| Autodesk Inventor | |
| Author: | Jacob Sain |
| Developer: | Autodesk |
| Latest Release Version: | 2025 |
| Operating System: | Windows |
| Genre: | Computer-aided design |
| License: | Proprietary |
Autodesk Inventor is a computer-aided design extension application for 3D mechanical design, simulation, visualization, and documentation developed by Autodesk.[1]
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.
The latest Autodesk Inventor product line includes the following software titles:[3] [4]
| 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 folderMouseover 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, Multi-thread support, 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] |