Access files from other CAD systems

Translate files into Autodesk Inventor LT data

You can open or import part and assembly files from other CAD systems.

In Autodesk Inventor LT, do one of the following to translate a file:
- To translate to a new Autodesk Inventor LT file, select Open.
- To import into an Autodesk Inventor LT part file, select Manage tab Insert panel Import .
In the applicable dialog box, set the Files of type to view the available files.
Select the file to import. If necessary, browse to find the appropriate file.
- If the file type is .dwg, click Options and ensure that Import is selected. Click OK.
- For other file types, click Options and set the applicable options. Click OK.
Click Open to import the file.

To view import details, expand the 3rd Party browser node and double-click Translation Report.

Drag and drop to import files

You can also drag and drop to import individual or multiple part and assembly files. Do one of the following:

Select the part or assembly file in Windows Explorer, and drag the file to the Autodesk Inventor LT title bar. This action translates the part or assembly into a new Autodesk Inventor LT file, and it can be done with or without an Autodesk Inventor LT file open.
With no Autodesk Inventor LT files open, select the part or assembly file in Windows Explorer, drag the file into the Autodesk Inventor LT graphics window. This action translates the part or assembly into a new Autodesk Inventor LT file.

Show me how to set report options on import

Show me how to set default units on import

Show me how to set entity types to import

Show me how to import an assembly as a single part file

Show me the options when Import into Repair Environment is OFF

Show me the options when Import into Repair Environment is ON

Import Alias files

By default, the Alias .wire file data is imported into Autodesk Inventor LT as a composite surface. The objects imported into Autodesk Inventor LT maintain the same names as originally assigned by Alias layers.

Note: You must select Non-Associative Import to enable the Create Imported File Object selection.

The geometry is created in Inventor using the same colors as assigned in Alias. However, texture maps included in the Alias definition are not translated to the Inventor file.

After changing the file, you can continue to open it in Autodesk Inventor LT.

Import CATIA V4 files

Open and change models created in CATIA V4 (all versions). Autodesk Inventor LT translates assembly and part files, solids, multi-solids, surfaces, and more. After the import operation is complete, you have a base feature or features which match the geometry and topology of the original file. Use Autodesk Inventor LT commands to adjust the base features and add new features to the feature tree.

These types of CATIA V4 files can be imported:

*.model
*.session
*.dlv3
*.exp
Note: When you open a .exp file, Inventor displays the models it contains in the CATIA V4 Model Selection dialog box. Select the appropriate .model file to import and click OK.

If you select to import mesh data, Inventor creates mesh features and groups them under mesh folders in the browser. The mesh features are for visualization purposes only and cannot be modified. You can right-click the mesh features or folders to access the context menu and select to show mesh edges, change visibility, and more.

After changing the file, you can continue to open it in Autodesk Inventor LT.

Import CATIA V5 files

Open and change models created in CATIA V5 (versions R6 - R21). Autodesk Inventor LT translates assembly and part files, solids, multi-solids, surfaces, and more. After the import operation is complete, you have a base feature or features which match the geometry and topology of the original file. Use Autodesk Inventor LT commands to adjust the base features and add new features to the feature tree.

These types of CATIA V5 files can be imported:

*.CATPart (part)
*.CATProduct (assembly)
Note: Inventor automatically translates CATIA V4 files referenced by *.CATProduct files.
*.cgr
Note: Mesh data from .cgr files are for visualization purposes only.

After changing the file, you can continue to open it in Autodesk Inventor LT.

Import JT files

Open and change models created in JT (*.jt) (versions 7.0, 8.0, 8.1, 8.2, 9.0, 9.1, 9.2, 9.3, 9.4, and 9.5). Autodesk Inventor LT translates assembly and part files, solids, multi-solids, surfaces, and more. After the import operation is complete, you have a base feature or features which match the geometry and topology of the original file. Use Autodesk Inventor LT commands to adjust the base features and add new features to the feature tree.

After changing the file, you can continue to open it in Autodesk Inventor LT.

Import Pro/ENGINEER and Creo Parametric files

Open and change models created in Pro/ENGINEER and Creo Parametric. Autodesk Inventor LT translates assembly and part files, solids, multi-solids, surfaces, and more. After the import operation is complete, you have a base feature or features which match the geometry and topology of the original file. Use Autodesk Inventor LT commands to adjust the base features and add new features to the feature tree.

