To Use AutoCAD Geometry in Inventor

Use AutoCAD data imported into an Inventor part

In a part or drawing, 2D data is imported into a sketch. AutoCAD 3D solids are imported as ASM bodies.

Note on opening DWG files

If you do not require AutoCAD objects translated into Inventor objects, you can directly open any AutoCAD DWG file in Inventor. You can then view, plot, and measure the file contents. Objects display exactly as they do in AutoCAD. In addition, all 2D AutoCAD data is selectable for copy and paste. You can open an AutoCAD DWG file in Inventor, and then copy and paste AutoCAD entities into any Inventor sketch.

Create new part using AutoCAD 2D data

You can translate AutoCAD 2D data to Inventor sketch data and use it to create a part.

Click File Open and select the file. If you are importing a DWG file, click Options. Ensure that the Import option is selected, and click OK. Click Open to start the DWG File wizard.

1. In the Layers and Objects Import Options dialog box:
   • Select the source location for the data. You can select Model Space or Layouts (Paper Space). If you select Layouts, only the currently active layout is translated.
   • Select the layers to translate.
   • Click Next.
2. In the Import Destination Options dialog box:
   • Select New part at the destination for the data.
   • Select AutoCAD Blocks to Inventor Blocks to import AutoCAD blocks as sketch blocks ( see Sketch Block). If you open an AutoCAD DWG file directly in Inventor, rather than translating the file, you can copy and paste AutoCAD blocks to Inventor sketch blocks (see Copy AutoCAD data into 2D sketches).
   • Set the destination directory for the new file.
   • Select a part template.
   • Click Finish to create the file.
     Note: To use settings in the future, save the configuration file before clicking Finish.

Create a part using AutoCAD 3D solids

AutoCAD 3D solids are translated to Autodesk solid bodies.

Click File Open and select the file. If you are importing a DWG file, click Options. Ensure that the Import option is selected, and click OK. Click Open to start the DWG File wizard.

1. In the Layers and Objects Import Options dialog box:
   • Select 3D Solids.
   • Click Next.
2. In the Import Destination Options dialog box:
   • Set the destination directory for the translated files.
   • Select a part template.
   • Click Finish to create the file. If the AutoCAD file contains multiple 3D solids, the translator creates an Inventor assembly that references a part file for each solid.
   • Click Finish to create the file.
     Note: To use settings in the future, save the configuration file before clicking Finish.