Autodesk Inventor
{{Short description|3D mechanical CAD design software}}
{{More citations needed|date=May 2015}}
{{Infobox software
| name = Autodesk Inventor
| author = Peter "de vlieg" stinissen
| developer = Autodesk
| released = {{Start date and age|1999}}
| latest release version = 2026
| latest release date = {{Start date and age|2025|3|26}}
| operating system = Windows
| genre = Computer-aided design
| license = Proprietary
| website = {{URL|https://www.autodesk.com/products/inventor/overview}}
}}
Autodesk Inventor is a computer-aided design extension application for 3D mechanical design, simulation, visualization, and documentation developed by Autodesk.{{Cite web|url=http://www.cadalyst.com/cad/autodesk-university-2017-highlights-new-tech-38106|title=Autodesk University 2017 Highlights New Tech|access-date=2017-12-24}}
Features
Inventor allows analyzing 2D and 3D CAD models by creating a virtual representation of the final product in order to validate the form, fit, and functioning before it is built.{{Cite web|url=http://www.cadalyst.com/cad/inventor/create-and-remove-ole-links-inventor-files-35497|title=Create and Remove OLE Links in Inventor Files|access-date=2017-12-24}}
Autodesk Inventor supports parametric, direct edit, freeform modeling part modeling, and assembly modeling. It provides support for various CAD formats and standard DWG drawings. Autodesk also offers another 3D CAD/CAM software, Fusion.{{Cite book |last1=Munford |first1=Paul |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bJ4tCwAAQBAJ&q=%22Autodesk+Inventor%22+-wikipedia |title=Mastering Autodesk Inventor 2016 and Autodesk Inventor LT 2016: Autodesk Official Press |last2=Normand |first2=Paul |date=2015-12-21 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |isbn=978-1-119-05987-5 |language=en|page=xxvii}}
Inventor uses ShapeManager, Autodesk's proprietary geometric modeling kernel.
The software can be licensed as a subscription or through pre-paid Flex Tokens (daily use, consumption-based). Autodesk Inventor Professional is also a part of a collection license Autodesk Product Design & Manufacturing Collection. Autodesk Inventor competes directly with SolidWorks, Solid Edge, and Creo.
Editions
The latest Autodesk Inventor product line includes the following software titles:{{Cite web|url=https://www.autodesk.com/products/inventor/features#whats-new|title=What's New in Inventor}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.autodesk.in/products/inventor/compare-products|title=Compare Inventor vs. Inventor LT | Autodesk}}
- Autodesk Inventor LT 2021 (discontinued)
- Autodesk Inventor Professional 2026
File formats
- Exports:
- .iam - Assembly file
- .ipt - Part file
- .idw, .dwg - Drawing file
- .ipn - Presentation file
- Imports:
- Inventor imports most types of foreign CAD formats
Release dates and names
class="wikitable" |
Version
! Internal number ! Code name ! Date of release ! What's New |
---|
1
| 1 | Mustang | September 20, 1999 | |
2
| 2 | Thunderbird | March 1, 2000 | |
3
| 3 | Camaro | August 1, 2000 | |
4
| 4 | Corvette | December 1, 2000 | |
5
| 5 | Durango | September 17, 2001 | |
5.3
| 5.3 | Prowler | January 30, 2002 | |
6
| 6 | Viper | October 15, 2002 | |
7
| 7 | Wrangler | April 18, 2003 | New DWG Support for AutoCAD 2004, Autodesk Express Viewer Compatibility, Large-Assembly Design Performance |
8
| 8 | Cherokee | October 15, 2003 | |
9
| 9 | Crossfire | July 15, 2004 | |
10
| 10 | Freestyle | April 6, 2005 | Task Scheduler, Inventor Studio, Associative import of Mechanical Desktop data, Design Accelerators, Assembly constraints use colors to differentiate between the first and second constraint selection. |
11
| 11 | Faraday | April 6, 2006 | |
2008
| 12 | Goddard | |
2009
| 13 | Tesla | Frame Generator, Sheet Metal, skeletal modelling |
2010
| 14 | Hopper | The Ribbon, New FEA |
2011
| 15 |Sikorsky | Dynamic Input, Direct Manipulation, Assemble tool, Visualization, iCopy, iLogic |
2012
| 16 | Brunel | Provides easier ways to interact with 3D mechanical design data; new opportunities for sharing, accepting and updating CAD data regardless of source and complexity; and high-impact performance and productivity improvements for both users and IT departments |
2013
| 17 | Goodyear | Equation curves |
2014
