Import current versions of CATIA, Solidworks, Pro-E/Creo, NX, JT, Alias, STEP, Iges, Rhino, SAT, Parasolid Binary files.
Translate files into Autodesk Inventor LT data
You can open or import part and assembly files from other CAD systems. You can also place part and assembly files as components into new or existing Autodesk Inventor LT assemblies (not available in Inventor LT).
- Do one of the following:
- To import to a new file select:
- File
Open
Import CAD Formats
-
Get Started tab
Launch panel
Import CAD Formats
When you import a file, Inventor automatically detects whether the imported file is a part or assembly and creates the new document accordingly. For example, to import a 3rd party assembly file as a part, you must first create or have a part file open, and then import the 3rd party assembly file into the part file.
- File
- To import into a part file select:
-
Manage tab
Insert panel
Import
-
3D Model tab
Create panel
Import
-
Manage tab
- To import into an assembly, select
Assemble tab
Component panel
Place Imported CAD (not available in Inventor LT).
- To import to a new file select:
- In the applicable dialog box, set the Files of type to view the available files.
- Select the file to import and click Open.
To edit the import options after importing, right-click on the file in the browser, and select Edit Import from the context menu.
To Import as an ANYCAD Reference or Convert Model:
- On the Options tab, specify the Import Type. Select one of the following:
- Reference Model: to maintain a link to the selected file which enables you to monitor and update as the model changes. Use this option if the design is evolving and you are not required to edit the referenced model (not available in Inventor LT).
The following file types are supported:
- Alias, CATIA, Solidworks, NX, STEP, and Pro-E/Creo files.
- Convert Model: to create a new Inventor file which is not linked to the original. Use this option if you plan modify the model for a new design.
The following file types are supported:
- CATIA, Solidworks, Pro-E/Creo, NX, JT, Alias, Rhino, IGES, STEP, Parasolid, and SAT files.
- Reference Model: to maintain a link to the selected file which enables you to monitor and update as the model changes. Use this option if the design is evolving and you are not required to edit the referenced model (not available in Inventor LT).
- The Object Filters section allows you to specify the type of geometry to import. Specify the type of geometry to import:
Model Geometry
- Solids imports solid bodies and water tight stitched shells as individual solid bodies.
- Surfaces imports surface bodies.
- Meshes imports meshes. Mesh data is for visualization purposes only.
- Wires import wires.
Work Geometry: imports the desired work geometry.
- Inventor Length Units: In the Inventor Length Units field, specify the type of Inventor length units to use for the imported geometry and parameter values. The unit value selected only changes the length units for the new document. The length and other units for the document can be viewed in the Document Settings dialog box on the Units tab.
- Reduced Memory Mode: Select Reduced Memory Mode only if you are translating a large data set and expect additional memory will be required to complete the operation. This setting increases memory capacity and decreases performance. Reduced Memory Mode minimizes memory consumption by saving each component to disk during the import process.
-
Assembly Options (not available in Inventor LT):
- Assembly preserves the source structure.
- Multi-body part imports an assembly as solid bodies in a single part.
- Composite PartThe composites are created from the levels, layer, or groups. Each level, layer, or group is created as an individual composite feature that has the same name as the level, layer, or group it originates from. Each composite feature has its own browser node that is a child of the root node.
-
Part Options
- Composite imports the assembly as a single composite feature in the part environment.
- Individual imports the assembly as a single composite feature in the part environment.
- Stitch (IGES and STEP files only) stitches several edge-matched surfaces or faces together.
- If applicable, provide a file name:
- Provide a file name to avoid name duplication issues.
- Specify a prefix or suffix to add to the file name.
- Browse to specify where to save the file.
- To selectively import files from CATIA, Solidworks, Pro-E/Creo, NX, Alias, Step, Iges, and Rhino, click the Select tab.
- Click OK to import the file.
Import Alias files addendum
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.
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.
Import CATIA V4 files addendum
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 addendum
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.
- *.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.
These types of CATIA V5 files can be imported:
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 JT files addendum
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.
Import Pro/ENGINEER and Creo Parametric files addendum
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.
- *.prt* (part)
- *.asm* (assembly)
- *.g (Granite)
- *.neu* (Neutral)
These types of Pro/ENGINEER files can be imported:
Import Parasolid files addendum
Open and change models created in Parasolid (up to version 28.0). 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.
- *.x_t (text)
- *.x_b (binary)
These types of Parasolid files can be imported:
Import Rhino files addendum
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.
Import SolidWorks files addendum
Open and change models created in SolidWorks (up to version 2016). 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 addendum
Open and change models created in NX (formerly UGS NX). 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 addendum
If an imported STEP or IGES file contains one part, it produces an Autodesk Inventor LT part file.
Import SAT files addendum
You can import an SAT file. 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 SMT files addendum
You can import an SMT file type extension from Autodesk Shape Manager (ASM) that can be used for interoperability operations among Autodesk products.