Autodesk Inventor
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| Original author(s) | Bradley Gelfand |
| Developer(s) | Autodesk |
| Initial release | September 20, 1999 |
| Stable release | 2012 / March 22, 2011 |
| Operating system | Windows |
| Type | CAD |
| License | Proprietary |
| Website | autodesk.com/inventor |
Autodesk Inventor, developed by U.S.-based software company Autodesk, is 3D mechanical solid modeling design software for creating 3D digital prototypes used in the design, visualization and simulation of products. Autodesk Inventor competes directly with SolidWorks and SolidEdge and less directly with Creo Elements/Pro, CATIA, and NX (Unigraphics).
Autodesk Inventor uses ShapeManager, their proprietary geometric modeling kernel.
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[edit] Integrated Motion Simulation and Assembly Stress Analysis
Inventor includes an integrated motion simulation and assembly stress analysis environment. Users can input driving loads, friction characteristics, and dynamic components, then run dynamic simulation tests to see how a product will work under real-world conditions. The simulation tools can help users optimize strength and weight, identify high-stress areas, identify and reduce unwanted vibrations, and size motors and actuators to reduce energy consumption. Finite element analysis (FEA) lets users validate component design by testing how parts perform under loads (using actual load information instead of estimates).
Inventor’s Parametric Studies and Optimization technology lets users modify design parameters from within the assembly stress environment and compare various design options, then update the 3D model with the optimized parameters.
[edit] Data Interoperability and Exchange
Inventor uses specific file formats for parts (IPT), assemblies (IAM), and drawing views (IDW or DWG). Files can be imported or exported in DWG format. Design Web Format (DWF) is Autodesk’s preferred 2D/3D data interchange and review format.
Inventor includes a Building Information Modeling (BIM) Exchange tool, used to create and publish simplified 3D representations, intelligent connection points, and additional information in native file formats for AutoCAD MEP software. Users can export 3D geometry to AutoCAD Architecture, Revit-based software, and AutoCAD software, and exchange data with industrial design software such as Autodesk Alias Design. Inventor is also used to design mechatronic systems since it is interoperable with electrical software applications such as AutoCAD Electrical and Eplan.
Inventor can exchange data with applications such as CATIA V5, UGS, SolidWorks, and Pro/ENGINEER. Inventor supports direct import and export of CATIA V5, JT 6, JT 7, Parasolid, Granite, UG-NX, SolidWorks, Pro/E, and SAT files.
The Inventor Construction Environment provides fault-tolerant import of large STEP and IGES data sets. A quarantine holds entities containing geometric problems, such as surface slivers and mismatched boundary curves. Users can publish drawings as PDF files, publish 3D part and assembly models in SAT or JT formats, or create STL files for output to stereolithography and 3D print machines.
[edit] Editions
The Autodesk Inventor product line includes the following software titles:
- AutoCAD Inventor Suite 2011
- AutoCAD Inventor Routed Systems Suite 2011
- AutoCAD Inventor Tooling Suite 2011
- AutoCAD Inventor Simulation Suite 2011
- AutoCAD Inventor Professional Suite 2011
Feature Comparison at Autodesk.com
[edit] Articles and reviews
Find reviews and articles about Inventor on the Autodesk website.
The code names of early releases were named after sports cars and SUVs, because of the love that division vice president Robert "Buzz" Koss has for high-performance vehicles.
[edit] Release dates and names
| Official name | Version | Code name | Date of release | What's New |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inventor | 1 | Mustang | September 20, 1999 | |
| Inventor | 2 | Thunderbird | March 1, 2000 | |
| Inventor | 3 | Camaro | August 1, 2000 | |
| Inventor | 4 | Corvette | December 1, 2000 | |
| Inventor | 5 | Durango | September 17, 2001 | |
| Inventor | 5.3 | Prowler | January 30, 2002 | |
| Inventor | 6 | Viper | October 15, 2002 | |
| Inventor | 7 | Wrangler | April 18, 2003 | New DWG Support for AutoCAD 2004, Autodesk® Express Viewer Compatibility, Large-Assembly Design Performance |
| Inventor | 8 | Cherokee | October 15, 2003 | |
| Inventor | 9 | Crossfire | July 15, 2004 | |
| Inventor | 10 | Freestyle | April 6, 2005 | |
| Inventor | 11 | Faraday | April 6, 2006 | |
| Inventor | 2008 | Goddard | April 11, 2007 | |
| Inventor | 2009 | Tesla | April 16, 2008 | Frame Generator, Sheet Metal, skeletal modelling |
| Inventor | 2010 | Hopper | February 27, 2009 | The Ribbon, New FEA |
| Inventor | 2011 | Sikorsky | March 26, 2010 | Dynamic Input, Direct Manipulation, Assemble tool, Visualization, iCopy, iLogic |
| Inventor | 2012 | Brunel | March 22, 2011 | 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 |
| Inventor | 2013 | Goodyear |
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
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Wikibooks has more on the topic of |
- Autodesk Inventor official website
- Autodesk Inventor Forums
- Inventor information
- Inventor Student Community - Academic community and software download
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