To Export Data to DWG

What's New: 2020.2

Note: Files saved in the Drawing (*.dwg) format can be opened directly in AutoCAD where you can view, plot, and measure the Inventor data. The Inventor drawing views remain linked to the part (.ipt) files and assembly (.iam - not available in Inventor LT) files from which the views are created. However, this drawing data is not fully editable in AutoCAD. If you require a drawing that is 100% editable in AutoCAD, export the file.

You can export an Inventor drawing or sheet metal flat pattern to an AutoCAD drawing (.dwg) file. The data is exported as lines, curves, and annotations to Model Space or Layout in the DWG file.

For each sheet in the Inventor drawing being exported, a separate DWG file is created.

To export data to DWG from a drawing (.idw) file

Tip: By default, the DWG Drawing File Export Options wizard launches automatically when accessing the Export Export to DWG command. If you want to bypass the DWG Drawing File Export Options wizard, deselect the Always Prompt for Options checkbox.

You can alway access DWG Drawing File Export Options wizard by clicking Options on the Save as dialog box.

  1. From the File menu, click Export Export to DWG.
  2. In the DWG Drawing File Export Options dialog box, set the following options, and then click Next.
    • Select the AutoCAD file version.
    • Select the Pack and Go option to include all necessary information to display the DWG file correctly. All external files are saved in one packed file.
    • To use an existing configuration file , select the file, and then click Finish.
    • To continue setting options, click Next.
  3. In the AutoCAD Mechanical Export Options dialog box, set the properties (for AutoCAD Mechanical files only).
    • Specify the layer group, part reference and part reference attribute options, and then click Next.
  4. In the Export Destination dialog box, set the following options :
    • If needed, cancel the All Sheets option, and then select drawing sheets to export.
    • Select Model Geometry Only to export only Model, Base, and Projected views.
    • Set the Data Scaling.
    • Choose Best Visual Fidelity to achieve the best visual results, or Closest AutoCAD Mapping to achieve the closest AutoCAD representation for exported objects.
    • To map line types, annotations or use AutoCAD color indices, click Mapping Options to open the dialog box.
      Note: You can set any LIN file to be the default LIN file. To make a LIN file be the default or to change to a different LIN file, in the Mapping Options dialog box, Line Types tab, click Browse. Then select the appropriate file.
    • Select an AutoCAD template file to format the destination file.
      Note: AutoCAD Mechanical template files are no longer installed with Inventor. To access and use these template files do the following:
      1. Download the files from Autodesk Knowledge Network Inventor Language Packs.
      2. Open each downloaded template in the current version of Inventor and save it.
      3. Move the template file to C:\Users\Public\Documents\Autodesk\Inventor xxxx\Templates.
    • To save the setting to a configuration file, click Save Configuration, and then specify where to save the file.
    • Click Finish to create the drawing.

To export data to DWG from a part (.ipt) or assembly (.iam - not available in Inventor LT) file

  1. From the File menu, click Export Export to DWG.
  2. In the DWG Model File Export Options dialog box, set the following options, and then click Next.
    • Specify the object types to export.
    • Select the AutoCAD file version.
  3. Click OK to create the drawing.
Parent topic: About Saving and Exporting Data