TrustRadius Insights for Autodesk Inventor are summaries of user sentiment data from TrustRadius reviews and, when necessary, third party data sources.
Pros
Unique drawing system: Multiple users have expressed appreciation for Inventor's unique drawing system. According to reviewers, this system allows for the development and modification of new components by creating sketches in XYZ planes. Users find it advantageous that Inventor treats 3D figures as solid parts rather than just computer drawings, enabling them to independently manipulate component parts within a complex system.
Simplicity and user-friendly interface: Reviewers have praised Inventor's simplicity and user-friendly interface. They note that each button, menu, and option in the software is accompanied by an explanation of its functionality, making it easy for users to understand and utilize various features. Additionally, advanced descriptions are available for those seeking a deeper understanding.
Exceptional speed: The exceptional speed of Inventor has been highlighted by multiple users. They report that everything renders extremely quickly in the software without any delays when examining 3D models, parts, or assemblies. This feature is particularly valuable when giving presentations or showcasing concepts in real-time to an audience.
I teach students mechanical design using Inventor as it is a common tool used in the manufacturing and engineering industry.
Pros
Robust tools.
Intuitive User Interface.
Ability to share projects across platforms and file types.
Cons
Requires large download to use.
Files not collaborative.
Limited to just design side (no CAM functions).
Likelihood to Recommend
It is well suited for someone designing large projects that may require lots of computing power and working on a project on their own. It is very robust, and with a powerful enough machine, a person can design very elaborate and detailed projects. Where it falls short, however, is if a project needs to be worked on collaboratively and contributors need to all make updates and changes to the project in real time.
Autodesk Inventor is used to fully model our products. Those models are used for customer approval, parts list generation, and fabrication of our products. Our engineers use Autodesk Inventor to detail design with annotated drawings as well as supply the production team with DXF files for cutting and forming of sheet metal. The 3D models also allow team leaders to give feedback to the engineering team earlier in the design process.
Pros
3D models
allowing for customization via API and iLogic
ability to export parts lists
Cons
most if it still runs on a single core. Please fix this
Crashes. In our experience, too many crashes. We have high end machines and crashes are way too common.
Autosave. I think it is simply unacceptable that Autodesk Inventor combines common crashes with no autosave functionality. We feel this pain all the time.
Likelihood to Recommend
Autodesk Inventor is good software for designing a product that will have a high production run. We have to constrain differently than they recommend because each one of our products is unique and we simply do not have the time to fight the constraining system. If you have a good engineering budget and will make lots of those widgets than Autodesk Inventor is perfect for you.
Primary tool to engineer complete systems from the smallest part upto the assembled lines put together. Furthermore we design our units and equipment in Inventor, as well as creating exploded views for parts lists and visuals for sales purposes and user manuals. We are now making steps in the FEA-module
Pros
Sheet metal features
2D drawing tools
VBA / iLogic integration
Cons
Style management
State changes can not be made from within Inventor
Likelihood to Recommend
Inventor is the one and only tool I would recommend. It functions straight-forward and especially the sheet metal environment is a delight. Stability could be better at times, we are looking in that at the moment. It's possible this is a result of working with old migrated files. FEA is next up on our list
We are using Autodesk Inventor for plant design engineering. Most of our product are made by sheet metal. We are large equipment manufacturing company in middle east. I am working there as a mechanical design engineer. I used Autodesk Inventor for our product design for manufacturing. I like the way of Inventor for generating the DXF for laser cutting. and Inventor also saves our most of calculation time by using simple command called nesting. Inventor is budget software as compared to others.
Pros
Sheet metal product design
Flat pattern development
Inventor do Nesting very well
Frame design
Basic simulation
Cons
Inventor crash unexpectedly company should improve it.
Add more library content
Memory uses should be balance
Likelihood to Recommend
I worked on project where I need the same project parts and drawings, I simple pack and go and I could able to work the files with any interruption. And we can also easily manage all files by project location. and one thing also useful we can use cloud vault for our data safe and access any where in the world. I like Autodesk Inventor for Product Design for Manufacturing. I worked most with sheet metal product.
It is used to draw up our frames and units. We use it to determine size and positioning. It helps with the custom aspect of our design of units.
Pros
Allows you to be detailed so you can determine if the size requirements will work.
Allows you to take complete drawings and put them into a exploded view.
You are able to view the drawing in other programs or with there inventor viewer.
Cons
So far I see no improvements need but do understand that this is a very detailed Auto Cad type program and needs some training before you will be able to use it well.
Likelihood to Recommend
This is a great program for auto cad to 3D drawings. There are many great tutorials to help learn this program.
Autodesk Inventor is being used across the whole organization. We are in the process of moving from a 2D environment to a 3D environment that supports engineering analysis, work instruction to the operations staff, accurate BOM information to sales, and improved submittal information for our customers. In the past year, we have been able to create product offerings to address customer needs that we would not have been able to, or taken to long to create, in a 2D world.
