Microsoft Direct3D 10 or Direct3D 9 capable workstation graphics card Hard Drive: 15 GB of free space for installation For Complex Assemblies (More than 1,000 parts)
As a "Professional" edition, this version of Inventor came equipped with advanced analysis tools that go beyond standard 3D modeling. These include:
2 GB minimum for part design; 8 GB or more recommended for large assemblies (1,000+ parts). autodesk+inventor+professional+2012
If you are looking to optimize your current engineering workflows, tell me:
The most directly relevant document is Autodesk's own white paper. It details the core improvements over 2011, including: Microsoft Direct3D 10 or Direct3D 9 capable workstation
The release of Autodesk Inventor Professional 2012 marked a defining moment in the evolution of computer-aided design (CAD) software. Launched during a period of rapid transition from traditional 2D drafting to fully integrated 3D digital prototyping, Inventor 2012 became the workhorse of engineering departments worldwide. It bridged the gap between conceptual design, advanced engineering simulation, and tooling manufacture within a single, unified environment.
The user interface continued to evolve, with a major focus on speed and efficiency. The introduction of was a key change. These radial menus appear at the mouse cursor with a right-click, placing common commands at major compass points. They allowed users to access functions without moving the mouse across the screen to a menu or toolbar, quickly becoming muscle memory and speeding up modeling tasks. It details the core improvements over 2011, including:
Replacing traditional context menus, marking menus introduced a radial, gesture-based interface. Right-clicking brought up a circular menu of common commands, allowing experienced users to execute commands using muscle memory.
A major selling point for the 2012 release was its role within the Autodesk Product Design Suite.
: This version introduced advanced mesh creation for Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and significant enhancements to beam and frame analysis. The dynamic simulation environment was overhauled to handle complex joints and collision analysis more intuitively.
: Contains critical installation and update instructions for the 2012 release. You can view the full text on the Autodesk Read Me Page .