Model States (Inventor)
Configurations within a single Inventor part or assembly — alternate suppression, dimensions, and feature states under one file.
Definition
Model States (since Inventor 2022) let one .ipt or .iam represent multiple configurations: different suppressed features, different dimension values, different children. Each Model State is a named state; activating it changes the model. Drawings can show different views in different model states.
Why it matters
Model States are Inventor's answer to SOLIDWORKS Configurations. One file for a family of variants reduces file count and reference complexity.
Common pitfalls
- Excess Model States — file becomes unwieldy.
- Mixing iParts and Model States in the same project — conceptual confusion.
- Drawings that mix Model States in the same sheet — annotation conflicts.
This concept is a core structural element of the Inventor drafting and engineering environment developed by Autodesk. Autodesk's Windows-native parametric MCAD — strong on large mechanical assemblies, sheet metal, frame generator, and integration with Autodesk Vault and Revit.
Relevant Inventor FAQs
❓ What's the difference between Inventor and Fusion 360?
Inventor is Windows-only desktop, file-based, deep MCAD with Vault integration. Fusion 360 is cross-platform (Win/Mac), cloud-data, broader scope (CAM, electronics, generative design), simpler assemblies. Inventor for established mechanical engineering teams; Fusion 360 for makers, small teams, integrated CAM workflows.
❓ Can Inventor open SOLIDWORKS files?
Indirectly. Inventor doesn't natively read .sldprt/.sldasm; export from SOLIDWORKS to STEP or Parasolid, then open in Inventor. Features import as static geometry without parametric history.
❓ What's in the Product Design & Manufacturing Collection?
Inventor, AutoCAD, AutoCAD Mechanical, Inventor Nastran (FEA), Inventor Tolerance Analysis, Factory Design Utilities, Inventor CAM, Vault Basic, ReCap Pro, and Fusion 360 (selected modules). Most production Inventor users are on PDMC rather than standalone Inventor.
⚡ Concept Self-Test
🎓 Recommended Practice Lessons
Step-by-step practical exercises and certification-aligned paths chosen by our editors to master this concept:
The Complete Autodesk Inventor 2026 Masterclass: From Beginner to Pro
Autodesk Inventor Professional Design & Engineering Specialization
🌳 Semantic Crossroads & Navigation Pathways
Trunk-Branch-Leaf ModelCore glossary, interactive graph, and domain-wide concept index.
Parent design environments and platforms implementing this method natively.