Autodesk Inventor

  • Model-Based Definition (MBD): Why Manufacturers Are Moving Away from 2D Drawings

    Discover why manufacturers are adopting Model-Based Definition (MBD) to replace traditional 2D drawings, reduce errors, improve collaboration, and streamline product development with Autodesk Inventor. For decades, engineering drawings have been the universal language of manufacturing. Detailed 2D drawings have communicated dimensions, tolerances, notes, and manufacturing requirements from design teams to production floors around the world.…

    Autodesk Inventor

  • Large Assemblies in Inventor: Techniques for Complex Product Designs

    Learn how Autodesk Inventor handles large assemblies and discover practical techniques to improve performance, reduce complexity, manage dependencies, and work more efficiently on complex product designs. As products become more sophisticated, engineering teams are being asked to manage increasingly complex assemblies. Industrial equipment, automation systems, heavy machinery, transportation products, and advanced manufacturing equipment can easily…

    Autodesk Inventor

  • GD&T Guide: How Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing Supports Model-Based Definition

    Learn how geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) works, where traditional 2D documentation can create challenges, and how Autodesk Inventor’s model-based definition (MBD) tools help connect design intent, manufacturing, and inspection through annotated 3D models. What is GD&T and why does it matter? For more than a century, manufacturers have relied on engineering drawings to communicate…

    Autodesk Inventor

  • Design for Assembly (DFA): What It Is, Principles, and How to Reduce Manufacturing Cost

    Design for assembly (DFA) simplifies product design to reduce manufacturing cost and speed up production. Learn key principles, benefits, and real-world best practices. What is design for assembly (DFA)? Design for assembly (DFA) is a product design approach that simplifies how parts are assembled by reducing part count, minimizing fasteners, and standardizing components. The goal…

    Design & Engineering

  • Autodesk Inventor Subscription: What You Get and Why Engineers Choose It

    Explore Autodesk Inventor subscription options, pricing, and features. Learn what you get, how it works, and start a free trial to test it on real engineering workflows. If you’re evaluating Autodesk Inventor, the real question isn’t just “What does it cost?” It’s: “Will this help me design faster, reduce errors, and get products to market…

    Design & Engineering

  • How to Manage Large Multi-Part Assemblies in CAD for Industrial Machinery

    Struggling with large CAD assemblies slowing you down? Learn how to manage complex industrial machinery designs, and why Autodesk Inventor is built for large-scale performance. Designing industrial machinery is one of the most demanding use cases in CAD. Assemblies don’t just grow, they scale. What starts as a manageable model quickly becomes a system of…

    Design & Engineering

  • How to Plan and Optimize a Factory Layout with Autodesk

    Learn how to plan, visualize, and optimize factory layouts using Autodesk Factory Design Utilities and FlexSim. Create digital factory models, validate equipment placement, and simulate material flow before making costly physical changes. Why factory layout decisions costs manufacturers millions Few decisions have a greater long-term impact on manufacturing performance than factory layout. A poorly planned…

    Production

  • How to Handle Late-Stage Design Changes in Inventor Without Breaking Workflows

    Learn how to manage late-stage design changes in Autodesk Inventor without disrupting workflows. Discover how PDM tools like Autodesk Vault keep revisions controlled, traceable, and aligned across engineering and manufacturing teams. Late-stage design changes are inevitable. A supplier issue, a manufacturability concern, or a last-minute requirement can force updates when a design is already close…

    Design & Engineering

  • Design Intent in CAD: How to Build Models That Change Predictably in Autodesk Inventor

    Learn what design intent means in CAD, why it matters for parametric modeling, and how Autodesk Inventor helps engineers build stable parts, assemblies, and configurable products that update predictably. A 3D model can be geometrically correct and still be a poor engineering asset. If a simple change causes sketches to flip, features to fail, assemblies…

    Autodesk Inventor

  • Designing the Digital Factory: Simulating Layouts, Material Flow, and Constraints Before You Build

    This article examines the challenge of designing a factory layout without knowing how it will perform under real operating conditions. It explores how Autodesk Factory Design Utilities and Autodesk FlexSim work together to give engineering teams an end-to-end digital factory planning workflow, from spatial design to operational validation. Building a factory can be one of…

    Production

  • Mechanical Design at Scale: How Inventor Supports Parametric Parts and Assemblies

    Maintaining design intent in complex parametric assemblies is a challenge that compounds at each revision cycle. This article explores how Autodesk Inventor supports mechanical engineers and designers through structured feature relationships, iLogic-driven automation, and purpose-built tools for creating configurable, reusable components. A mechanical design may look perfect on screen, but it can still fail in…

    Autodesk Inventor

  • Model-Based Definition (MBD) in Autodesk Inventor: Where It Pays Off and When It Doesn’t

    See how model-based definition (MBD) in Autodesk Inventor improves manufacturing accuracy, quality, and collaboration, and when it’s worth adopting. For most manufacturing teams, the 3D model has been the real source of truth for years. The drawing just made it official. Model-based definition (MBD) changes that dynamic. Instead of translating the model into a drawing…

    Design & Engineering