Issue with importing multipieces STEP models from Inventor as 3D body - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: LPaul
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 06, 2016, 01:55:33 pm
content: Hello,I am using Autodesk Inventor Pro 2015 to create some more complex 3D body for my Altium (14.3) library.My workflow is pretty simple: I design a piece in Inventor (either standard or sheet metal) -> export as a STEP model -> import in Altium.This works perfectly fine when exporting a single piece (either standard or sheet metal).Recently I wanted to import slightly more complex models (battery holder) made of two pieces in an Inventor assembly.I can export it as STEP model from Inventor but when I try to load the file from Altium I get a "Cannot load 3D model from file" error message.Couldn't find any explanation after a bit of googling, anybody has an idea on the issue/workaround?(Cannot attach the .step file directly in the post...)Paul.

author: FivePoint03
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 07, 2016, 10:26:59 pm
content: Hi Paul,I used the exact same workflow, and had the exact same problem. I'm now on Inventor 2016 and Altium 2016 (I think it's 16.0.5). I think the problem was in Altium rather than Inventor. I don't think version 2015 fixed it, but it is now fixed in 2016. I also kept my eye on the changelogs, but nothing was mentioned about it as far as I could see.I guess you are not on subscription?

author: LPaul
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 08, 2016, 12:53:17 pm
content: Hi, thanks for the feedback !I am not on subscription, so probably out of luck... The altium-inventor community seems to be quick small also, couldn't find any workaround. Could use another CAD package but meh, probably not worth the learning time.

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 08, 2016, 03:46:11 pm
content: I daily use complex multi assembly parts both from Catia and solidworks exported as STEP files. Altium 13,14,15,16 have never barfed at any of them and these assemblies can have hundreds of sub-parts (plastic covers, gaskets, screws, heatsinks, coils , busbars, you name it. Step files in the order of 10 to sometimes 30 megabyte )I call inventor problem. Made by the same company responsable for that other disaster : the DXP file format.

author: LPaul
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 08, 2016, 04:48:21 pm
content: Hi free_electron,Probably true that Inventor is the issue. Now I have to weight whether it is worth it or not to learn a new CAD software for this specific problem...

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 08, 2016, 05:27:25 pm
content: also, try the two different step formats AP204 or AP214. in 204 you loose coloration but it may solve other things.Another thing to try : open the STEP file in solidworks and check for errors. Simply re-save from Solidworks.Just as an excercise. if resaving from solidworks solves it then you know for a fact that inventor is the problem.

author: ajb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 09, 2016, 01:30:48 am
content: You might try converting it to a different file type and then back to step as a workaround. I've occasionally solved problems 3D printing STLs from SolidWorks by doing SLDPRT->step->SolidWorks->STL.

author: v8dave
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 09, 2016, 02:11:29 am
content: Another option that often works. Import the STP back into Inventor and re-export as STP.I've done this with Geomagic that I use for some models I've found on the Internet from connector manufacturers. Altium won't load them but the above trick often works 99.9% of the time.

author: LPaul
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 09, 2016, 08:35:19 am
content: Hi, thanks for the answers!Currently downloading Solidworks to try what free_electron proposed. (and measure the work needed to switch to Solidworks)Quickly tried to import back Step models in Inventor, it seems to load the assembly file though. Spent only a few minutes, I will look more closely at this later.