Inventor vs AutoCAD Mechanical

[BeKirra]

Hi ALL,

I'm new in Inventor.
Could anyone tell the "Pros & Cons" if you moved from AutoCAD Mechanical or MDT?

Thanks in advance.

[JD Mather]

AutoCAD Mechanical is 2D
Inventor is 3D

Mechanical Desktop has been discontinued after r2009. (and has not seen any real development since Feb 2002)
Inventor is the next generation mechanical product.

I used to tell my class that we would take a look at Inventor, but MDT was my favored porgram. By the end of the semester I was eating my own words, we stopped bothering to even open MDT - too antiquated.

You will have to get used to the fact that Inventor more closely represents the real world - that is parts are parts, assemblies are a collection of parts, and drawings are not parts or assemblies - they are representations for paper distribution. If it confuses you simply put all files in one folder for the project. 1s and 0s on the disk are the same whether in a single folder or a single file. Somehow the people out on the shop floor are able to understand that parts, assemblies and drawings are all something different.

You might start here
http://home.pct.edu/~jmather/AU2007/MA105-1L%20Mather.pdf

[Rob_V]

I'm new in Inventor.
Could anyone tell the "Pros & Cons" if you moved from AutoCAD Mechanical or MDT?

Pros include Advanced 3D generators for shafts, gearing, bearings, springs, belt drives, etc. All those nice tools that were in AutoCAd Mechanical and now in a 3D environment.
Parametric type relationships, or dimension driven sketch work, rather than a driven dimensioning structure where you tell the line how long it is when you create it.
Updating 3D models also updates drawings, assemblies and their drawings, parts lists etc.
Real world modelling, creating jigsaws, that can show interference if asked.
Motion tools to enable your 3D machine to opperate as it should in the real world.
FEA tools for part manufacture.
The list goes on.
Why would you stay in a 2D flat plain when you can explore the 3rd dimension; and its more enjoyable too. I keep telling my kids that I play computer games everyday at work - making and drawing 3D jigsaw puzzles all day long.

Cons: ??? Too few to think of any