Autocad VS Inventor

[DGRL]

Dear Autodesk

Can someone please explain to me when to choose for Inventor and when AutoCAD?
Because this website does not make any different.

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad/learn-explore/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Differen...

It seems to me that AutoCAD is not worth buying anymore since other verticals are more easier to use and offers more possibilities.

Is AutoCAD 2D or 3D and what about AutoCAD LT?

Everybody in this world keeps saying that AutoCAD is ONLY MEANT for 2D and not for 3D

If you need to do 3D design Inventor is the package to choose

Autodesk

Send you finest salesman to elaborate this once and for all

[cbenner]

@DGRL

There is no one definitive "right" answer, that works for everyone.  It all depends on what you are trying to produce.

AutoCAD can in fact do 3D, and Inventor can do 2D  (from a 3D model).  The designs you are trying to produce will greatly affect the answer for you.  In my shop, we use both, as well as AutoCAD Electrical.  We use AutoCAD products for our 2D schematic type drawing, because these could not be produced in Inventor.  We use Inventor for our machine design, because working with a solid model makes it much easier to do things such as crash detection.  Plus, for us, we do mostly piping and welded frame design.  Inventor has tools built in for that, which makes it a better solution than using AutoCAD 3D.  To muddy the waters even more, Inventor drawings can be created as DWG files, and edited in AutoCAD.

I would suggest taking a good look at what type of work you are looking to accomplish, and then maybe ask some more questions here.  Maybe give some examples (if you can without giving away any secrets).  I would be surprised if you didn't find you need some sort of combination, or a product collection to get you all the tools you need.

Good luck!

[TheCADnoob]

I'm no salesman...

ITs a little like what's the difference between a hammer and a mallet, a ballpeen hammer or a claw hammer.

Let the work dictate the kind of tool you need, don't try to pick a software and force your tool to meet the needs.

Generally if you are modeling (like components) use a modeling software (inventor, fusion etc), if you are doing more 2D stuff go with AutoCAD.

Just as a point of clarification Things like inventor are not verticals as they are not 'built' ontop of AutoCAD. AutoCAD Electrical is a vertical and as such you are getting both AutoCAD as well as the electrical tools set (btw with AutoCAD one all these vertical toolsets are available with the AutoCAD license)

The difference between CAD and LT is that LT Strictly does 2D and is stripped of many of the more power features made available through lisp. If you are only producing 1 off simple images LT is a good platform, but if you are mass processing and crunching on 2D drawings AutoCAD might be a better fit.

The big difference between something like inventor and AutoCAD modeling is that inventor is a parametric modeler. one can set up parametric relationships in AutoCAD but its a much more laborious process. In other words the tools in Inventor are more suitable to 3D modeling as opposed to 2D drawing

[DGRL]

@cbenner

Thanks for the reply
The answer you gave looks the same as the pages of Autodesk

All I want is an answer of an salesman from Autodesk telling me where to use AutoCAD for and where to use other verticals for

Is AutoCAD 3D or 2D

AutoCAD Versus Inventor  AutoCAD Inventor

General

2D drafting software that can do 3D pretty well

Pure 3D  object-oriented software

What does the above mean?

2D drafting software that can do 3D pretty well??????????

Is it or is it not meant for 3D

[DGRL]

@TheCADnoob

Thanks for the answer

I am fully aware of this but when a engineering's company needs to make decisions for what software to use, on what reason are you basing this?

Price of licenses?

Capabilities of program?

Diversity if work?

Emotions?

Or the easy to use approach?

Implementing software inside an company is not so easy as they say

The ROI needs to be satisfied as well and that is pretty hard if you do not know what program to choose

So in general terms
What is the area suitable to use AutoCAD

For example
Plant 3D should not be used to make medicines though you can engineers machines making the medicines with it

Better option is to use Inventor for this task though both can do the job

Maybe I should ask for usage examples???

[TheCADnoob]

If some one is endeavoring to do work they should have some level of experience in it and this experience usually includes the knowledge of which tools might best fit the demands of the services they are providing. If this is not you, you may need to seek out a subject matter expert in your firm.

In my experience engineering firms have licenses for multiple programs from multiple vendors. The firms I tend to deal with are more heavily using verticals like plant 3D, but on occasion have uses for things like inventor, but this is specific to my industry.

If you are looking into how to secure your workflow prior to actually doing that work and developing the process through trial and error, I would contact a reseller. As direct selling of Autodesk software has increased resellers have been branching out much more into process solutions. This would also be a sales person so it might be a good call to make consider your initial inquiry here. To locate a reseller in your location you can use this page: https://www.autodesk.com/partners/locate-a-reseller

I really think a call to a local reseller could be a lot of help. They will likely have the insight you are looking for.

[leeminardi]

From a strictly technical assessment, a first level question to ask to determine whether to use AutoCAD or Inventor is whether or not you will be using the software to model and document durable goods.  For example, will you be modeling components of a mechanical system such as a transmission, ski binding, copying machine, camera, packaging equipment, etc. If not, forget about Inventor.  If having a 3D model is not important then forget about Inventor.  If 3D is important AutoCAD or Inventor should both be considered but for creating complex 3D models of mechanical parts and assemblies then Inventor is probably the better choice. Both Inventor and AutoCAD models can be used for NC and engineering analysis although Inventor includes analysis tools (e.g., FEM, CFD, kinematic) that must be addressed with 3rd party products for AutoCAD.    If your goal is to model a constructed system such as a building or bridge components than Inventor is not for you.  AutoCAD and other CAD products will be a better choice.  If P&ID drawings are important to you go with AutoCAD.  Do you have special needs for creating formal engineering drawings?  If so, AutoCAD has many features for customization.

Another factor to consider beside the characteristics of the products your company creates is what do you suppliers and customer use.

You asked about “diversity of work”.  The realm of applications addressed by AutoCAD is much larger than Inventor but, for mechanical part design, Inventor is superior.  AutoCAD suffers from being a legacy (old) product and therefore the user interface is clumsy and often cryptic. Just look at the steps involved to make a dashed line.  I think the constraint-based aspects of Inventor’s user interface requires the user to have a stronger spatial understanding. 

A new user can start with AutoCAD and just think of it as a way to duplicate what they might have done on a drafting board. Inventor requires the user to think about the 3D model they wish to create and how the aspects of the object relate to each other.

If you are unfamiliar with the feature-based solid model technology that is used by Inventor I recommend you try it out before making your decision.  Free 30-day Inventor licenses are available.   

[cbenner]

@DGRL

This is primarily a users forum.  It looks like you're getting lots of answers from users.  You can't just come in here and demand a saleperson reply, because the chance that one might just happen in here and see you request is pretty slim.  On the product pages there are several ways to contact Autodesk for questions, or might I suggest you talk to one of the many great resellers who sell and service all of these products.

Beyond that, those of us who have been using these systems for years are more than happy to answer your questions.  You still haven't told us what it is you want to do with whatever design solution you get.

[DGRL]

@leeminardi

Thanks for this example and your answer to make things a little clearer.

You gave me good examples I can pass on to decision makers in here.

[DGRL]

@Anonymous

Thanks for all the answers and help

Really appreciated