A user accesses the Import tool from the Import panel of the Insert ribbon tab, then selects a desired file format from the dropdown list of file types. Importing 3D CAD data into AutoCAD is now easier than ever. The AutoCAD file maintains its associative relationship with the Inventor file-and whenever the Inventor file is updated, the AutoCAD documentation updates automatically. There’s no translation at all-the native files are used to create drawings directly in AutoCAD. Parts and assemblies in the original models are preserved, helping to maintain data integrity.įor manufacturers and designers using Autodesk Inventor, the import process is even smoother. The data is translated into native AutoCAD geometry and inserted into model space. Manufacturers and designers can now import Catia, GT, NX, Parasolid, Pro/ENGINEER, Rhino, and SolidWorks surfaces, solids, and 2D and 3D wire geometry directly into AutoCAD. In both cases, the manufacturer must clean up the 2D documentation before sending it to the shop floor.īut now, thanks to new integrated translators, AutoCAD 2012 and AutoCAD Mechanical 2012 have overcome historic translation challenges to support the file formats of all major modeling applications. Exporting to a neutral file format, on the other hand, is a two-step translation process that can degrade data quality significantly. Exporting data as open-source DWG files, however, may lead to problems dimensions and lines may shift, formatting may be lost, and objects may lose associated intelligence. Usually, a manufacturer imports non-native data into AutoCAD in one of two ways-exporting the data to either an open-source DWG file format or to a neutral file format such as IGES, STEP, or ACIS.
#AUTODESK AUTOCAD INVENTOR LT SUITE 2012 SOFTWARE#
Other companies, however, use non-Autodesk software to develop 3D models, which may present data translation issues. In such cases, data flows more smoothly from Inventor to AutoCAD. Many companies use Autodesk products throughout their entire workflow and rely on Autodesk Inventor 3D mechanical design software. To develop 2D model documentation from 3D CAD data, designers and drafters typically import the data into AutoCAD, one of the world’s most widely used CAD software solutions. This year we see some functionality from AutoCAD Mechanical get brought down to the AutoCAD base level and then given a shot of steroids. Over the last couple releases, we have seen Inferred Constraints and Parametric Dimensions. I am pleased to see the acceptance of 3D into the AutoCAD powerhouse in this release especially. No matter how much 3D you have, there is always AutoCAD for something. Autodesk released information on the AutoCAD 2012 and AutoCAD LT 2012 product release today and while a lot of my readers are heavy on Inventor, there is one thing that almost any designer can agree on.