Autodesk Inventor Export STEP With Same XYZ / Coordinate Layout

[ThePieMonster]

Unsure of the correct terminology, but in Inventor, the top face is set correctly. When I export as a STEP file the left face become the top face as shown below.

I believe this has something to do with the XYZ / coordinate plan that is setup but unsure on how to fix this. Anyone know?

[JDMather]

Ignore words like “top” or “front” that is all relative to where you are (imagine you are on the ISS).

Pay attention only to the XYZ.

To reorient relative to XYZ either Redefine Sketch Plane, Direct Edit Rotate or if assembly set to desired planes.

Attach your file(s) here if you can’t figure it out.

[ThePieMonster]

Thanks for the answer. I went through the following article and it opens in Netfabb with the correct orientation. If I go to upload the part to Grabcad it is showing the incorrect orientation though so not sure why that is.

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/inventor/troubleshooting/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/How-T...

[chris]

@ThePieMonster  I know when I export .stp files out of IV and import them into MODO or C4D, both of those programs ask me which axis is the "up" axis. Seeing as how I always model with the Y axis "up" everything comes in fine.

[ThePieMonster]

@chris Sadly my applications do not ask this. Though for uploading a STEP to the web for example, I don't think any sites would every ask that either.

I agree that X is sideways, Y is up, and Z is the depth.

If you where to download a STEP file and want to change the orientation. How would you do that? There are no sketch files for you to edit in this case.

[johnsonshiue]

Hi! I took a quick look at the STEP file. The part body was designed such that the Y-axis points to the text emboss ("TAN CASE-A"). I assume you would like Z-axis to point to that direction. This has nothing to do with the ViewCube though. It is related how the body geometry is relative to the coordinate system.

In your case, as JD suggested, you need to use Direct Edit -> Body -> Rotate to reorient the body toward the expected direction relative to XYZ.

Redefining ViewCube direction in this part would not help, because STEP only cares about how the geometry is positioned and oriented to the coordinate system, not the ViewCube.

Another change you want to make to avoid the behavior is to change the ViewCube direction in the ipt and iam file. There are quite few threads discussing the procedure to do it. You could search for the topic.

Many thanks!

[ThePieMonster]

@johnsonshiue  Anyway to rotate the whole assembly instead of doing each part one by one? 

I just noticed that by default Inventor uses the following layout when creating a new part.

Fusion 360 Uses this default layout. 

As does Netfabb.

Seems like Z should always be pointed up? How do I set this in Inventor as its been wrong for years. 

[ThePieMonster]

I created two template files (attached) and now the Z axis is set to the upwards direction. 

I do not see a way to set the default coordinates to show Z as upwards, it always shows Y as upwards so when I import a STEP it looks like the below.

Then I change the ViewCube to the following and set the front face to the bottom face and a new home position. 

^ This only changes the view port, does not modify the object in anyway. For that you would want to do the direct edit on the bodies. But first, you should set your coordinate plane to be correct like the below.

[Frederick_Law]

You don't move the axis, you move the view cube.

[ThePieMonster]

@Frederick_Law Please re-read the following post.

---

ThePieMonster wrote:

Then I change the ViewCube to the following and set the front face to the bottom face and a new home position.

[johnsonshiue]

Hi! In the assembly, it is more flexible. You can easily use assembly constraints to reposition or reorient the parts desirably using assembly constraints or joints.

The template files you created do have Z-axis pointing upward (Top). However, I don't think they will help you export the existing files to the desirable orientation. It is because your issue is with how the part bodies are relative to the origin axes, not how they are oriented against the ViewCube. ViewCube is just like a manipulator to change camera angle. The actual parts stay still in the space.

Many thanks!

[ThePieMonster · Accepted solution]

@johnsonshiue Thanks John and yes you are correct about exporting the current assembly! I got ahead of myself and did not mention my initial question about fixing the orientation for a existing part!

In case others are interested, first opening the assembly and rotating the ViewCube so Z is up.

I set this as the new home view via the ViewCube also for convenience. 

As John mentioned, easy way to rotate the object is just to add a mate constraint to the XY plane.

Opening the file in another application, like Fusion 360, also has the correct orientation now. 

Thanks!

[info]

Is it really that difficult to implement a simple button to choose which axis is "up" when exporting? There are so many workaround solutions—opening the file in other software, or even modifying the original design—just to get the export correct, when the actual solution seems so simple.

We pay a substantial subscription fee for design tools, and yet when it comes to delivering the final product (distributing a finished design), the process becomes frustrating. I understand that exporting to other CAD formats may not be a primary function, but at the very least, provide basic options for common issues so we can get the job done without needing to process the files in third-party software, purchase extremely expensive add-ins, or rely on overly complicated workarounds.