Pros
Easy to use
Simple engineering analysis
REVIT native export
Animation and annotated exploded views
Product configuration
Cons
Smaller population of Autodesk users relative to other mechanical CAD packages (Solidworks, Catia, etc.)
Likelihood to Recommend
For smaller, less complex shops like ours, where systems are primarily built from existing building blocks, Autodesk Inventor works well. System integration is relatively straightforward from our library. For intensive product or component development work, Inventor may fall short relative to the more robust engineering tools of a package like CATIA or SOLIDWORKS. Also, if you are sharing a lot of information outside of the company, the Inventor audience is smaller than some of the other CAD packages.
Autodesk Inventor is currently not being used by my organization. We tried it out for a one-year contract and after that, we went back to using SOLIDWORKS for our design processes. When we first purchased it, we had three engineers including myself using the software. The software seemed to work well for us, and we were able to get most of the projects completed for which we used it. There were quite a few quirks with it, and my professional opinion is that it has as its underlying base, the AutoCAD program for basic sketching and drawing based models. Since we had always based much of our design using MasterCAM 2D sketching, when we utilized Inventor, there was not a smooth mesh allowing the transfer of information between the two programs. Even when we used an AutoCAD standard file type, moving data back and forth was more of an elaborate dance, rather than a simple "Save, then Open."
Pros
Inventor works well at creating model data that is easily re-configurable.
Inventor has a lot of different modules for different types of design.
Inventor works well for those accustomed to using AutoCAD.
Cons
Inventor demonstrates a lack of fluidity in the process of transferring data between programs.
Inventor shows some lack of sophistication that certain features that are readily available in other design software packages are limited in use in Inventor.
Inventor can often have difficulty in creating models that show true color, as in blacks can come out as dark grays in certain renders, even when the material and appearance settings are the same from part to part.
Likelihood to Recommend
Autodesk Inventor does have a couple of features that I wish our current software suite did. I find the view cube to be very nice to work with. I found that most of the features of Inventor are very similar to another program that is used widely in the industry, and yet they seem to not be as easily managed. For example, parametric modeling is nothing new, but it seems like the Inventor interface does not make it as simple to make adjustments or changes quickly. Also, the way the different features are laid out on the toolbar does not seem as logical to me, but that may just be me. I am not sure I like the idea that many different programs must be installed on your machine in order to use different features that are elsewhere incorporated within other software packages.
We use Autodesk Inventor to draw standard and sheet metal parts. We draw up the profiles of the individual parts and assemble them in assemblies to make sure it looks like what we want. Also when assembling the parts you can check for conflicts that intersect and would be an issue when bolting or welding the pieces together after they are cut. After everything is approved by the costumer we will export the sheet metal parts as flat patterns and send them to our CNC plasma or laser cutter to be processed. All the guys in the shop and office know how to use it to address questions during assembly, which makes it nice. It is very easy to use.
Pros
It is easy to make custom sheet metal templates to save and use on future projects. Once assembled, it will tell the weight of the assembly and the surface area. It will also give you the center of gravity on a part or assembly, if you need to lift the assembly with a crane or lift to allow for proper jigging placements.
Autodesk has some great 3rd-party apps in the application store to allow for flat pattern exports of assemblies and eliminate expensive 3rd-party software.
Cons
It is a hog on memory card and operating system.
There's not too much I can complain about. I really like working with it, mainly because that's all I am familiar with.
Likelihood to Recommend
I like the fact when you hover over commands on the toolbar, Autodesk Inventor will show videos on how to go about doing the command. Assembling complicated parts can take some time to figure out the right constraints. A few more options would be nice. The hardest part to customize is the view tab. I don't change a lot but it is easy to forget what I change.
Autodesk Inventor is being used at GK to model custom capital equipment used in the mining, recycling, and foundry industries. There are many design considerations at play with the great size of the equipment we make, so having it modeled makes a huge difference. Also, over the 2D jobs of the past, many replacements are modeled to help with fit and finish during the remake.
Pros
Finding interference
Sheet metal design
iLogic
Cons
It does take a powerful PC to take full advantage of the software.
Likelihood to Recommend
Autodesk Inventor has a layout that is easy to get started in and has many ways that advanced users can leverage the software to make intricate designs. They have regularly updated the software to make the tools more robust and easier to run.
Autodesk Inventor is used in the engineering department as well as other departments for integrated workflow solutions. All the tools help to make an effective document and design management solution for our company.
Pros
Revision Control
Life Cycle Management
Engineering Change Control
Cons
Not very powerful for complex surface design
Weld features are buggy
Integration with Vault can be better
Likelihood to Recommend
Its integration with AutoCAD and multi-user database management are big plusses for Autodesk Inventor. Allowing users from various departments to have different permissions for viewing and accessing files makes Autodesk Inventor a very powerful product.
