topic which is actually faster in Inventor Forum

which is actually faster

Anonymous — Fri, 05 Feb 2016 21:15:12 GMT

I am new to the drawing office and although i have learnt both cad and inventor i am still a novice as you learn more from you tube than school. Anyway i have been asked to draw stuff in cad because its quicker than inventor. So my question is for all you computer wranglers out there which is actually faster. maybe someone could design a sample file and the pros could have a race to find out once and for all. And if its all ready been done someone let know the results.

fANKHOO

Re: which is actually faster

blair — Fri, 05 Feb 2016 21:34:23 GMT

Simple 2D drawings, I would go with ACAD. As the project grown in scale and complexity, then Inventor or any 3D parametric software will shine.

The 3D digital model can be used for FEA analysis and Dynamic Simulation, Rendering for brochure work and used for NC tooling. Interaction of parts with each other can be studied to eliminate any conflicts with each other. Center of Gravity calculations as well as mass/volume calculations.

You can't digitally prototype a 2D drawing.

I'm sure I've missed more than I've covered.

It's about the same as comparing a smart phone to a rotary dial phone, they both make phone calls.

Re: which is actually faster

mcgyvr — Fri, 05 Feb 2016 21:35:55 GMT

Speed obviously depends on your skill in the program..

But given equal knowledge of each program Inventor WILL be faster...

Why? Well because once you complete the 3d model any/all 2d views are automatically created vs in Autocad (2d) you need to draw each and every view yourself..

Even something as simple as a rectangular cube.. It can be modeled in seconds and I can create a front/top/back/left/right view in another few seconds..

Knowing Autocad is a good skill to have though..

The only good thing Autocad has is the ability to "fudge" stuff to make it look right.. You can't "fudge" with Inventor as its all driven off the model..

Re: which is actually faster

dgorsman — Fri, 05 Feb 2016 21:40:09 GMT

I'll have to point out that many of those points, including rendered images, apply to 3D in general (both AutoCAD and Inventor), although AutoCAD would need some customization for anything more than simple shapes. Inventor shines where there are detailed mechanical design and engineering requirements.

Re: which is actually faster

Curtis_W — Fri, 05 Feb 2016 21:46:23 GMT

@mcgyvr wrote:

...You can't "fudge" with Inventor as its all driven off the model..

weeeeell....

Re: which is actually faster

Anonymous — Fri, 05 Feb 2016 22:14:11 GMT

So far it's all inventor side which I agree with but does this include the fact just the standard work shop drawings for fabrication where eye sight doesn't pick up the finer details only the measurements so doesn't need to be c immpecible I guess.
I'm sure everything can be fudged I've done it eough in the workshop 😆.
Wonder what the answer would be in the cad side

Re: which is actually faster

blair — Fri, 05 Feb 2016 22:32:13 GMT

I started with AutoCad 2.62 and finished with release 14 before migrating to Mech DeskTop. I started using Inventor back with release 4, which is about 17-18 releases ago.

Whe I started, I could knock out 2D drawings much faster than in Inventor. It wasn't until we starting putting it together in the shop, then things changed. It's right the first time with only small tweeks to aid assembly.

Other than some quick 2D shapes for some simple profile burning, there's not much that's done in 2D. You spend too much time trying to make a 3D world fit a 2D drawing environment.

I'm sure a 2D drafter would say that they will be faster doing a 2D drawing.

Re: which is actually faster

PaulMunford — Sat, 06 Feb 2016 08:25:25 GMT

I agree with all of the above. You will get results quicker in AutoCAD. But the whole design process from end to end will be quicker and more accurate in inventor.

In AutoCAD you are designing and detailing at the same time. Once you've drawn a detail you have it to print off and show people, it looks like you are moving fast.

However it has a law of diminishing returns. The more of your design you draw in AutoCAD the more you have to coordinate your own detailing. It's easy to draw in errors - particularly when you go through the design review process.

It might take you longer to get to a drawing in inventor, to get a drawing you need to have a model first - but this means your design has to be properly considered and worked through as part of the modelling process.

The advantage is that your 3D model coordinates the drawings, so you can't build in inconsistencies. Your drawing can still be 'wrong', but it will be consistently wrong everywhere!

Once you've invested in the 3D model, all your drawing views are 'free' (including 3D views). And you can also re purpose your model for parts lists, visuals, animations, analysis and so on.

So. Yes - AutoCAD is faster, but not allways better. Pick the right tool for the job!

Paul

Re: which is actually faster

JDMather — Sat, 06 Feb 2016 13:25:38 GMT

@PaulMunford wrote:
...

So. Yes - AutoCAD is faster, ....

Paul

I'll take that challenge.

Re: which is actually faster

admaiora — Sat, 06 Feb 2016 13:43:17 GMT

Re: which is actually faster

Anonymous — Sat, 06 Feb 2016 15:43:07 GMT

Looks like we have a race on the cards who's going to come up with the project.
Paul munford I received you new book yesterday look forwards to reading it is there much difference from the 2015 by curtis

Re: which is actually faster

Anonymous — Sat, 06 Feb 2016 15:45:03 GMT

By the way I'm also the Mr deanosid wouldn't let me log in for some reason

Re: which is actually faster

PaulMunford — Sat, 06 Feb 2016 20:25:33 GMT

Hi Dean,

About 50% is checked and updated but otherwise untouched (Curtis has been doing a great job for years, why fiddle with it!) approximately 25% had to be substantially updated, and 25% re-written from scratch.

It was a fun project - I hope that you get a lot of benefit out if it!

Paul

Re: which is actually faster

blair — Sat, 06 Feb 2016 22:37:51 GMT

"finer details only the measurements so doesn't need to be c immpecible"

"If it's worth doing, it's worth doing it right" - Ben Hogan

Re: which is actually faster

SBix26 — Sun, 07 Feb 2016 22:12:00 GMT

So far nobody has mentioned the huge advantage that 3D modeling has over 2D, which is when changes need to be made. You have one source of truth, the model(s), and the drawings cannot be out of sync (unless you don't open them, or defer updates). In the 2D world, have you never altered one view and forgot to alter one of the projected views? Modeling may be faster or slower than drawing when creating the initial design, but there is simply no contest when it comes to revisions and design changes.

Any contest that is set up should also include a revision or two...

Sam B

Inventor Professional 2016 R3 SP1 Update 1
Vault Basic 2016 SP1
Windows 7 Enterprise 64-bit, SP1

Re: which is actually faster

PaulMunford — Mon, 08 Feb 2016 18:48:13 GMT

Hi Sam,

That's actually the very point I was trying to make.

You can get results quicker in AutoCAD, but you will complete your design quicker with inventor - a complete design being one that's been through the design review process...

Re: which is actually faster

chris66 — Tue, 09 Feb 2016 18:09:04 GMT

This is old "Cost" vs "Price" argument.

Sure the price maybe less, but the cost is way more.

For us, it irrelevant how quick I can make a "dumb" 2D print. We'd much rather have a "smart" 3D model which can be used and re-used many times, for many things (shop prints/rapid prototyping/Mastercam etc...).

Chris