Design & Engineering

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

Learn how Autodesk Inventor’s enhanced assembly mirror workflow gives designers more control through associative placement, flexible mirroring options, and design‑intent‑driven workflows. Mirroring components in an assembly is a common task in mechanical design. From left‑ and right‑hand versions of components to symmetrical assemblies, mirroring saves time and helps maintain consistency. But in real‑world workflows, mirroring…

Engineering teams can improve profitability by applying Design for Assembly (DFA) principles early in the development cycle. This article explores how technical strategies for part reduction and assembly simulation ensure efficient production. Autodesk Inventor provides professional tools to automate bill of materials and optimize complex mechanical designs, streamlining manufacturing. Design for assembly (DFA) is an…

Learn how PHS West scaled design automation and product configuration with Autodesk Inventor, reducing errors and cutting sales drawings from hours to minutes. PHS West, a leading manufacturer of highly configurable medical carts and large-scale data center infrastructure solutions, has built its reputation on quality, customization, and close collaboration with customers. As product complexity and…