| 18 | Franklin {{cite press release | last = Helm | first = Clay |title = Autodesk 2014 Design and Creation Suites Give Flexibility to Innovate More | url = http://news.autodesk.com/press-release/autodesk-2014-design-and-creation-suites-give-flexibility-innovate-more | location = San Francisco | publisher = Autodesk, Inc. | date = 2013-03-26 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131222015821/http://news.autodesk.com/press-release/autodesk-2014-design-and-creation-suites-give-flexibility-innovate-more | archive-date = 2013-12-22 | access-date = 2016-11-11 }} | Express mode, Connection, Symmetrical constraint, Slot geometry, Enhanced rectangle geometry, Thin wall FEA, Frame FEA, Assembly relationship folder Mouseover grounded constraint visibility, Model & assembly simplification, Joint constraints. |
2015
| 19 | Dyson {{cite press release | last = Simoes | first = Angela |title = New Autodesk 2015 Design Suites Drive Unsurpassed Value for Subscribers | url = http://news.autodesk.com/press-release/archived/new-autodesk-2015-design-suites-drive-unsurpassed-value-subscribers | location = San Francisco | publisher = Autodesk, Inc. | date = 2014-03-27 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140330205653/http://news.autodesk.com/press-release/archived/new-autodesk-2015-design-suites-drive-unsurpassed-value-subscribers | archive-date = 2014-03-30 | access-date = 2016-11-11 }} | Freeform, Direct Edit |
2016
| 20 | Shelby {{cite press release | last = Simoes | first = Angela |title = Autodesk 2016 Design & Creation Suites Now Available | url = http://news.autodesk.com/press-release/archived/autodesk-2016-design-creation-suites-now-available | location = San Francisco | publisher = Autodesk, Inc. | date = 2015-04-13 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150416001453/http://news.autodesk.com/press-release/archived/autodesk-2016-design-creation-suites-now-available | archive-date = 2015-04-16 | access-date = 2015-04-15 | Multi-CAD, AutoCAD Electrical and Inventor Interoperability, Multi-thread support, Shape Generator, 3D Printing Environment, Graphics/Visualization/Studio Enhancements |
2017
| 21 | Enzo | Modeling enhancements, expanded AnyCAD support, 3D PDF export, enhanced presentation environment, guided tutorial authoring |
2018
| 22 | Elon | Model Based Definition, expanded AnyCAD support, large assembly performance improvements, simplification/shrinkwrap enhancements, multiple rules for sheet metal parts, mesh support in drawing views |
2019
| 23 | Zora | Performance improvements, large assembly performance improvements, shared view collaboration, expanded hole command, iLogic enhancements, model-based definition, improved part modeling workflows, and sheet metal for manufacturing |
2020
| 24 | Senna | Overall GUI improvements |
2021
| 25 | Ada | New UI Panel, Large Assembly Performance Improvement, Modeling enhancements |
2022
| 26 | Ren | Model States, Performance, Revit and Fusion 360 interop |
2023
| 27 | | Autodesk Inventor 2023 is packed with customer-driven updates and enhancements to help you speed up your design workflows, reduce repetitive tasks, and improve experiences so you can focus more time on design and innovation. |
2024
| 28 | | |
2025
| 29 | |Updates to part modeling, sheet metal, assembly modeling, drawings, and interoperability.{{Cite web|url=https://blogs.autodesk.com/inventor/autodesk-inventor-whats-new-2025/|title=Autodesk Inventor 2025 What's New|date=27 March 2024 |language=en-US|access-date=2024-09-27}} | |
2026
| 30 | |Updates to performance, part modeling, sheet metal, assembly mirroring, drawings, and interoperability.{{Cite web|url=https://blogs.autodesk.com/inventor/autodesk-inventor-2026-whats-new/|title=Autodesk Inventor 2026 What's New|date=26 March 2025 |language=en-US|access-date=2025-03-26}} |
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Wikibooks}}
- [http://www.autodesk.com/products/autodesk-inventor-family/overview Autodesk Inventor official website]
- [https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/inventor-forum/bd-p/78 Autodesk Inventor Forums]
- [http://blogs.autodesk.com/inventor/ Autodesk Inventor Blog]
- [http://www.autodesk.com/education/home Autodesk Education Community]
- [https://grabcad.com/ GrabCAD] - Upload, Download, and View Inventor files
{{CAD software}}
{{PDM software}}
{{Autodesk products}}
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