Vault (with Inventor)
Autodesk's PDM system — file vaulting, revision control, lifecycle management, and ECO workflow for Inventor + AutoCAD + Revit data.
Definition
Vault is a SQL Server-backed vault that wraps the file system. Files are checked out to a local workspace, edited, then checked in. Vault tracks references, revisions, lifecycle state (Work in Progress → For Review → Released), and Engineering Change Orders. Vault Workgroup, Vault Professional, and Vault Office tiers add web client, replication, ERP integration.
Why it matters
Beyond a single user, Vault is the difference between coherent product data and chaos. References, history, and access control all live in Vault.
Technical Deep Dive & Core Mechanics
From a geometric perspective, Vault (with Inventor) represents a parametric boundary representation (B-Rep) mechanism within Inventor. The underlying geometric modeling kernel—whether Parasolid, ACIS, or a proprietary solver—maintains a strictly ordered history tree (Feature Manager). Each operation stores topological references (faces, edges, vertices) that are re-evaluated sequentially during model regeneration.
Cross-Discipline Collaboration & Handoff
In global multi-office projects, Vault (with Inventor) is a high-frequency handoff node between diverse software packages. During cross-platform export (for example, exporting Inventor drawings to IFC for coordination in Navisworks or Solibri, or converting mechanical STEP files into BIM detail families):
Common pitfalls
- Editing files outside the Vault workspace — local diverges from vaulted.
- Renaming files in Windows Explorer — references break.
- Skipping check-in comments — change history is opaque.
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:
Autodesk Certified Professional (ACP) - Inventor Exam Study Guide & Mock Practice
Autodesk Inventor Professional Design & Engineering Specialization
The Complete Autodesk Inventor 2026 Masterclass: From Beginner to Pro
🌳 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.