AutoCAD, Inventor or Solid works which is better for a beginner?

I would pick Creo, formerly known as Pro/E. It is the most widely used. If you know it or Siemens NX, formerly known as Unigraphics, you can always 'downgrade' to one of the other programs later. Also, Creo is no costlier than Solidworks.

 

A very good investment is to buy solidprofessor tutorial package. In my opinion this is the best learning tool . Practise and use solidprofessor as a guide while you work or practise. Me personally still use solidprofessor as a help tool even if i belive i am quite good at solidworks.

 

I am an Mechanical engineer,work for this position for more than 10 years,Solidworks is recommend.
It is easy than AutoCAD.

 

SolidWorks is the choice by far. Its comprehensive logical considerations and more importantly its graphically focused based design is light years past AutoCAD and Inventor. AutoCAD you still have to invoke 3-D orbit because it assumes you are in 2-D: ARCHAIC! I am shaking my head why anyone would want to step back into the dark ages; AutoCAD is a wood lathe with chisels and SolidWorks is a 5-axis CNC. Luckily I am unbiased... '-)
-Christian
PS I WAS an AutoCAD expert back in the day, before I brain-dumped it after I learned SW.

 

Dont be so hard on Autocad, after all it was 3D capable well before Solidworks and Inventor were a twinkle in the developers eye! Autocad is still used by many companies not because they have a lot of legacy 2d drawings but because they recognise the capabilities of the product. Used in conjunction with Solidworks or Inventor this can be a powerful partnership.

 

That is quit true and I'll go by Solidworks, since it's the new trend in the industry. I like this threadand how it has been helpful not just me alone but many others. Thank you all. CAD is CAD but AutoCAD is basic and foundational for others.

 

I'm sorry, AutoCAD is clunky, not designed for 3-D, and requires a HUGE learning curve due to having to know commands. Companies with legacy 2-D drawings need to sell their mules/wagons and get a car at some point. It is PAINFUL for me to use AutoCAD and I used to be expert. The point of CAD is to communicate design intent. The software should be asking you questions in a logical flow, and requiring answers. Solidworks will not allow you to complete a model without you answering all the questions. Giving a complete model to a person give them every bit of info they need. Giving an AutoCAD drawing can leave huge gaps in communicated engineering intent. The original question was which is better for the beginner; I suggest SolidWorks.

 

I do not agree with above quote. I strongly recommends AutoCAD for beginners. As we all will agree that Engineering Drawing is Language for Engineers and so every engineer must know how to read and develop ED, AutoCAD acts as blank canvas just like drawing sheets. Yes you will find it non-compatible if you are not having knowledge of ED and AutoCAD commands. The good thing with this software is it has no brains of its own. It completely depends on user how he handle his brain while using this software Also when it comes to communicating design intent, the major communicating tool is 2D designs. Let me bring to notice that more than 10 million users across the world work/have work with AutoCAD.

Yes, I will not recommend AutoCAD for 3D. AutoCAD 3D is not compatible with modern needs of industry. As far as learning of Inventor or Solidworks is concerned, Every 3D CAD tool is more or less same. You have to understand the need of you industry, then choose the software. Having knowledge of any of the 3D CAD tool, will help you to easily transit between others. I learned CATIA in 2009 and today I know most of the leading CAD tools and I found all tools have the same concept of working.

 

1. AutoCAD is a 2D drafting tool; you need to be good at 2D drafting, not any specific tool.
2. SolidWorks and Inventor are parametric 3D modeling tools; again, if you are good at 3D, all the software packages will take you to the same point with slight differences
3. Once you start 3D modeling tools, you don't need AutoCAD except for "reading" old drawings. In this way AutoCAD becomes somewhat dispensible
4. I would also suggest to have a look at explicit 3D designing tools like Creo Elements/Direct; they are much easier to learn than 3D parametric tools (and are used in some industries especially those where design cycles are rapid and time constraints are tight)

 

If you plan to work in avia- or auto- industry then CATIA is your choice! It has everything you'll need It has excellent documentation. Different kind of tutorials and trainings are also available. Sure, it is rather difficult, because it has a lot of features, but it is really a serious software! It has its own 2D and, of course, 3D. Leading companies (such as Boeing) uses CATIA only, and not AutoCAD, SolidWorks, etc. Don't waste your time! Just start learning CATIA!