Autodesk Inventor
3D mechanical CAD design software
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Autodesk Inventor is a computer-aided design extension application for 3D mechanical design, simulation, visualization, and documentation developed by Autodesk.[1]
| Autodesk Inventor | |
|---|---|
| Original author | Peter "de vlieg" stinissen |
| Developer | Autodesk |
| Initial release | 1999 |
| Stable release | 2026
/ March 26, 2025 |
| Operating system | Windows |
| Type | Computer-aided design |
| License | Proprietary |
| Website | www |
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.[2]
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.[3]
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
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
| 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 | April 11, 2007[6] | |
| 2009 | 13 | Tesla | April 16, 2008[7] | Frame Generator, Sheet Metal, skeletal modelling |
| 2010 | 14 | Hopper | February 27, 2009[8] | The Ribbon, New FEA |
| 2011 | 15 | Sikorsky | March 26, 2010[9] | Dynamic Input, Direct Manipulation, Assemble tool, Visualization, iCopy, iLogic |
| 2012 | 16 | Brunel | March 22, 2011[10] | 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 | March 27, 2012[11] | Equation curves |
| 2014 | 18 | Franklin | March 27, 2013[12] | 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 | March 28, 2014[13] | Freeform, Direct Edit |
| 2016 | 20 | Shelby | April 16, 2015[14][15] | Multi-CAD, AutoCAD Electrical and Inventor Interoperability, Multi-thread support, Shape Generator, 3D Printing Environment, Graphics/Visualization/Studio Enhancements |
| 2017 | 21 | Enzo | March 28, 2016[16] | Modeling enhancements, expanded AnyCAD support, 3D PDF export, enhanced presentation environment, guided tutorial authoring |
| 2018 | 22 | Elon | March 24, 2017[17] | 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 | April 10, 2018[18] | 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 | March 27, 2019[19] | Overall GUI improvements |
| 2021 | 25 | Ada | March 31, 2020[20] | New UI Panel, Large Assembly Performance Improvement, Modeling enhancements |
| 2022 | 26 | Ren | April 4, 2021[21] | Model States, Performance, Revit and Fusion 360 interop |
| 2023 | 27 | March 28, 2022[22] | 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 | March 29, 2023[23] | ||
| 2025 | 29 | March 27, 2024[24] | Updates to part modeling, sheet metal, assembly modeling, drawings, and interoperability.[25] | |
| 2026 | 30 | March 26, 2025[26] | Updates to performance, part modeling, sheet metal, assembly mirroring, drawings, and interoperability.[27] |
