Learning curve

[Anonymous]

How long is the usual learning curve with Inventor 2017?  I've never used any Autocad type program and am just trying to get a pattern for a flat cone with 3.5" dia on one end, 4.5" dia on the other, and 8" height. Geez, I should be able to figure that out. Maybe I'm just getting too old to learn new stuff.

[PaulMunford]

It can be a real struggle without someone to Show you.

I can get people part modelling in half an hour.. but...

The basic training usually takes 4-5 days and this is just to learn the basic concepts and where the buttons are!

Sheet metal is a separate one day course.

I can take 3-6 months to become proficient. Longer to become fast.

I have been using AutoCAD and Inventor for more than 10 years and I'm still learning!

Do you have someone who can help you? If not, post your part file on the forum with clear description of what you need to do and I'm sure that we will be able to give you some advice.

[Anonymous]

No one to help me really.  I've got 30 years in IT and have used SoftPlan home design software a good while back, but this seems tougher to me.  I get the concepts, but the mechanics of it are daunting.  The sheer number of choices at every turn are overwhelming for my 55 year old brain.

I found some tutorials on youtube doing almost exactly what I wanted to do, but they were using different versions of Inventor, so none of the buttons were in the same place or named quite the same.

[Anonymous]

At this point, I'd pay someone just to create the pattern for the item I need.  Learning Inventor was going to be a bonus for the future, but it's the item I need.

[mdavis22569]

Give us what you have ...

depending on the model and how it was modeled it should be fairly easy.

Have you gone thru the tutorials provided with the software? 

[JDMather]

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@Anonymous wrote:

...  The sheer number of choices at every turn are overwhelming for my 55 year old brain...

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My brain will turn 59 next month.

Examine the two files attached and click Flat Pattern.

You didn't indicate the desired sheet thickness.

[Anonymous]

Thanks.

Well, that looks simple enough once I see it done.  I'm going to screen grab those steps to the left and see if I can re-create.

Thinkness doesn't matter, since it's a design for a pattern for something to be cut from textile and sewn. It will actually have ends, which should just be able to be cut out as 4.5" and 3.5" circles.  Now, if I can just get that printed out on sometihing true size.

Thanks, again.

[JDMather]

This one might be a bit easier for a beginner to follow.

[Anonymous]

Thanks. The dimensions all displayed and the steps help.

[Anonymous]

I should be able to cap the ends, and then explode it to show all 3 pieces of the pattern for cutting. Or just sketch out the circles separately, might be easier.. Just wanted to figure something out before the trial expires to see if it's something I'd be willing to invest in for post-retirement anti-aging activities.

[JDMather]

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@Anonymous wrote:

... it's a design for a pattern for something to be cut from textile and sewn. ....

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You should watch this before you try using the pattern (turn on sound).

Inventor calculates stretch for metal.

I suspect that if your intent is for textile designs - you might want to provide a bit more information as a cone is rather trivial, but your other designs might not be so easy.