topic Re: STEP file import to Inventor 2021 comes blank in Inventor Forum

STEP file import to Inventor 2021 comes blank

Anonymous — Tue, 14 Jul 2020 22:54:20 GMT

Hello Everyone,

I have a structural 3D file from STAAD Pro and want to open in Inventor 2021, the STEP file I received from our structural engineer opens as blank in inventor, I searched the entire forum and lots of people talk about software or hardware issues, I am sure in my case both software and hardware are ok because I used 3 platforms with 3 different inventors from 2019 to 2021 and still the same issue, can some one help please? I have attached the file

Thank you

Re: STEP file import to Inventor 2021 comes blank

imajar — Tue, 14 Jul 2020 23:23:14 GMT

Same here, nothing imported in Inventor, Fusion, or 3DS. But I did get something in NavisWorks. Unfortunately, the only thing Navisworks will export is .fbx, it is attached below (as well as a .obj which inventor can open). If possible, I would suggest you read the STAAD Pro documentation and see if there are any export options they can change and request a new export. Inventor can open mesh files, but it isn't awesome. (I might suggest opening the fbx in fusion and using that convert to solids if you cant get a better export).

Re: STEP file import to Inventor 2021 comes blank

JDMather — Wed, 15 Jul 2020 00:47:45 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:

I have a structural 3D file from STAAD Pro...

Does that software offer the option to export the STEP in Application Protocol Schema 203, 214 or 242 rather than as LPM6?

Re: STEP file import to Inventor 2021 comes blank

Anonymous — Wed, 15 Jul 2020 17:25:22 GMT

ok thanks for the reply, it is definitely a software issue from STAAD.Pro

Re: STEP file import to Inventor 2021 comes blank

Anonymous — Wed, 15 Jul 2020 17:27:47 GMT

Hi, thanks for the reply, no it does not give you those options, STAAD.Pro export beams as a line, i was able to open the DXF file in CAD, then from CAD exported to STEP file and then opened in Inventor, it worked, However I only can see the plates and no ibeam,

Re: STEP file import to Inventor 2021 comes blank

imajar — Wed, 15 Jul 2020 18:31:47 GMT

Did you try downloading the file I provided in the 2nd post? Did it not work?

Re: STEP file import to Inventor 2021 comes blank

Anonymous — Wed, 15 Jul 2020 20:11:07 GMT

Hi, yes I did, I can see the entire structure now, I opened the OBJ file in Inventor and it looks good, so without Navis this wouldn't be possible, but I really appreciate your help and followup on this,

Regards

Ari

Re: STEP file import to Inventor 2021 comes blank

johnsonshiue — Thu, 16 Jul 2020 00:44:27 GMT

Hi! The STEP file is using a schema Inventor does not support. Another simple solution is to export it as dwg. Then Inventor can easily import it as 3D solids.

Many thanks!

Re: STEP file import to Inventor 2021 comes blank

U2097205 — Tue, 22 Aug 2023 14:09:12 GMT

can you tell me how you transformed it into obj file ?

Re: STEP file import to Inventor 2021 comes blank

imajar — Wed, 23 Aug 2023 01:26:24 GMT

Sadly, that was a long time ago and I don't remember exactly what I did. . . but if I were to try again, I would try to import the Navisworks generated FBX into one of the following and export out again as an obj. (If you attempt fusion360, then you might attempt re-importing the source file and see how it goes).

Autocad 2018 or earlier (2019 and on removed the ability to import FBX)
Fusion 360
3DS max
Meshmixer

And I don't recall if this was mentioned this previously, but the Navisworks method does not maintain geometry fidelity because Navisworks re-meshes on import - so if you need "exact" geometry, a different method would be advised (but I understand that sometimes you are simply stuck with whatever file you are provided!).