Export layers to AutoCAD Mechanical file

Layers in AutoCAD Mechanical and Autodesk Inventor are not identical, therefore layers existing in an .idw file cannot be exported directly to a DWG file. A layer mapping must be done first. The object defaults style is the switchboard that maps objects to styles, like the Layers/Objects functionality in AutoCAD Mechanical.

Note: Make sure that you are familiar with Styles before you proceed.

To start, set up the required styles in your styles library:

1. Establish the base standard style.
2. Create the necessary AutoCAD Mechanical layers and save the styles definitions into your styles library.
3. Copy the Object Defaults style to ensure that you share dimension and text styles in both object defaults styles.
4. Map the AutoCAD Mechanical layers to the correct objects in the copy of the object defaults style.

Note:

• Only some changes made to the standard and its substyles are propagated.
• Table 1 shows the Autodesk Inventor layer definitions for a minimal set of AutoCAD Mechanical layers. The color, line type, and line weight values shown are the default AutoCAD Mechanical settings, but can be changed to match your AutoCAD Mechanical configuration. Changing the layer names, however, may result AutoCAD Mechanical not recognizing the layers.
• Table 2 lists a suggested layer mapping based on the default AutoCAD Mechanical configuration.

Table 1

Layer Name	On/Off *	Color (R,G,B)	Line Type	Line Weight	Scale by Line Weight
AM_0	ON	0,0,0	Continuous	0.55 mm
AM_1	ON	153,0,0	Continuous	0.50 mm	OFF
AM_2	ON	0,0,255	Continuous	0.50 mm	OFF
AM_3	ON	255,0,255	Dashed	0.25 mm	OFF
AM_4	ON	0,255,0	Continuous	0.25 mm	OFF
AM_5	ON	0,255,0	Continuous	0.25 mm	OFF
AM_6	ON	255,255,0	Continuous	0.35 mm	OFF
AM_7	ON	0,255,255	Chain	0.25 mm	OFF
AM_8	ON	255,0,0	Continuous	0.25 mm	OFF
AM_9	OFF	173,173,173	Continuous	0.18 mm	OFF
AM_10	ON	0,0,0	Chain	0.30 mm	OFF
AM_11	ON	0,255,0	Double Dash Chain	0.15 mm	OFF
AM_12	ON	0,0,0	Continuous	0.30 mm	OFF
AM_BOR	ON	0,0,0	Continuous	0.30 mm	OFF

* The Layer On/Off value is not saved in the Style Definition.

Table 2

Object	Layer	Object	Layer
Angle Dimension	AM_5	Origin Indicator	AM_5
Balloon	AM_5	Parts List	AM_BOR
Baseline Dimension	AM_5	Presentation View Trail Line	AM_7
Broken View Line	AM_4	Radial Dimension	AM_5
Caterpillar	AM_5	Reference Part Edge	AM_11
Center Mark	AM_7	Revision Table	AM_BOR
Centerline	AM_7	Revision Tag	AM_5
Datum ID	AM_5	Section View Line	AM_10
Datum Target	AM_5	Sheet Metal Bend Centerlines	AM_7
Detail Cut Line	AM_4	Sheet Metal Bend Extent	AM_2
Detail View Callout	AM_5	Sketch Fill Hatch	AM_8
Diameter Dimension	AM_5	Sketch Geometry	AM_1
End Treatment	AM_5	Sketch Text	AM_6
Feature Control Frame	AM_5	Surface Texture	AM_5
Feature ID	AM_5	Text (General Note)	AM_6
Hatch	AM_8	Thread Ends	AM_0
Hidden Tangent Edge	AM_3	Thread Lines	AM_4
Hidden Thread Ends	AM_3	Thread Note	AM_5
Hidden Thread Lines	AM_3	User Defined Symbol (Leader Only)	AM_5
Hidden View Edge	AM_3	View/Scale Label	AM_6
Hole Note	AM_5	Visible Tangent Edge	AM_1
Hole Table	AM_BOR	Visible View Edge	AM_0
Hole Tag	AM_5	Weld Symbol	AM_5
Leader Text	AM_5	Work Axis	AM_7
Linear Dimension	AM_5	Work Plane	AM_7
Ordinate Dimension	AM_5	Work Point	AM_7
Ordinate Dimension Set	AM_5

When the setup is finished, you can begin exporting files:

1. Open the IDW you want to export. If the file is already open, save the file before you start.
2. Edit the standard, change the object defaults to use the copy you made in the previous steps. Start the Styles Editor, and then select the standard for editing. Make sure that the filter is set to All Styles so you can see styles in the library. In the Active Object Defaults selection list, select the new Object Defaults style, save the standard, and then close the Styles Editor. All objects in the drawing with the layer set to By Standard update to the layers defined in the Object Defaults style.
3. Save Copy As DWG and set the options as required.
4. Close the file, discard changes.