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Using Inventor by a MEP contractor with a Fabrication Shop
March 18, 2019

Using Inventor by a MEP contractor with a Fabrication Shop

Fran Benson | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 6 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User

Overall Satisfaction with Autodesk Inventor

We design and manufacture custom air handling units and we are starting to use Autodesk Inventor to create 3D models instead of traditional 2D drawings. We also manufacture pressure vessels, air washers and other production machinery which we are discussing creating 3D models. We also are a MEP contractor with a service department installing and servicing commercial systems. Our CAD department models electrical, mechanical piping and duct for our projects. We use AutoCAD, Fabrication and Revit depending on the discipline.
  • We design and build custom air handling units and have started using inventor to create 3D models. This provides us the opportunity to eliminate conflicts before fabrication when we incorporate the fans, coils, piping, conduit and structure in a single model.
  • Using inventor's stress analysis allows us to test the air handling unit bases using the equipment loads to verify the design. Often we can lighten the structural members based on the results saving the company money and still delivering a quality product.
  • Using the iLogic feature to generate wall geometry by adding H-members every 4' is an excellent feature and we are currently developing custom parameters to assist in out air handling unit modeling. This will save us time by basically filling in length and width to generate foam wall panels and extruded aluminum members required in wall assemblies.
  • Using the frame generator has been helpful is creating a standard structural steel base layout. This will created a BOM to send to the shop defining structural members and cut lengths.
  • The software is difficult to learn. We have just scratched the surface of the capabilities of Inventor. Would like Autodesk to provide more training specific to our use.
  • Inventor uses libraries to for all the components and they are not included in the project file so if you send the project to another PC you need also to have the library. Revit has all of the families included in the project file so you don't need to share families.
  • Difficult to learn - Most 3D software has short learning curve but it seems like Inventor has so many features that it takes much longer.
  • Cost - We have had multiple seats of Inventor for more than 10 years and very seldom use it. Our work is on a tight schedule and we don't have time to learn how to use Inventor. I'm sure if we took the time it would speed up modeling time but can't prove it to the management yet.
  • Our company besides the fabrication shop is a MEP contractor. We have Inventor seats on several workstations that are used primarily for electrical, plumbing and mechanical systems. Inventor PRO has the tube and pipe added feature which we never use on our projects. Change is difficult when the company has been using other software for many years and all new options need to be proven before they will accept in production. Inventor is not a software to use once in a while. If you don't use it daily it is very difficult to complete a model without referencing help.
Inventor is a more detailed modeling software then Revit or Fabrication. AutoCAD of course has been around for many years and will continue to have a place because it seems to be the base for all of the modeling software using .dwg file types. Inventor has the ability using the BIM Exchange feature to dumb down the detailed models for use in the other software. Depending on the detail of the model sometimes complex models fail when using this feature but most of the time they convert and are usable. It would be best if the company decided to use only one software but I don't believe that will ever happen.
If you are creating detailed models or individual parts this program will get it done. It has the ability to model anything you would manufacture down to the smallest detail. I've often said that I can model my smartphone using Revit and it would look very similar but Autodesk Inventor has the ability to create all of the parts inside my phone which Revit can't do because it can't model with lines that close together. When I model a small part in Revit I can offset lines approximately .010". Any closer the software won't create them. Inventor will draw lines .0001 and maybe even smaller so you can see how small of a model you can design.Our company manufactures custom air handling units and we are progressing to 3D modeling from 2D AutoCAD. I have complete three units using Revit but have issues with the limitation of the spacing of the lines. The units use custom aluminum extrusions between wall panels, at corners and at the roof with specific designs to create a thermal break. Inventor can model these perfectly where I need to compromise using Revit. Inventor using the frame generator can also speed up this process especially when modeling the base. We still need to learn more on using parameters to generate wall geometry spacing extrusions at specific distances.