Winner: Inventor<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nAn assembly is when you take all the little parts you’ve just modeled and put them together in a single 3D environment. AutoCAD can be used to make an assembly, but it is quickly left in the dust by all the fantastic things that Inventor can do. To me, this is where Inventor really separates itself from AutoCAD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Constraints are the building blocks of an amazing assembly in Inventor. For example, you can model all the parts of a lego man and then set constraints and relationships of those parts. You can make the head constrained to rotate on the neck of the lego man, you can constrain the arms to rotate at the shoulder, and the hands to turn at the wrists, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Setting these constraints is just a matter of clicking and dragging, and can be done quickly and easily. To perform the same function in AutoCAD would require a lot of programming, time, and effort. So\u2026 yeah\u2026just don’t bother trying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With Inventor’s constraints and relationship tools, you’ve suddenly got a lego model that can move its legs, arms, and head to show a client what their toy can do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Inventor can do the same thing for complex machines like engines or cars. You can set the constraints and relationships of every part of a vehicle until you’ve got a 3D engine simulation that runs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"SolidWorks](\"https:\/\/www.buildercentral.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/SolidWorks-assemblies.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nSimilarities<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nSimilar UI’s<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nDespite everything I said earlier about AutoCAD and Inventor’s UIs being different, there are many similar aspects between them. AutoCAD users will recognize many of the same symbols, commands, tooltips, menus, etc. Of course, the differences will be apparent as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Similar Customer Service<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nAs I said before, both programs are Autodesk applications, so you can expect the same level of customer service for both. Keep in mind that Autodesk sells its products through authorized resellers. These resellers may be the ones who help you install and maintain your software, so you will need to do your homework regarding which reseller you should choose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Similar Purchasing Methods<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nAutodesk has made it simple and straightforward to purchase the latest and greatest version of AutoCAD or Inventor. You just need to pay that\u2026rather large\u2026annual fee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Similar Upgrade Costs<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nSince Autodesk has now made the cost to own the software the same fee as the price to upgrade the software, you don’t need to worry about upgrading.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Differences<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nAutoCAD is more of a first-generation drafting technology that has evolved over the last few decades. Inventor is like one of AutoCAD’s children in the Autodesk family. Over the years, as different industries were utilizing AutoCAD or other CAD programs, they started to request specific features. Autodesk began to understand the s[ecialized needs of various professionals, so they developed spin-off applications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Inventor is the next-generation 3D modeling application for manufacturers. Look around the room where you are right now. Go ahead and look, don’t be lame, I’m serious. Look around at every device, product, commodity, and piece of furniture. There’s a good chance that most things you’re looking at were designed using a CAD application.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I would bet real money that at least three things in your house were designed using Inventor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Different UI’s<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n