Inventor vs AutoCAD

[TDevil]

I am an AutoCAD draftsman (I've used every version from 13 to 2005, both full and lt) and just started a new job as a Sr. Draftsman heading up a new drafting dept. for a large communications / engineering company. They are going to give me my choice of AutoCAD 2005 full or Inventor.
My question to anyone with experience is: Which do you prefer? Is it easy to go back and forth (everyone else on my team will have 2005 lt) Is it easy to pick up? And is it fully compatible as they say? Thanks!

 

[KBeitel]

TDevil,

If AutoDesk has not changed their product packaging, then any seats of Inventor include the whole full meal deal. When we were looking into MCAD packages at my former job AutoDesk packaged AutoCAD MDT, Mechanical, and AutoCAD(full) with each seat of Inventor. If they have a seat of Inventor then there should be a seat of AutoCAD.

Take care & have fun!

Kevin

"Hell, there are no rules here -- we're trying to accomplish something." - Thomas A. Edison

 

[rockguy]

The two prgrams are totally different animals. If you're doing straight 2D drafting then AutoCAD 2005 will fill your needs better than Inventor. If your doing 3D modeling and then the drafting then Inventor is the way to go. Comaparing the two programs is like comparing apples to oranges.

In my opinion you would want everyone on the same software. Having some of you on AutoCAD and some on Inventor is defeating the purpose of the software. If you try them both out you'll see what I mean.

 

[jlcochran1]

I would agree with rock. We have several seats of AutoCad Mechanical and LT and 1 seat each of Inventor and Solidworks. There is a learning curve and we have opted not to pursue 3D at this time for production drawing. We do use it occasionally for special projects or sheet metal unfold. I have had training in both Inventor and AutoCAD and the 2 are very different to use. You may want to obtain a demo of Inventor, or get the Inventor series where you can use AutoCAD for now and evaluate Inventor over the next year. If you go with the series I would highly recommend AutoCads software update service. Within 1 year the Invevtor version went from 7 to 9, and you can't save backward in 3D like you can in 2D to a previous version. You may also want to investigate other 3D programs like SolidWorks and SolidEdge before you make the leap to 3D. I would alow at least a year to evaluate the cost vs benefits of 3D in your organization and do a lot of homework and comparison. You may want to review posts in the Inventor, SolidEdge and SolidWorks forums as a starting place.

 

[borgunit]

Access your needs carefully. Do not let 3D lure you by its cool factor. Look at who you interact with (vendors and customers). Do they need or even have the capacity to use Inventor files. If not, you have to convert everything for them. Are you designs complex? Design time spent in 3D or 2D for the most part, I feel is a wash. Reuse and parameterization of 3D can save tons of time if you invest the customization time up front. If you create the same thing over and over again, rather than have each design new and unique, then that comes into play. This is from my experience with it. We have AutoCAD, Unigraphics, and Inventor installed. I admit, the Inventor came bundled with our AutoCAD Mechanical software. Training time and finding new hires is a real issue too.

"Everybody is ignorant, only on different subjects." — Will Rogers

 

[TDevil]

I actually am quite versed in 3D using AutoCAD. I'm quite comfortable and proficient with it.
I just received a demo of inventor so I will playing with thatand checking compatibility this weekend. Thanks for all of the input.
I'll let you know!