Emily Suzuki
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Autodesk Fusion supports a wide variety of CAD file formats. Take a look at the most popular supported Fusion CAD files in this brief overview.
What is CAD?
Computer-aided design (CAD) is software used by engineers and designers to create, modify, and optimize digital 2D drawings or 3D models of real-world objects. CAD enhances design accuracy, allows easy modifications, and helps visualize products before manufacturing, improving efficiency across industries like engineering, architecture, and manufacturing.
In recent decades, CAD has replaced manual drafting—and for good reason. It’s much easier to design in a forgiving digital space where you can make revisions and edits without halting an entire project to make manual edits.
Elevate your design and manufacturing processes with Autodesk Fusion
Autodesk Fusion
In recent years, Autodesk has pushed the envelope even further with Fusion, an integrated cloud-based CAD package that includes functionality across the following areas:
- CAD
- CAM (computer-aided manufacturing)
- CAE (computer-aided engineering)
- PCB (printed circuit board) software
- Extensions to unlock advanced capabilities in each category
But what makes Fusion stand out from the competition? For one, it’s a versatile platform that supports various CAD file formats, thanks to tools like AnyCAD functionality in Fusion.
Top 5 most popular file formats in Fusion
The five most used file extensions with Fusion are:
- Autodesk Inventor (.ipt)
- STEP (.step)
- OBJ (.obj)
- STL (.stl)
- Solidworks (.sldprt)
Let’s take a look at these supported file extensions and see why the versatility provided by Fusion is a game-changer for CAD users.
Autodesk Inventor Part File (.ipt)
The IPT file is a 2D or 3D model created in Autodesk Inventor. Autodesk Inventor is a program used to design mechanical 3D prototypes. An IPT file typically contains a 3D part meant to be combined with other parts to form an assembly. When the parts are ready to be incorporated into an assembly, the resulting file extension is IAM (.iam).
The Standard for the Exchange of Product Data (.step)
STEP files are among the most accepted CAD formats and are an ISO 10303-2xx standard across several industries. STEP files contain three-dimensional models saved in a plain text format readable by Fusion. The text describes a model’s structure and is written in an ASCII format that adheres to the aforementioned ISO standard.
Three major mechanical STEP file formats
- STEP AP203: Defines configuration management data of 3D models (parts and assemblies)
- STEP AP214: A progression from the previous, this file includes colors, layers, and design intent
- STEP AP242: A progression from the previous two, this file introduces model-based definition (MBD) workflows
Learn how to import a STEP file into Fusion here.
OBJ (.obj)
An OBJ file is a universal text-based 3D model format. OBJ files can house references to one or more .mtl files containing additional surface-shading data. One downside to OBJ files is the file size. Because OBJ files have a simple format structure, the file size can become quite large when storing complex 3D objects.
Stereolithography (.stl)
STL is an interchange file format that houses universal 3D formats focused solely on surface geometry and shapes. STL files do not include colors, textures, or other attributes. STL files are acceptable for quick prototyping, 3D printing, and some CAM software applications; however, without support for color or other attributes, STL contains only simple data and thus only works well in basic situations.
SolidWorks (.sldprt)
An SLDPRT is a 3D image format used by SolidWorks CAD software. The file contains a 3D object or part that is eventually put into a single assembly (.sldasm) file. You can view SLDPRT files in a variety of applications like Adobe Acrobat. Fusion also allows for viewing and support of SLDPRT files, making it easy to work between the two tools (for example, if you use Fusion but your client uses SolidWorks).
Supporting diverse file types
The Fusion cloud CAD platform enables engineers to collaborate and work remotely without having to worry about whether they will be able to access their project files or not. Thanks to tools like AnyCAD functionality in Fusion, engineers can use Autodesk Inventor (.ipt), STEP (.step), OBJ (.obj), STL (.stl), Solidworks (.sldprt), and many more file types within the Fusion platform.
Fusion is a versatile platform that supports file extensions from other Autodesk products and software platforms like Solidworks. Fusion combines CAD, CAM, CAE, and PCB software in one affordable package.
Download Autodesk Fusion to go from dream to done in no time.