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Why do you need Solidworks if you already have Inventor? Just to do the tutorial?

Depends what you mean by 'like Solidworks' but short answer, no. Closest you'll get are direct-editing solid modellers like Creo Elements and Design Spark. 123D is supposedly quite good too. Fully...

As it is I am currently locked into software but would still like to make the switch to Linux. If/when I do that I will move to a VariCAD/Moi combination.

Currently the bulk of my work is done...

Btw CA: You might enjoy BRL-CAD. It is also command line based. That's your thing, isn't it?

Mechanical. Differentiates it from graphic design software. Or other 3D modellers that do organic shapes like sculpting software.

A question often asked, "Which software should I use?". Listed are 3D MCAD design softwares. Take your pick...

FREE:
123D Design PC Mac
Openscad PC Mac Linux
Onshape Online
FreeCAD ...