Autodesk Inventor

[#1]

Sorry, this may be redundant question, but I haven't had time to check past
post.

Looking for opinions (Pros / Cons) for making the switch. A fairly large
client wants me to
make the switch too. They are willing to pay for some of the swap and I will
pay for the balance.
Training will be involved. Need to know what I am getting into. I have some
idea, but looking for

I have 12 years of ACAD (3,000+) hours / year. I do Exhibit Display work for
these clients.
They do Design / Enginnering / and Fabrication in house. The Autodesk vendor
stopped by and
did a demo / presentation. It was deffinately and eye opener. Looks like it
is quite intuitive 3D
model (especial compared to AutoCAD and MD5). What are the draw backs. I was
quite skeptical
going into the demo, but was fairly convinced that it was worthwhile
product, worth really looking into.

Looking forward to your input.

Dave

[#2]

Dave:

The downside issues are:

1/ You'll need to make sure your computer is up to par, especially the
video card.
2/ Everything you know and can do really efficiently in ACAD will be
left behind. You're going to feel really stupid and incompetent for a
while.
3/ If you really like to tinker with the 'Look of the drawing', you
don't have nearly the same flexibility as ACAD.

Everything else is positive and getting better with every release.
Apart from a few wish-list items, I prefer the IV way of doing things.
I'd say my modelling is 20% faster than ACAD and the detailing 80% faster.

Sounds like you have a great opportunity with a supportive client so go
for it. Just keep an open mind because it's a different beast.

Richard

[#3]

Really? I think most people would say they model in Inventor 80% faster
than in AutoCAD, and detail 20% faster in Inventor than in AutoCAD.

"Richard Hinterhoeller" wrote in message
news:3DE28D08.30802@hfx.eastlink.ca...
> I'd say my modelling is 20% faster than ACAD and the detailing 80% faster.

[#4]

Get used to not having a command line, otherwise, the rest is easy.

[#5]

Thanks Richard,

Thanks for the input.

My machine is already above min. specs. (video card is min. right now) but
my new laptop will be more than capable. I always have ACAD as fall back,
just want to have some additional feedback to help with client and make it a
little easier for me to swallow the additionl price tag. I know, cost of
doing business, and I can write it off too, just hadn't planned on the
additional cost right now.

I know that there will be a big learning curve, but I adapt to new software
pretty easily.

I will be doing lots tube of framing and plywood panels. Very often a
tedious process (espedcially in plain jane AutoCAD) when there are changes.
Usually a total redo of the model.

Dave

[#6]

You will want read up on "skeletal Modeling" for tubing frames it can't be
beat.

See the *** Inventor FAQ *** for some links

--
Cory McConnell
BJ pipeline Inspection
"Dave Roth" wrote in message
news:EE366E924CA308FC8A0616606C291287@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> Thanks Richard,
>
> Thanks for the input.
>
> My machine is already above min. specs. (video card is min. right now) but
> my new laptop will be more than capable. I always have ACAD as fall back,
> just want to have some additional feedback to help with client and make it
a
> little easier for me to swallow the additionl price tag. I know, cost of
> doing business, and I can write it off too, just hadn't planned on the
> additional cost right now.
>
> I know that there will be a big learning curve, but I adapt to new
software
> pretty easily.
>
> I will be doing lots tube of framing and plywood panels. Very often a
> tedious process (espedcially in plain jane AutoCAD) when there are
changes.
> Usually a total redo of the model.
>
> Dave
>
>

[#7]

Learning Inventor is a snap but the system you install it on needs to quite
a bit more than the suggested minimum requirements, and as stated by Richard
the video card is very very important. You will love inventor as long as
your system is happy with it!

Albert


"Dave Roth" wrote in message
newsB141731B439591206DC4104F2172981@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> Sorry, this may be redundant question, but I haven't had time to check
past
> post.
>
> Looking for opinions (Pros / Cons) for making the switch. A fairly large
> client wants me to
> make the switch too. They are willing to pay for some of the swap and I
will
> pay for the balance.
> Training will be involved. Need to know what I am getting into. I have
some
> idea, but looking for
>
> I have 12 years of ACAD (3,000+) hours / year. I do Exhibit Display work
for
> these clients.
> They do Design / Enginnering / and Fabrication in house. The Autodesk
vendor
> stopped by and
> did a demo / presentation. It was deffinately and eye opener. Looks like
it
> is quite intuitive 3D
> model (especial compared to AutoCAD and MD5). What are the draw backs. I
was
> quite skeptical
> going into the demo, but was fairly convinced that it was worthwhile
> product, worth really looking into.
>
> Looking forward to your input.
>
> Dave
>
>
>

[#8]

"but my new laptop will be more than capable. "

What laptop do you have in mind? There are several users (including me)
that have laptops that run IV, but there are a bunch out there that won't
do...

Once you get used to Inventor you will go back to 2D kicking and
screaming...

--
Sean Dotson, PE
http://www.sdotson.com
...sleep is for the weak..
-----------------------------------------
"Dave Roth" wrote in message
news:EE366E924CA308FC8A0616606C291287@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> Thanks Richard,
>
> Thanks for the input.
>
> My machine is already above min. specs. (video card is min. right now) but
> my new laptop will be more than capable. I always have ACAD as fall back,
> just want to have some additional feedback to help with client and make it
a
> little easier for me to swallow the additionl price tag. I know, cost of
> doing business, and I can write it off too, just hadn't planned on the
> additional cost right now.
>
> I know that there will be a big learning curve, but I adapt to new
software
> pretty easily.
>
> I will be doing lots tube of framing and plywood panels. Very often a
> tedious process (espedcially in plain jane AutoCAD) when there are
changes.
> Usually a total redo of the model.
>
> Dave
>
>

[#9]

Current Workstation:

Custom - home built
AMD 2.2 XP / 333 FSB Ausus Mother Bd. (Going to up it to 2.8 soon)

1GB DDR Ram

Nvidia GeForce 4 MMX 440 (64mb) (Looking at the Quadro 4 900XGL - 128mb)

Win XP Pro (with all service packs)

320GB hard drive space in 4 ATA 133 Western Digital drives

19" flat screen Monitor

Broadband Connection DSL (650 kb min. connection)

Will add a 3D Space ball (looking for suggestions)

Also considering a second monitor (17") for menus, etc... (if the card will
support it - have to check specs)



New laptop (to be ordered soon): (will replace my 850Mhz Sony VIO)
Alienware Area-51m

Intel Pentium 4 3.0 Ghz 533 FSB ./ Intel 845e+ich3m Mother Bd.

1GB DDR Ram

60GB ATA100 hard drive

ATI Radeon 9000 (64 MB)

15" UXGA LCD monitor

Any comments are welcome



"Albert Allen" wrote in message
news:93EFD3831273B41E18C2E7F24DE01415@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> Learning Inventor is a snap but the system you install it on needs to
quite
> a bit more than the suggested minimum requirements, and as stated by
Richard
> the video card is very very important. You will love inventor as long as
> your system is happy with it!
>
> Albert

[#10]

Don't think that ATI will cut it. You want a nVidia chip

--
Kent
Member of the Autodesk Discussion Forum Moderator Program


"Dave Roth" wrote in message
>
> New laptop (to be ordered soon): (will replace my 850Mhz Sony VIO)
> Alienware Area-51m
>
> Intel Pentium 4 3.0 Ghz 533 FSB ./ Intel 845e+ich3m Mother Bd.
>
> 1GB DDR Ram
>
> 60GB ATA100 hard drive
>
> ATI Radeon 9000 (64 MB)
>
> 15" UXGA LCD monitor
>
> Any comments are welcome