Inventor

Autodesk Inventor is a professional-grade 3D mechanical CAD software focused on product simulation, tooling creation, and detailed documentation. It offers robust parametric, direct, and freeform modeling tools tailored for creating and validating complete digital prototypes of mechanical products. Features like dynamic simulation, frame analysis, and integrated CAM for CNC make it strong for manufacturing. As a direct competitor to SolidWorks, its deep integration with other Autodesk AEC and factory design tools, plus a subscription model, earns it a high score for professional mechanical engineers and designers in manufacturing-focused environments.