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(s)Jacob Sain
Developer(s)Autodesk
Initial release1999; 25 years ago (1999)
Stable release
2024 / March 29, 2023; 11 months ago (2023-03-29)
Operating systemWindows
TypeComputer-aided design
LicenseProprietary
Websitewww.autodesk.com/products/inventor/overview

Features edit

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.

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 edit

The latest Autodesk Inventor product line includes the following software titles:[3][4]

  • Autodesk Inventor LT 2021 (discontinued)
  • Autodesk Inventor Professional 2024

Release dates and names edit

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[5]
2009 13 Tesla April 16, 2008[6] Frame Generator, Sheet Metal, skeletal modelling
2010 14 Hopper February 27, 2009[7] The Ribbon, New FEA
2011 15 Sikorsky March 26, 2010[8] Dynamic Input, Direct Manipulation, Assemble tool, Visualization, iCopy, iLogic
2012 16 Brunel March 22, 2011[9] 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[10] Equation curves
2014 18 Franklin March 27, 2013[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 March 28, 2014[12] Freeform, Direct Edit
2016 20 Shelby April 16, 2015[13][14] Multi-CAD, AutoCAD Electrical and Inventor Interoperability, Shape Generator, 3D Printing Environment, Graphics/Visualization/Studio Enhancements
2017 21 Enzo March 28, 2016[15] Modeling enhancements, expanded AnyCAD support, 3D PDF export, enhanced presentation environment, guided tutorial authoring
2018 22 Elon March 24, 2017[16] 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[17] 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[18] Overall GUI improvements
2021 25 Ada March 31, 2020[19] New UI Panel, Large Assembly Performance Improvement, Modeling enhancements
2022 26 Ren April 4, 2021[20] Model States, Performance, Revit and Fusion 360 interop
2023 27 March 28, 2022[21] 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[22]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Autodesk University 2017 Highlights New Tech". Retrieved 2017-12-24.
  2. ^ "Create and Remove OLE Links in Inventor Files". Retrieved 2017-12-24.
  3. ^ "What's New in Inventor".
  4. ^ "Compare Inventor vs. Inventor LT | Autodesk".
  5. ^ "Autodesk Inventor 2008 Whats New". Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  6. ^ "Autodesk Inventor 2009 – What Is New". Archived from the original on 26 April 2018. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  7. ^ "Autodesk Inventor 2010". Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  8. ^ "Autodesk Inventor Commercial - 2011 What's New". Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  9. ^ "Autodesk Inventor 2012". Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  10. ^ "Autodesk Inventor 2013". Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  11. ^ Helm, Clay (2013-03-26). "Autodesk 2014 Design and Creation Suites Give Flexibility to Innovate More" (Press release). San Francisco: Autodesk, Inc. Archived from the original on 2013-12-22. Retrieved 2016-11-11.
  12. ^ Simoes, Angela (2014-03-27). "New Autodesk 2015 Design Suites Drive Unsurpassed Value for Subscribers" (Press release). San Francisco: Autodesk, Inc. Archived from the original on 2014-03-30. Retrieved 2016-11-11.
  13. ^ Simoes, Angela (2015-04-13). "Autodesk 2016 Design & Creation Suites Now Available" (Press release). San Francisco: Autodesk, Inc. Archived from the original on 2015-04-16. Retrieved 2015-04-15.
  14. ^ "What's New in Autodesk 2016". Autodesk Knowledge Network. Retrieved 2022-11-14.
  15. ^ "What's New in Autodesk Inventor 2017". Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  16. ^ "What's New in Autodesk Inventor 2018". Autodesk Knowledge Network. Retrieved 2017-10-19.
  17. ^ "What's New in Autodesk Inventor 2019". Autodesk Knowledge Network. Retrieved 2018-04-25.
  18. ^ "What's New in Autodesk Inventor 2020". Autodesk Knowledge Network. Retrieved 2022-11-14.
  19. ^ "What's New in Inventor 2021". Autodesk Knowledge Network. Retrieved 2022-11-14.
  20. ^ "What's New in Autodesk 2022". Autodesk Knowledge Network. Retrieved 2022-11-14.
  21. ^ "What's New in Inventor 2023". Retrieved 2022-11-14.
  22. ^ "What's New in Inventor 2024". Retrieved 2023-03-30.

External links edit