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Best format for neutral file format for exporting/importing 3D files

13 REPLIES 13
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Message 1 of 14
blair
4696 Views, 13 Replies

Best format for neutral file format for exporting/importing 3D files

What is the best export/import format for sending 3D files. I need someone to send be neutral format files, possibly Solidworks but I am not sure. Also any export settings to make sure I get decent quality files.

 

Nothing like getting a surface model when you want solid model.


Inventor 2020, In-Cad, Simulation Mechanical

Just insert the picture rather than attaching it as a file
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Delta Tau Chi ΔΤΧ

13 REPLIES 13
Message 2 of 14
MariaManuela
in reply to: blair

The best neutral format is STEP file.

Asidek Consultant Specialist
www.asidek.es
Message 3 of 14
mpatchus
in reply to: MariaManuela


@MariaManuela wrote:

The best neutral format is STEP file.


Agree... we've had great success since using only STEP files.

Mike Patchus - Lancaster SC

Inventor 2025 Beta


Alienware m17, Intel(R) Core(TM) i9-10980HK CPU @ 2.40GHz 3.10 GHz, Win 11, 64gb RAM, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Super

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Message 4 of 14
blair
in reply to: mpatchus

Thanks, just what I thought.


Inventor 2020, In-Cad, Simulation Mechanical

Just insert the picture rather than attaching it as a file
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Delta Tau Chi ΔΤΧ

Message 6 of 14
mrattray
in reply to: blair

My vote is for step, as well.
Mike (not Matt) Rattray

Message 7 of 14
-niels-
in reply to: blair

I'll go with STEP as preferred neutral format too.

Niels van der Veer
Inventor professional user & 3DS Max enthusiast
Vault professional user/manager
The Netherlands

Message 8 of 14
mcgyvr
in reply to: -niels-

STEP hands down... I've had a few random problems with IGES... Never a problem with STEP



-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inventor 2023 - Dell Precision 5570

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Message 9 of 14
sam_m
in reply to: mcgyvr

To be the black sheep, I tend to use IGES with our toolmaker (who uses Solidworks).  On the first project we worked together they had problems importing the STEP file I created so I tried IGES and it worked better; so we've stuck to that since...



Sam M.
Inventor and Showcase monkey

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Message 10 of 14
mrattray
in reply to: sam_m

When I ran SolidWorks I preferred step files.
I have found though that certain geometries for whatever reason don't like certain formats; sometimes you just have to try something else to get it to translate right.
Mike (not Matt) Rattray

Message 11 of 14
stephengibson76
in reply to: blair

I recall looking into this about 6 years ago and the data at the time suggested 20% of translations between kernels would have errors...  Just doing a quick LMGTFY to see if I could find the data and came across this interesting blog

 

http://blog.grabcad.com/2013/05/kernels-why-cad-systems-dont-play-well-with-others/

Stephen Gibson



View stephen gibson's profile on LinkedIn


Message 12 of 14
blair
in reply to: stephengibson76

Nice,

thanks,

Inventor 2020, In-Cad, Simulation Mechanical

Just insert the picture rather than attaching it as a file
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Delta Tau Chi ΔΤΧ

Message 13 of 14
1045558
in reply to: blair

I mainly use .obj, i never had trouble with that, so you might want to try that 😛

 

Message 14 of 14
WHolzwarth
in reply to: blair

I've seen a few cases where SWX didn't import well for STEPS from Inventor. A Parasolid (x_t, x_b) did it.

Filesize of Parasolid is normally smaller than STEP. But in most cases I'm using STEP, too.

 

Walter

 

 

Walter Holzwarth

EESignature

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