NWD to step (or inventor importable)

[johan.degreef]

I received an NWD file (navisworks) from probably plant 3d piping. Can I import this into an inventor assembly in any way?

[DarrenP]

Inventor can't read nwd files they will need to convert that file to something Inventor can read

you can bring the nwd file into Autocad

[Gabriel_Watson]

Autodesk typically says we can use FBX as a middle-man to translate that in 3DSMAX to SAT/STL and then into Inventor:
https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/inventor/troubleshooting/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Inven...

[blandb]

I have tried the workflow from @Gabriel_Watson several times with no luck.

I received a large platform that was needed and it took a few hours to import into max. Then the export took even longer. But when trying to open the step in INV, there was an error.

Luckily we sometimes get 3d steel in acad. If so, then I use mechanical and get what I want, then use the "stepout" command in mechanical to get what I need.

@DarrenP 

Hmm, never thought about trying to open an NWD into ACAD....I'll have to try that.

Hope that helps.

[blandb]

@DarrenP 

Looking into this, I was not able to find a way to import, only attach....Attached is a link about it as well.

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad/troubleshooting/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Can-Na... 

[DarrenP]

ok thanks i thought it was import

[johnsonshiue · Accepted solution]

Hi Johan,

As other experts already mentioned, there is currently no way to import Navisworks file into Inventor. Navisworks is the best CAD data aggregator. It can import all kind of CAD files for visualization purpose.

I think for modeling purpose, you will be better off getting the source CAD data file (the one coming to Navisworks). Please contact the vendor and find the source file, so you can import it to Inventor.

Many thanks!

[blandb]

@DarrenP 

So, after looking further, you were not far off track lol. In ACAD using XREF, you can attach an nwd as a "Coordination Model". The default CMFADEOPACITY: 40, and the default CMFADECOLOR: 60. I set both to 0 and looks good for what I needed. I noticed OSNAPS are not the greatest on it though. Could just be the model we got.

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad/learn-explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2019/ENU/AutoC...