Autodesk Inventor

[#1]

Hi all,

I have a dwg file of a section of a tunnel that has been exported from Microstation as a polyface mesh surface. What I am trying to achieve is cutting a hole into the surface. I am assuming that I cannot cut a surface directly, but need to convert it to a solid first.

I've searched this site and I have tried everything I can think of to no avail. Inventor does not seem to be able to convert the surface to a solid. Also, when I import the surface to Inventor, some of the triangular meshes are not there, and there are too many "holes" to patch them manually. I've also tried using lisps in AutoCAD, but on the surface and 3D faces after exploding it, but for example m2s.lsp or f2s.lsp do not seem to work.

I have also had the same file exported from Microstation as ACIS .sat, but version 18.0 is not readable by Inventor. Is there a way to convert the ASCII file to an older version?

In other words, any suggestions on how to accomplish what I am trying to do?

I am using Inventor 2013, and I also have AutoCAD 2013 available.

Any and all help is appreciated!

Samu

[#2]

There should be an Option within Microstation to save as v7 ACIS.

What other formats will Microstation export? STEP?

Can you attach the dwg file here?

[#3]

Also, Autocad should be able to read the Microstation files directly. Not sure about solids / mesh in Microstation but worth checking if the V7 isn't available.

[#4]

Thanks for both of your replies. JD you are right, Microstation is able to export as sat/ACIS v7.0 (and this is the newest version AutoCAD and Inventor will import), and I will try to get a file saved in that format. Meanwhile, here is the dwg I have been trying work with - if you have time to take a look at it, I would appreciate it! I just don't seem to be able to turn it into a solid, or cut a hole.

Samu

[#5]

Maybe my AU2012 class can be useful:

http://au.autodesk.com/?nd=au_player#0%0:3202