inventor to autocad

[dyanosik]

what is the best way to take a 3d model and transfer it into autocad?
i have tried using a .sat file but autocad takes 30min to open it. is there a better way?

[pauldoubet]

I have used .sat files in the past with good results. How large are the files you are transferring? The .sat files I imported into AutoCAD were about 10MB and took only seconds to import.

[mflayler]

Have you tried the AEC Exchange under the Applications pull down. There is a command there for Creating 3D DWG solids.

[dyanosik]

the file i am trying to open is 100mb but after we safe it to dwg it is 37mb but still takes 30 mins to open.

[mflayler]

Is there a reason you need the 3D geometry in AutoCAD? What is your intent for using the data there?

[dyanosik]

the reason we are doing this is because our company uses cadpipe to do our piping models but our design team uses inventor to built the plants that we are piping within. so we would like a 3d model of the plant so that we can do an accurate piping model. i know that this is not exactly the best way to do things but all our pipers are very against using inventor for piping. so i am trying to find the best way of providing the pipers with a 3d model to work with.

[gerrard.hickson]

What's wrong with 30+ mins load time for the file?

Assuming you don't have to wait for 30+mins for every one of a 100part assembly or something like that... set the file to open in autocad, then go for lunch...

I've always used SAT files because it's the most simple method i've found...

[dyanosik]

the problem is simply that our IT department can't find their backside with both hands, the computers they have built for us crash at least twice a day so we are losing aproximately 1.5 hours a day waiting for drawings to load.

[Father-of-Ten]

I have used .sat files in the past with good results. How large are the files you are transferring? The .sat files I imported into AutoCAD were about 10MB and took only seconds to import.

Thanks for the info - It works for me just fine - Have a great day!