £500 laptop today, I don’t think it’s an issue. Although I would want to see it running on a machine…
The systems I’ve used since 1989 (Hell's Bells…)
Cadds 4X, Anvil 4000/5000, Cadkey, Unigraphics, I-DEAS, AutoCAD 12/AME, CIMCAD, Pro/E, ME10, Solid Edge, Solidworks, Inventor
As above though… “If you can use one 3D package you can (with time) use them all.”
bucksmanuk said:
IMHO
Solidworks is better than Inventor, but another feather in your cap certainly won’t do you any harm. The Nuclear industry has lots of Inventor seats.
Switch systems – some are easier than others; I thought SolidWorks was very easy to pick up.
Inventor User friendly? – yes - not as much as Solidworks
Regularly switch? Maybe not that regularly now - but I have done in the past.
Laptop? – the key with CAD I’ve found over the years is to have an NVidia card in it. Given the power and capability of just a £500 laptop today, I don’t think it’s an issue. Although I would want to see it running on a machine…
The systems I’ve used since 1989 (Hell's Bells…)
Cadds 4X, Anvil 4000/5000, Cadkey, Unigraphics, I-DEAS, AutoCAD 12/AME, CIMCAD, Pro/E, ME10, Solid Edge, Solidworks, Inventor
As above though… “If you can use one 3D package you can (with time) use them all.”
Many thanks for this and the PM. And thanks to all the other contributors too. Solidworks is better than Inventor, but another feather in your cap certainly won’t do you any harm. The Nuclear industry has lots of Inventor seats.
Switch systems – some are easier than others; I thought SolidWorks was very easy to pick up.
Inventor User friendly? – yes - not as much as Solidworks
Regularly switch? Maybe not that regularly now - but I have done in the past.
Laptop? – the key with CAD I’ve found over the years is to have an NVidia card in it. Given the power and capability of just a £500 laptop today, I don’t think it’s an issue. Although I would want to see it running on a machine…
The systems I’ve used since 1989 (Hell's Bells…)
Cadds 4X, Anvil 4000/5000, Cadkey, Unigraphics, I-DEAS, AutoCAD 12/AME, CIMCAD, Pro/E, ME10, Solid Edge, Solidworks, Inventor
As above though… “If you can use one 3D package you can (with time) use them all.”
In the industry sectors I'm looking at (mainly sub-sea, a bit of nuclear and a bit of oil and gas) there seems to be a fair few inventor users. In the past, in other sectors I frequent, it's always been SW or Pro-E. So time to sharpen up and learn a new skill.
Thanks again folks, very reassured.
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