Inventor-to-Alibre Conversion?

[MikeHenry]

Is it possible/easy to import Inventor files to Alibre?

I'm assuming that drawing files would be a snap, but how would one go about importing parts or assembly files?

TIA, Mike

 

[warburton1]

Probably the best way would be to export the Inventor files is as a Step file (both assemblies and details can be exported this way). However, if its a transfer of an existing Inventor file your after, you will probably have to use a some conversion software. A possible resource for this might be Step tools, a comapny that makes software for Step file formats.

If you ask the Alibre guys nice enough they may include a conversion in a future release, I asked nicely for a Catia translator once before, hopefully they may do one in a future release.

 

[SeanDotson]

"Save as.." the Inventor parts in STEP format. They will opne just fine in Alibre. (At least the ones I tested did). Vice versa was true as well (Alibre to IV)

Sean Dotson, PE
Inventor Tutorials & More

http://www.sdotson.com

 

[MikeHenry]

Thanks for the two responses to my question.

I'm mostly interested in being able to share designs with a co-worker that uses Inventor (I use Alibre) so it should be no problem for him to export his files in the Step format.

Thanks for a fast answer!

 

[kroth]

Could I ask you for an unbiased opinion on using Alibre for general mechanical design - how are you using it - any opinion how it compares to SW?

Thanks

 

[MichaelHenry]

Kroth,

I've been using Alibre for relatively simple design projects - lab prototypes and model IC engines as opposed to a full-scale automobile or other industrial project. My largest project to date is a model IC engine with around 200-250 parts. It's a little slow to update but most all of the many fasteners were modeled with actual threads which slows any system down some.

For those purposes it has worked out quite well and I've been quite happy with it. Although it is the first 3-D CAD program I've ever used it took only a few hours to get productive with it.

It has fewer bells and whistles than Inventor and I can't compare it at all SW but for the money it sure seems a great deal to me.