These types of Pro/ENGINEER files can be imported:

*.prt* (part) (up to version Wildfire 5.0 or Creo Parametric 1.0)
*.asm* (assembly) (up to version Wildfire 5.0 or Creo Parametric 1.0)
*.g (Granite) (up to version 7.0)
*.neu* (Neutral)

After changing the file, you can continue to open it in Autodesk Inventor LT.

Import Parasolid files

Open and change models created in Parasolid (up to version 24.0). Autodesk Inventor LT translates assembly and part files, solids, multi-solids, surfaces, and more. After the import operation is complete, you have a base feature or features which match the geometry and topology of the original file. Use Autodesk Inventor LT commands to adjust the base features and add new features to the feature tree.

These types of Parasolid files can be imported:

*.x_t (text)
*.x_b (binary)

After changing the file, you can continue to open it in Autodesk Inventor LT.

Import Rhino files

Rhino files can be imported for use in Autodesk Inventor. The import operation does not maintain associativity with the original file. As a result, changes to the original file after the import operation do not affect the imported part. Likewise, changes to the imported part do not affect the original file. After the import operation is complete, you can change the model as if it was originally created in Inventor.

The import process creates base features in Inventor representative of the geometry and topology in the source file. You can use Inventor commands to adjust the base features and add new features to the Inventor feature tree. You cannot modify the original definition of the base features.

A translation report is generated that includes information on the imported data, the import options used, and the Inventor part that was created.

Import SolidWorks files

Open and change models created in SolidWorks (versions 2003 - 2012). Autodesk Inventor LT translates assembly and part files, solids, multi-solids, surfaces, and more. After the import operation is complete, you have a base feature or features which match the geometry and topology of the original file. Use Autodesk Inventor LT commands to adjust the base features and add new features to the feature tree.

These types of SolidWorks files can be imported:

*.prt, *.sldprt (part)
*.asm, *.sldasm (assembly)

Import NX files

Open and change models created in NX (formerly UGS NX) (versions 3 - 8). Autodesk Inventor LT translates assembly and part files, solids, multi-solids, surfaces, and more. After the import operation is complete, you have a base feature or features which match the geometry and topology of the original file. Use Autodesk Inventor LT commands to adjust the base features and add new features to the feature tree.

These types of NX files can be imported:

*.prt (part)
*.prt (assembly)

Import STEP or IGES files

You can import a STEP (versions AP214 and AP203E2) or IGES (all versions) file. The solid body is saved in an Autodesk Inventor LT file, and no links are maintained to the original file.

If an imported STEP or IGES file contains one part, it produces an Autodesk Inventor LT part file.

Note: By default, Autodesk Inventor LT applies the part name (file name of the inserted part) to browser file nodes. Other CAD systems might apply the part number property. When a STEP or IGES file is imported into Autodesk Inventor LT, its name might differ from that of the CAD system which generated the STEP or IGES file. To avoid confusion, use the Rename Browser Nodes command to specify the browser node naming scheme.

Note: STEP file part numbers translate to the Part Number field in the iProperties Project tab of an Autodesk Inventor LT Part document.

Import SAT files

You can import a SAT file (versions 4.0 - 7.0). The curves, surfaces, and solids are saved in an Autodesk Inventor LT file, and no links are maintained to the original file.

If an imported SAT file contains a single body, it produces an Autodesk Inventor LT part file with a single part.

Import STL files

You can import STL files in Autodesk Inventor LT. The data is imported as mesh objects and are contained in a mesh browser node.

These types of STL files can be imported:

*.stl
*.stla
*.stlb

Open Markup DWF

In Autodesk Inventor LT, you can open a DWF file with markups created in Autodesk Design Review, for example.

	To open a markup set, click Open. In the Open dialog box, select a DWF file that contains markups, and then click Open.
The Markups browser displays the markup set in the tree view. Note: If you try to load a markup set by opening a DWF file that does not contain markups, you cannot open the DWF file in Autodesk Inventor LT.

Open or Import DWG files

You can directly open any AutoCAD DWG file in Autodesk Inventor LT, and then view, plot, and measure the file contents. Objects display exactly as they do in AutoCAD.

Import brings the data into Autodesk Inventor LT where you work with it as model data.

Both Open and Import procedures are demonstrated in the following video: