Importing ifc files in Inventor

[kristian]

Good morning all

I was wondering if anyone could help with this query please. We are working with architects and structural engineers who use various software packages (ArchiCAD in the first instance) and have been sharing ifc files to work directly in each others' models. 

I have been provided with the ifc file but I cannot open it in Inventor. Is there anyway Inventor (2021) can import an ifc file and convert it to either a part, multi-body part or assembly for me to then work on? I've had a look for previous posts and can see this goes back as a request with the most recent topic I could find for the 2018 version of Inventor but didn't see a clear message or workaround. I cannot see other file extensions for ArchiCAD that may provide me with a suitable working model - maybe STL?

Any assistance that can be provided would be greatly appreciated.

[johnsonshiue]

Hi! Unfortunately, Inventor is not yet capable of importing IFC files. You will need to import it to AutoCAD or Revit first and then import (or link) AutoCAD or Revit file to Inventor.

Many thanks!

[swalton]

A quick note: STL is a fine format for 3d printing approximations of 3d shapes.  The triangle mesh does not convert to nice surfaces/solids with Inventor/Solidworks/Creo or other similar modelers.  I don't have the math to understand the issues.

Anyway, I would follow @johnsonshiue's recommendations about passing the ifc files through AutoCAD or Revit first.

Will Inventor's IFC export be useful to the other users?  See: https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/inventor-forum/export-inventor-files-to-ifc/td-p/8498106

[hvandeweerd]

Another, good working solution: Convert the .IFC to .OBJ; import the .OBJ in Inventor.  Use IFcconvert ( http://ifcopenshell.org/ifcconvert ) to convert .IFC to .OBJ. Take care for scaling issues. (m -> mm or Inch -> mm)

[kristian]

Thanks, I'll look into these.

[lena.talkhina]

Hello @kristian !

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[johan.degreef]

Is this on the roadmap of Inventor? To import IFC as references...

[imajar]

I am also interested to know if ifc import is on the roadmap. 

I recently had to import a large ifc into Inventor and it was the most painful cad operation I have ever had to do.  Literally weeks of my time was spent trying to get it into inventor in the way I wanted.  (FKZ viewer failed step export, IFCconvert failed, Autocad architecture would import but failed in conversion to solid, Navisworks would import but can only export as a mesh).  In the end, I had to import into either Acad architecture or Navisworks, export to fusion 360 where I wrote a script to clean up geometry and stitch everything that would successfully stitch.  But all the ifc information is lost in that translation process.  What a pain.

[hvandeweerd]

Converting to STEP is very time-consuming. I convert large IFC-files to .OBJ en then import in Inventor. That works, but a lot of information is lost. You can only use it for reference. E.g. measuring dimensions and positioning parts.

[CGBenner]

@hvandeweerd @imajar 

Hi there,...

For more information on what may be in the Inventor roadmap, I suggest joining the Inventor Feedback forum (Beta).  See the "Pinned" topic at the top of this forum list for how to join.  Thanks!

[hvandeweerd]

maybe "freecad" (www.freecadweb.org) can help. For me, it works.

[BasVermeer]

I know this is an old thread, but it would be great to have this feature. I work with architects and get so many IFC files. Now it's just a pain in the ***

[johan.degreef]

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@BasVermeer wrote:

I know this is an old thread, but it would be great to have this feature. I work with architects and get so many IFC files. Now it's just a pain in the ***

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If I am not mistaken, 2025 can do that.

[BasVermeer]

Really? Time to upgrade. Thanks for the tip!

[James_Willo · Accepted solution]

Hi, that's right, Inventor 2025 can import IFC files as well as the properties. 

There's a new AEC property panel after you import that shows you the properties for each element. (right click the part and choose AEC Properties.)

https://help.autodesk.com/view/INVNTOR/2025/ENU/?guid=GUID-F0CAE568-ACF8-407E-859B-C844EA4C61BE