There are many differences between AutoCAD and Autodesk Inventor
software. Let’s take a look at five of the biggest and most apparent
differences between the two products to make sure we’re off to a good start.
1.
AutoCAD
is “geometry-driven design”; Autodesk Inventor is “dimension driven design.”
In AutoCAD, we create our geometry and then
place our dimensions. If we make changes to the existing geometry, the
associated dimensions update (optimistically!).Wouldn’t it be nice if you could
change the value of the dimension and drive the shape and size of the part?
Well, that’s exactly
how Autodesk Inventor works. You roughly sketch the part you want to create,
and then you control the exact size and shape of the part with dimensions.
Imagine how easy it would be to make changes to your part later by simply
changing the dimension values. Need to change the length of a pivot link from
30 mm to 35 mm? Simply change the dimension!
Why does Autodesk
Inventor work this way and AutoCAD does not? Autodesk Inventor has the added
intelligence of being a parametric modeler.
- Autodesk Inventor is a
feature-based modeler.
As you create your 3D
parts, each extrusion, hole, chamfer, fillet, and so forth, is stored as an
independent feature in the Autodesk Inventor browser. This makes it extremely
easy to make changes down the road. If you decide that hole should have been 10
mm instead of 12 mm, it’s not a problem to make the change. In AutoCAD we often
find ourselves deleting and re-creating a specific feature. Such changes in
Autodesk Inventor are as easy as changing the dimension value.
- Autodesk Inventor supports
adaptivity.
One of the features
that separate Autodesk Inventor from other 3D modelers is the ability to create
adaptive parts. These smart parts maintain a physical relationship so that if
you modify the geometry of the base part, the adaptive geometry knows to update
as well. This could be as simple as creating a hole that adapts to the size of
a rod. As you change the size of the rod, the hole gets larger or smaller to
accommodate the new diameter of the rod.
- Autodesk Inventor doesn’t use
layers!
There, I said it—and
if you can handle that concept, you’re a prime candidate to learn Autodesk
Inventor. Let’s face it, none of us really likes dealing with layers in
AutoCAD, but we’re forced to because of line types, line weights, and so on.
What if you could set up all your parameters once and have Autodesk Inventor
automatically assign them to your parts from that point forward? Let the
software do those tedious chores for you so you can focus on the important
aspects of your design.
5.
Autodesk
Inventor was built specifically for the manufacturing industry.
AutoCAD was built
(nearly 20 years ago) to be all things to all people. It must take into
consideration the needs of all disciplines: AEC, Civil, FM, Plant Design, and
so forth-jack of all trades. Autodesk Inventor was created with one and only
one industry in mind—Manufacturing. From the ground up, Autodesk Inventor was
built to think the way you think and act the way you expect it to act.
Last but not
least—repeat after me—Autodesk Inventor is not AutoCAD!
You will have a much happier life if you realize this early on
and don’t try to equate the AutoCAD world and processes to Autodesk Inventor
technology
