Question:

Can nTopology export STEP files? Can users export to CAD?  What file types can I import?

Answer:

CAD Geometry

Mesh Geometry

Finite Element Data

Lattice Structure

Point Data

Voxel Grid

Slices

 

CAD Geometry

Parasolid formats tend to yield the most dependable results. CAD and STEP inputs of single-part or multi-body files are also typically robust. For assembly files, we suggest exporting to Parasolid with a flat assembly hierarchy. 

Import:

CAD File types available for Import

File Type	File Extension	Versions
ACIS	.sat and .sab	R1 - 2021 1.0
CATIA V5	.CATPart	V5 R8 - V5-6 R2021
PTC Creo	.prt	WF3 - Creo 7.0 16 - WF2
Autodesk Inventor	.ipt	V7 - 2021 V6
Siemens NX	.prt	6 - NX 1926 Series NX1 - NX5
Parasolid	.x_t and .x_b	9.0 - 33.0.x
SOLIDWORKS	.sldprt	98 - 2021
STEP	.step and .stp	AP 203, AP 214, AP252

Export:

CAD File types available for Export

File Type	File Extension
Parasolid	.x_t and .x_b
STEP 242	.step

How-to:

• • How to Import a Part
  • How to Export a CAD Part (STEP or Parasolid)
  • 403: Getting the part out as CAD

 

Mesh Geometry

Import & Export: 

Mesh file types available for Import and Export

File Type	File Extension
STL	.stl
OBJ	.obj
Standard Polygon File Format	.ply
3MF	.3mf

How-to:

• • How to Export an STL
  • Export Mesh and Lattice to 3MF Format
  • Can lattice shell elements be exported as 3MF?

 

Finite Element (FE) Data

Import:

FE Data file types available for Import

File Type	File Extension	Notes
Abaqus	.inp	The format supports node, element, face, and edge sets.
ANSYS Mechanical	.cdb	Format only supports node and element sets.
ANSYS Fluent	.msh	Only mesh export is currently supported.
LS-DYNA	.k
Nastran	.bdf
Patran	.pat
Universal File Format	.unv

Export: To see a full overview of what data is supported for export, go here. 

How-to:

• • How to Export your Design to Ansys Fluent

 

Lattice Structure

Import & Export:

Lattice file types available for Import and Export

File Type	File Extension
Lattice Graph Interchange Module	.ltcx
3MF	.3mf

How-to:

• • Export Mesh and Lattice to 3MF Format
  • Can lattice shell elements be exported as 3MF?

 

Point Data

Import & Export:

Point Data file types available for Import and Export

File Type	File Extension
Comma Separated Values	.csv

How-to:

• • How can I Export the Displacement Results from a Simulation?

 

Voxel Grid

Import & Export:

Voxel Grid file types available for Import and Export

File Type	File Extension
VDB	.vdb

 

 

Slicing for Additive Manufacturing

Export:

Slicing file types available for Export

File Type	File Extension
Common Layer Interface	.cli
Common Layer File	.clf
Renishaw CLI	.cli
Renishaw Point Data	.csv
EOS CLI	.cli
Arcam ABF	.abf
Stratasys Layer	.ssl
B&W Image Stack	.png

How-to:

• • Slicing and Exporting Walk-through
  • 404: Getting the part out as slices for additive manufacturing