Does inventor open or import Solidworks files

[sinsremoved]

Does Inventor open or allow me to import Solid Works files?

[88nwilson · Accepted solution]

Theoretically, yes. I've only imported .step, .sat, and .iges formats, personally. It usually does a good job.

[cwiklolo]

What are the most common scenarios where Inventor doesn't open SolidWorks files?

Is there a specific list of SolidWorks file types that aren't accessible in Inventor?

My teammates and I are working on a design project and I want to know if I can continue working with Inventor or if I need to switch over to SolidWorks. 

I'd prefer to keep working with Inventor, but I need my Inventor drawings to be able to connect/ mate with my friends SolidWorks drawings, have some basic editing capabilites, and possibly show dimensions.  If I can do that in Inventor, and export to a .dwg or .idw file that would be great.

Do you know if I'd hit any road blocks?

Thank you for your helpful insight. 

[swalton]

We run Inventor, Solidworks and Creo, as required by our clients.  We do not try to move designs from one program to another, so my experience with this is low.  I think it might be ok for a one-time conversion, but I would hate to move parts/assemblies back and forth between as the design matures.

Inventor will usually import Solidworks parts and assemblies in the release that was active at the time of the Invnetor release.

For example, IV 2014 will import files as follows from the help file at:  http://help.autodesk.com/view/INVNTOR/2014/ENU/?guid=GUID-7CF00AFC-D40C-4FFC-B781-338AE2476527

Import SolidWorks files

Open and change models created in SolidWorks (versions 2003 - 2012). Autodesk Inventor 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 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)

As I understand it, your model tree for an imported Solidworks file will look exactly like an imported .stp or .igs file.  There won't be a feature history tree for the part files and there won't be any constraints between components in the assemblies. You will have to assign proper materials to your components to get accurate masses. 

I am not sure that there will be any way to re-import changes in a file from one system to another without manual steps and re-work.

Solidworks drawings will not be imported.  I expect that you will have to use .dwg/.dxf files to exchange drawings.  I don't know if you will be able to keep any link to the source 3d models if you try to exchange data in the dwg/dxf format.

I think you should talk your teammates into using Inventor. 

[sbauman67]

No it does not directly open from a solidworks file, such as .sldprts, .sldasm, a part or assembly solidworks native file format.

However using Inventor 2015 one can export a solidworks model to a STEP file, STEP seems to work better than IGES or Parasolids, and open it directly using Inventor or import it.

[JDMather]

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@sbauman67 wrote:

No it does not directly open from a solidworks file, such as .sldprts, .sldasm, a part or assembly solidworks native file format.

.....

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Wrong answer.

[JamesLovell]

With Inventor 2016:-

http://help.autodesk.com/view/INVNTOR/2016/ENU/?guid=GUID-219418B0-4483-415E-8E85-DA8517BD7BD9

[yudikaergiyanto]

I Tried using inventor 2016 for open from solidwork 2013 its can`t, appeared error message.

May any suggestion in here?

Best Regards,

Yudika

[JamesLovell]

It should do....

Have a read of this: http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/inventor-forum/problem-with-opening-solidworks-2016-files-in-inventor/...

[yudikaergiyanto]

Dear James Lovell,

Sorry My Part net is use solidwork 2015 and i use Autodesk Inventor 2016  (Standard).

Problem is I cant open my partner model that built in solidwork 2015.

I had follow insturction as in in help menu but its work.

difference is in refference and convent model is inactive(is import limited only on proffesional only)

Best regards,

Yudika