Export an Assembly Model to Another CAD System

You have the following options when exporting an assembly model to a different CAD system:

  • Export the complete assembly, its models, drawings and parts lists.

    When you wish to export a complete assembly model including all its data, you must export all models, drawings and parts lists separately to another file format.

  • Export some models and drawings of an assembly.

    If you do not wish to send the entire assembly model, for example due to data security concerns, we recommend hiding parts from the assembly model before saving to another file format. Hidden parts will not be saved in the model. You can use layer selections in drawings, or classify drawings for internal use and for customers, for example. The right drawings for batch printing can be chosen based on this information. You can make the classifications in the drawing archive.

  • Send the model as is in the Vertex file format (vxm).

    You can send a Vertex model as is in vxm file format which can be read with the Vertex Viewer freeware application. This goes for all Vertex drawings in the vxp file format as well.

See below for instructions on how to export assembly models, drawings and parts lists.

Exporting Assembly Model Geometry

When you export the geometry of an assembly model to a different CAD system, the assembly remains as an assembly but its hierarchy is lost. The end result is an assembly with all its parts on the main level. An exception to this is the STEP format (.stp) which retains the hierarchy of the assembly.

  • The parts are local in the model from which the receiving CAD system usually unpacks them as new files on the disk.
  • Assembly parts are links. The part history will not be exported along with the parts, only their geometry.

Export a File

Exporting Drawings

When you export the drawings related to an assembly to a different CAD system, the names of the drawings as well as any possible attribute data are kept. All links between drawings and parts will be lost.

The following file formats are supported for drawing exports:

  • AutoCAD Drawings (.dwg)
  • DXF Files (.dxf)
  • PDF Files (.pdf), printing as PDF file

The easiest way to export drawings related to an assembly is by selecting the Batch Printing function on the main level of the assembly, selecting the saving format and the folder in which to save the drawing.

Batch Printing of Model Drawings

Parts List Data

Parts list data is printed in the parts list field of the drawing sheet, and saved along with the drawing. In addition to this, the drawing data can be saved in the following formats:

  • Notepad text file (.txt)
  • Excel worksheet (.xls)