Tech Tip: Importing Standard File Formats into Onshape

Onshape supports a wide variety of file formats, including standard formats such as STEP, Parasolid, and STL, as well as proprietary files from other CAD systems, including SOLIDWORKS, NX, CATIA, and many more. Onshape also supports 2D formats, including DXF, DWG, and PDF.

This Tech Tip explores how to process, display, and interact with these formats in Onshape. All of the examples below can be viewed or copied from this public Onshape document.

For a complete list of supported file formats, refer to the Help Documentation.

Different Ways to Import Files

Files are most commonly imported to Onshape from the Documents page, resulting in the creation of one or more new Documents. One option is to use the Create button in the top left to access files from your local system or connected cloud service. Bulk-selecting multiple files enables you to translate them in parallel. Another option is to drag and drop files onto your Documents page or into a specific folder.

With both of these approaches, you can also navigate to a specific folder in which to directly import files. When bulk-importing multiple files from the Documents page, each file is added to its own document. Refer to this Learning Center article for additional strategies on bulk imports.

Files can also be imported into an existing document using the Insert new tab button (+) in the bottom left corner. This also allows you to select multiple files, each of which is imported into its own tab in the current document. This can be helpful for organizing a standard parts library, where related parts are grouped together in a single document.

Lastly, the original native file from each import is always maintained in Onshape, located in the CAD Imports folder. These imported files can be updated by right-clicking the file tab or the Import feature in the translated Part Studio. Learn more about the update process in this Tech Tip.

Standard “Solid” Formats

STEP, Parasolid (.x_t), IGES (.igs), ACIS (.sat), and more

These formats are single files that may include assemblies, parts, surfaces, and curves. If the file contains an assembly, there is an option to split it into multiple documents (one per subassembly). The translated outputs in Onshape do not include a feature list; however, they maintain the original positioning of geometry and provide full access to Onshape’s Direct Editing feature set.

Standard “Mesh” Formats

STL, OBJ, 3MF, JT, GLTF

Mesh formats are polygonal representations of 3D surfaces, often the output of a 3D scan or the input for a 3D printing process. Onshape translates mesh files and identifies the geometry as parts or surfaces, depending on whether the mesh is watertight or not.

For heavy 3D scans and point cloud data, additional post-processing to simplify the mesh may be desired before importing into Onshape. Once the mesh is in Onshape, design around it, reference vertices, cut/boolean/split the mesh itself, and even generate approximated BREP surfaces from it using the Constrained surface feature. Check out this Tech Tip for additional mesh import workflows.

Proprietary 3D Formats

SOLIDWORKS, Creo, NX, CATIA, Inventor, Rhino, and more

Onshape supports a wide range of native CAD file formats (see the full list here). Similar to the standard solid formats covered earlier, these file formats are translated into assemblies, parts, surfaces, and curves; however, the data is not always contained in a single file.

Native part files (.sldprt, for example) can be imported directly, but assemblies (such as .sldasm) need to be zipped with the subassemblies/parts that comprise them. For more details, check out this Learning Center course on importing data.

2D Formats

DXF, DWG, DWT, PDF, PNG, JPEG

Onshape also supports a variety of 2D import formats, but the way in which each is utilized is quite different. DXF/DWG files can be viewed natively, thanks to Onshape partner ARES Kudo, which is particularly helpful for interrogating layers. Alternatively, subscribe to ARES Kudo’s editing features in order to edit these files directly in Onshape. DWG/DFX files can also be inserted into a sketch or an Onshape drawing. For more on turning a 2D DXF into a 3D model, check out this Tech Tip.

Other 2D files, such as PDFs, PNGs, and MP4s, can also be imported and viewed in Onshape. Image files (.png and .jpeg) can be utilized in sketches, decals, and 2D drawings. An exhaustive list of these non-CAD files can be found in the Help Documentation.

Watch the video below to see these files in action.

Do you have files that you would like to securely import into Onshape? Sign up for the Discovery Program today to get free access to a private, professional trial.