file import

[victor_santos167]

Hello everyone,

I use Fusion 360 in my workflow, but I also rely on another CAD software to complement my modeling. I’m having issues with file import in Fusion, as I’m unable to open .prt files — the import always results in an error.

Due to license limitations of the source software, I’m also unable to export the models as STEP files. These models are usually related to reverse engineering, created based on a mesh.

Is there any alternative file format, conversion method, or recommended workflow to bring these models into Fusion 360?

Thanks in advance for any help or guidance.

 - content of the file that is causing the error

 - file type

- error

[MRWakefield]

Would you be able to attach an example file so we can take a look?

[TheCADWhisperer]

@victor_santos167 

You might need to zip the file to attach the *.prt file here.

[TheCADWhisperer]

---

@victor_santos167 wrote:

 These models are usually related to reverse engineering, created based on a mesh.

---

@victor_santos167 

Do you have access to the Mesh file?

If yes, then Attach that file here.

[victor_santos167]

Sorry for the delay, here is the sample file.

[victor_santos167]

Sorry for the delay

[TheCADWhisperer]

---

@victor_santos167 wrote:

...created based on a mesh.

Is there any alternative file format...

---

@victor_santos167 

Can you get the original mesh file (most likely *.stl or *.obj)?

[MRWakefield]

Like @TheCADWhisperer has found: this prt file appears to contain only mesh data. Either the original mesh file or native CAD would be beneficial if it's available.

[TheCADWhisperer]

---

@MRWakefield wrote:

Like @TheCADWhisperer has found: this prt file appears to contain only mesh data.

@MRWakefield 

Oh, it has Solid Bodies in the file (will open in Autodesk Inventor Professional), but it also has "sick" bodies (minor slivers from improper conversion attempt).

[MRWakefield]

Ok, I opened it in Autodesk's online viewer and it only showed mesh data in the object tree. I haven't finished attempting to work with it yet but I've been busy with other things for the last hour or so. I should be able to give it more attention from now on this evening.

[MRWakefield]

Ok, so I've found that CAD Exchanger is able to open it as non-mesh (B-Rep) solid rather than the mesh objects I was getting with the AD online viewer and the Fusion hub viewer. There seem to be various potential online CAD conversion services that might work but I wasn't willing to sign up or pay to see whether they worked on your file. CAD Exchanger is able to export it as STEP and various other formats. Unfortunately CAD Exchanger isn't free but it might be worth it to you.

Here's your model exported as STEP then imported into Fusion.

As @TheCADWhisperer mentioned: there are a couple of slivers in addition to the main body (highlighted below in blue).

These bodies seem to be duplicates of two of the fillet faces on the main body and deleting them doesn't appear to be detrimental to the model.

I don't know whether any of the above is at all useful but hopefully it will be of some help. I've attached a STEP file in case it is of any use.

[pkomatlapalli]

Hello, @victor_santos167 ,

Did the information provided by @MRWakefield and @TheCADWhisperer  help you and answer your question?

If yes, please click on the "Accept Solution" button on the post(s) that solved your problem. This will assist other community users in finding and benefiting from this information.

If not, please do not hesitate to give an update in this thread so all community members receive an update on the progression of your question, and can suggest next steps that may be helpful for you to achieve what you're looking for.

All the best,

Pavan Kumar | Community Manager.

[victor_santos167]

I tried exporting some simpler parts without any errors, but I still couldn’t get them to work. I would like to do it in a way that doesn’t require a conversion software.

I ran the following test: I modeled a cube, saved it without any mesh in the file, and tried to open it in Fusion, but it still gave me an error. So maybe the issue is not related to duplicated faces or open profiles.

I’m not sure what the problem could be, but I appreciate your help in advance.

[victor_santos167]

I tried opening a simple cube model and it still gave me an error. The file did not contain any mesh.

[MRWakefield · Accepted solution]

I think the issue is simply that Fusion just doesn't understand the UG/NX .prt file format. If you're unable to export as STEP due to licensing restrictions then I would expect that any other B-Rep solid export formats will also be unavailable to you. It is very common to restrict export formats to 2D and/or mesh formats when using a trial or otherwise restricted license. At the moment I'm unable to suggest an alternative to going through a 3rd-party service or application such as the aforementioned CAD Exchanger.

[victor_santos167]

I assume that’s probably the case. Thank you for your help.

[MRWakefield]

You're welcome. Sorry I couldn't be of more help.