CAD: Inventor from Scratch (ELCAS)

This course is for all those wanting to learn, from scratch, how to use Inventor; competently, efficiently and to an advanced level.

This course also incorporates the preceding knowledge found in both the City &Guilds (C&G) qualifications for Parametric Modelling: Level 1 (7689-01) and Level 2 (7689-4) – so no prior Inventor knowledge is needed.

Successful completion of the course achieves the nationally recognised C&G qualification – Level 3 Award in Parametric Modelling – 7689-03.

Anyone can take on the course, but it is particularly useful for those who can only fund a single course, e.g. due to employers’ restrictions on funding; or need a course that starts at the beginning but gets to Level 3 in one go e.g. ELCAS funded students.

From a standing start you’ll learn how to use Inventor, to an advanced level; giving you the software-specific skills needed to be a useful and efficient Inventor CAD Technician / Draftsperson / 3D modeller.

To start with you will learn various methods to create the base elements: Parts and Assemblies. Then once able to draw / design these in 3D, how to produce 2D drawings with annotation (notes), dimensions, hatching, etc. from your Parts and Assemblies.

You’ll then progress on to things like: using tables to drive the design / produce variations, using formula / equations to directly control parts, create your own custom templates, create animations and photorealistic images of your design.

You will also learn about things like: repairing relationships between parts, importing library features, complex part assembly, using equations within spreadsheets to control models.

You do not need to have any previous CAD experience. However, you will need an enthusiasm for learning Inventor.

You will need a basic working understanding of English and Maths and the ability to use Windows-based computers confidently.

It helps to have a product design / engineering background, or the desire to work in these fields, though Inventor is also used in other fields.

Entry interview

You need to attend an interview – in person, or by phone. Phone interviews can be arranged, as necessary; call 0117 3122703 or email CAD@cityofbristol.ac.uk.

If you want a college based, in-person interview, sessions are on Wednesdays at the College Green Centre, during term time, in room 6E22H, at 16:00.

You do not need to book, just sign in at reception and allow upwards of an hour, in case it’s busy. Other times can be arranged, simply call or email as above.

The Course is a ‘Flexi-course’ and you can work on it in the college, remotely, or a combination of both. However, the City &Guild assessment tests, at the end of the course, must be done in the college in the centre of Bristol (College Green Centre).

Once enrolled, you can tailor your course timing to suit your needs. The course takes around 210 study hours to complete, plus the test time. All of which must be done within a year of starting – how quickly is up to you.

If successful, you’ll receive a nationally-recognised CAD qualification (City & Guilds level 3), along with an Autodesk ATC Certificate of Completion confirming your achievement.

After successfully completing this course, you will be equipped with the core skills and knowledge to use Inventor for design and production in a variety of fields and office / industrial environments – to effectively and efficiently produce Inventor CAD models, drawings and presentations.

This is good for those wanting to be: CAD technicians, Engineers, Product Designers, etc., or anyone else who needs to be able to produce Inventor 3D models and 2D drawings within their role in, or out of work.

Upon completion of the course, you can progress onto any of our other CAD courses, e.g.: Revit, 3DS Max, Fusion360, Solidworks, etc.

There are no required additional costs for this course beyond the course fee – call/email to find out the fee.

Enrolment on the course entitles you to download a free copy of Inventor, for educational purposes, from Autodesk. it is assumed you already have a suitable computer to use this on – if you can’t / don’t want to use the College’s CAD Windows computers, Mac computers can be used, simply call/email for further information.