To Copy or Import AutoCAD Data into a Sketch

You can copy AutoCAD data to the Clipboard and paste it into an Inventor sketch, or import AutoCAD files directly into an Inventor sketch.

When you copy or import AutoCAD data into a sketch, AutoCAD objects are translated into Inventor objects and can be fully edited. So you can, for example, bring 2D AutoCAD data into a sketch and loft it to create a 3D model, or copy AutoCAD geometry into a drawing sketch and add annotations.
Note: If you simply open an AutoCAD file in Inventor, the objects are not translated. Objects appear exactly as they do in AutoCAD, but all you can do is view, plot, and measure them in Inventor. However, you can also select them for copy and paste. So if you've previously opened an AutoCAD file in Inventor and now you want to fully edit its contents, it's easy to do so.

Copy and Paste AutoCAD Data into an Inventor Sketch

  1. Do one of the following:
    • In AutoCAD, select the data that you want to bring into Inventor and press Ctrl+C. Then, switch to Inventor.
    • In an AutoCAD drawing that’s open in Inventor, select the data that you want to edit in a sketch and press Ctrl+C.
  2. In an active Inventor sketch, right-click in the graphics window and choose Paste. Or, click Tools tab Clipboard panel Paste .
  3. Click in the graphics window to place the data at the cursor’s position.
    A bounding box that holds the copied data appears in the graphics window.
    Note: If you paste AutoCAD data that includes a base point, clicking in the graphics window places the base point and the bounding box is offset from the cursor.
  4. To accept the default placement, right-click and choose Done. Otherwise, right-click and choose Paste Options.
  5. In the Paste Options dialog box, choose any of the following:
    • Detected Units. Uses the units from the AutoCAD data in the Inventor sketch.
    • Specify Units. Choose from the list to apply a different unit scale to the pasted data in the Inventor sketch.
    • Constrain End Points. Select to automatically apply endpoint constraints. Otherwise, you can manually constrain end points after pasting.
    • Apply Geometric Constraints. Select to fully constrain the sketch when the data is pasted. Otherwise, you can manually apply geometric constraints after pasting.
    • Import Parametric Constraints. Keeps AutoCAD 2D parametric constraints in the sketch.
    • AutoCAD Blocks to Inventor Blocks. Converts AutoCAD blocks into Inventor sketch blocks. If deselected, AutoCAD blocks are imported as primitive geometry.
    • Proxy Objects to User Defined Symbols. Converts proxy object to user defined symbols.
  6. Click OK to close the Paste Options dialog box.
  7. Right-click and choose Done.
    Tip: Click additional times in the graphics window to place additional copies of the AutoCAD data.

Import DWG or DXF Files into an Inventor Sketch

  1. In an active 2D sketch, click ACAD on the Insert panel of the ribbon.
  2. Navigate to the AutoCAD file that contains the data you want to import and click Open.
  3. In the Layers and Objects Import options dialog box, select the layers and objects that you want to import, using the preview to help you see your selections.
  4. Click Next.
  5. Specify Import Destination Options.
  6. Click Finish.
Parent topic: To Create and Edit Sketches

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