Create 3D object from imported 3D file

To import 3D models created with other 3D CAD software, click Import in the Files section of the ribbon bar.

When you launch this command, a browser appears to help you select the file you require from your directory structure. Two main kind of files are supported.

3D Mesh file

The current release supports translation of the following file formats and versions:

Import
CAD Format	File extension	Version(s) supported
3D Studio	*.3ds; *.ase	all
AutoCAD DXF	*.dxf	Up to AutoCAD 2019
Collada	*.dae	any 2
FBX	*.fbx	all
GLTF	*.gltf; *.glb	all
OpenSceneGraph	*.osgt; *.osgb	3.4.1.131
Stereolithography	*.stl	all
Wavefront Object	*.obj	any
X3D	*.x3d	all

Note

2 Not supported on the Ubuntu 22.04 distribution, as the libpcre.so.1 library is no longer available in this version.

3D CAD file

The current release supports translation of the following file formats and versions:

Import
CAD Format	File extension	Version(s) supported
ACIS1	*.sat; *.sab	Up to 2023
AutoDesk 3DS	*.3ds	any
AutoDesk Inventor 1	*.ipt; *.iam	Up to 2025
CATIA V5 1	*.CATPart; *.CATProduct	Up to V5-6R2024
CATIA V6 1	*.3DXML	Up to V5-6R2024
Creo Parametric/Direct 1	.prt; .asm; *.neu; *.xpr; *.xas	Pro/E: Pro/Engineer 19.0 to Creo 11.0
IGES 1	*.igs; *.iges	5.1, 5.2, 5.3
JT	*.jt	Up to v11.6
NX 1	.prt	Up to NX 2406
Parasolid	*.x_b; *.x_t; *.xmt; *.xmt_txt	Up to 37.0
STL	*.stl	all
VRML	*.wrl	v2.0
Wavefront OBJ	*.obj	any

Note

1 Available with the CAD Import Data Exchange option.

Some advice on Importing CAD files:

• 3D Scenes will create as many imported objects as it finds sub-objects in a CAD model. Therefore, when you export geometry from a CAD software, try to minimize the sub-parts of an object as much as possible. You should export different parts only if you plan to animate them independently or if they have different color attributes.

• Avoid importing the "insides" of objects unless you really want to see them (transparency, cutting plane).