AutoCAD Inventor Professional Software for FREE?

[techwrtr2]

AC is not being generous, this promotion is for students. If you have lots of young upcoming draftsmen designers and engineers that have experience using a certain software companies will buy that software if it meets their needs to save on training. Same thing Apple did several years ago putting apple computers in schools.

A valid point though a design firm isn't going to switch their CADD investment just because new designers are familiar with an Autodesk product. In some cases, the customer somewhat dictates what that design firm uses. Case in point, if you want to submit electronic design copy to many state DOT's, you're going to need to run a product that is not AutoCAD. While you can convert from AutoCAD to other programs, some things don't convert well and your design may no longer comply with that state's design standards.

 

[mjncad]

I used to work for a company that ran AutoCAD and Microstation. The Intergraph/Microstation crowd somehow convinced management to eventually drop AutoCAD and use Microstation solely. The idea was to do everything in Microstation and convert to AutoCAD or whatever CAD format a customer wanted. Furthermore the plan was to offer three levels of conversion. The first and most expensive was convert and check all the electronic and paper hardcopy output of the conversion against the original Microstation electronic files and hardcopy output. The second level of conversion would be to spot check random samples of electronic files and hardcopy against the original Microstation files and hardcopy. The third and least expensive conversion offered was to convert with absolutely no quality control checking of the electronic files and hardcopy. Never mind that most of the designers in the company were familiar and comfortable with AutoCAD, most customers wanted AutoCAD file formats, and in the 1990's when this nonsense was going on, AutoCAD had 80% market share. Fortunately there was enough push back internally and externally to the conversion idea that AutoCAD was still the predominant software in use. My attitude is/was, "If a client wants the files in AutoCAD, do the project in AutoCAD. If the client wants the files in Microstation, then do the project in Microstation. If the client doesn't care, do the project with whatever is in the best interest of the client." Although I'm an AutoCAD guy and hate Microstation, my suggestion in quotes didn't go over well with the company brass who had a hard on for Microstation. After I left the company, I have no idea what the remains of my former employer is using.

I find that conversions between various Autodesk products to be problematical; let alone conversions between Autodesk and other CAD software products.

 

[lockhaven]

A valid point though a design firm isn't going to switch their CADD investment just because new designers are familiar with an Autodesk product. In some cases, the customer somewhat dictates what that design firm uses. Case in point, if you want to submit electronic design copy to many state DOT's, you're going to need to run a product that is not AutoCAD. While you can convert from AutoCAD to other programs, some things don't convert well and your design may no longer comply with that state's design standards.

most mechanical design is done in solids now, machining programs require solid models for 3D programing, many companies do not want 2D drawings anymore. I would suppose that civil engineering and home builders still need 2D drawings. I design parts for many different people so therefore need strong translators. With solids assemblies can be checked out before any actual parts are made, rapid prototyping machines need solid models. 2D drawings are made automatically and are 100% correct in content to the solid model. analysis can be performed with solids, impossible with 2D. I can provide balance points for picking up assemblies, weight of any part in any material, demonstrate fit and function for customers not familiar with reading drawings. I can translate 3D pdf files that anyone with ADOBE reader can look at and move zoom and rotate on their machine. 2D cad systems are no longer desired and are quietly going the way of the T-square

 

[sdkubota]

I was an avid Autocad user and proficient with their Land Development Desktop. Then they changed everything to Civil 3D which I consider to be a nightmare. Their software design got more and more complicated to operate and now takes full time technicians to use with constant re-training. I wish software firms would manufacture products easy to use and yet powerful in their capability.

 

[cschulz]

I wish software firms would manufacture products easy to use and yet powerful in their capability.

There is a great statement! And lets hope that comes to be in the future. As the programs are asked to do more and more so are the programmers and users.
As far as translation I work for a company that has asked for direct translators to be developeded between the 2 major softwares used. Even with the translators in place there are still problems to work around. As for me I just have some basic drafting skills for 2D and a little 3D experience. With saying that I can push myself along to get done what is needed for hobby projects.
Thanks for all the input and help, Chris

One last question guys, what is the cheapest way and best format to have parts cut from steel? CNC plasma, water jet???? And what formats are common for this? What are some good companies you guys ahve used in the past? Im in Michigan if any have suggestions here.

 

[sdkubota]

I say both plasma and water jet do an excellent job at cutting steel if you have someone with that capability and quantity of work. Me...I cut with a torch then grind, grind, grind!:laughing:

 

[Rob-D]

Question..........

Where can I get a program that will crate machine code ......... ? (machine tool path)

Haas compatible would be great, but not necessary, I can edit to any particular machine format.

Also for turning.......... ??? Would LOVE to have an old Mazatrol at this moment......

Thanks

If you don't need a pro program try Kcam, it's about 100 bucks.

My two cents on Auto Cad Inventor. You get it for three years. That's enough time to get proficient at it. Now they dump your lic. Good luck paying for it.
I use TurboCad Pro, not the best but it does what I need. I'm at version 11.2, I think they are up to about version 17 or so but at least my license is forever. These programs have steep learning curves. My Labcenter EDA isn't too bad but I've been doing circuit design for some time so I know what's going on for the most part.
I remember in the neophyte days of these programs, you would learn a program and the company would go belly up. Ivex, Circuit Maker, etc. What a pain! It takes awhile to get really good at a powerful program and with CADs if you don't use them everyday you forget a lot, at least I do. So a program with a three year license is not a bargain, that's like getting free cigarettes, a couple of years down the line you're hooked and now you have to buy them.
Why do you think Apple gave all those computers away in schools?

Rob

 

[Rob-D]

I run several technical programs:
TurboCAD, Labcenter Proteus, Mach3 CNC and a bunch of microprocessor compiler programs all on my laptop with external displays. I'm using an HP laptop designed for these apps. It's a beefy Elitebook 8560W and HP really did a good job on it, I haven't turned on my desktop for much more than the parallel port to run my CNC in the last few months. You do need a good graphics card, open GL, etc.
I just did a reasonably complex 3D in TurboCAD with no trouble although admittedly most of the designs I do now that I'm retired aren't especially large excepting for schematics.
I love the fact that I can take my laptop across the country and still do my work.
Rob

 

[Rob-D]

I say both plasma and water jet do an excellent job at cutting steel if you have someone with that capability and quantity of work. Me...I cut with a torch then grind, grind, grind!:laughing:

I use plasma, a Thermo Dynamics Cutmaster. I just cut some 1/2 inch plate... clean, it will do 3/4" which is about the thickest I use.

 

[Rob-D]

There is a great statement! And lets hope that comes to be in the future. As the programs are asked to do more and more so are the programmers and users.
As far as translation I work for a company that has asked for direct translators to be developeded between the 2 major softwares used. Even with the translators in place there are still problems to work around. As for me I just have some basic drafting skills for 2D and a little 3D experience. With saying that I can push myself along to get done what is needed for hobby projects.
Thanks for all the input and help, Chris

One last question guys, what is the cheapest way and best format to have parts cut from steel? CNC plasma, water jet???? And what formats are common for this? What are some good companies you guys ahve used in the past? Im in Michigan if any have suggestions here.

Check your local steel mill. My steel mill is a full function mill with Laser, Plasma, etc. If you're doing heavy stuff you don't want to be buying it from someone several states away. I can send them a DXF file and have an estimate back in my mailbox in a day.
Rob