What file types can nTop import and export?

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Question:

Can nTop export STEP files? Can users export to CAD? What file types can I import?

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Applies to:

nTop 5.5

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Answer:

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CAD Geometry

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Mesh Geometry

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Implicit Geometry

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Finite Element Data

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Lattice Structure

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Point Data

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Voxel Grid

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Slices

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Bitmap

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Tables

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CAD Geometry

Parasolid formats tend to yield the most dependable results. CAD and STEP inputs of single-part or multi-body files are also typically robust. CAD Assembly files can be directly imported into nTop. Import:

CAD File types available for Import
File Type	File Extension	Versions
ACIS	*.sat, and *.sab	R1 - 2022 1.0
CATIA V5	*.sat, and *.sab	*.CATPart, and *.CATProduct
PTC Creo	*.prt *.prt. *.asm	16 - Creo 11.0
Autodesk Inventor	*.ipt .*iam	V11 - 2024
Siemens NX	*.prt	11 - NX 2312
Parasolid	*.x_t and *.x_b	9.0 - 35.0.149
SolidWorks	*.sldprt *.sldasm	98 - 2024
STEP	*.step and *.stp	AP 203, AP 214, and AP 242

Export:

CAD File types available for Export
File Type	File Extension
Parasolid	*.x_t and *.x_b
STEP 242	*.step
IGES	*.iges and *.igs

How-to:

• How to Import a Part
• How to Export a CAD Part (STEP or Parasolid)

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Mesh Geometry

Import:

Mesh file types available for Import
File Type	File Extension
STL	*.stl, *.stla, *.stlb
OBJ	*.obj
Standard Polygon File Format	*.ply
3MF	*.3mf
Object File Format	*.off

Export:

Mesh types available for Export
File Type	File Extension
STL	*.stl, *.stla, *.stlb
OBJ	*.obj
Standard Polygon File Format	*.ply
3MF	*.3mf

How-to:

• How to Export an STL
• Export Mesh and Lattice to 3MF Format
• Can lattice shell elements be exported as 3MF?

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Implicit Geometry

Import and Export: How-to:

• Can I export an implicit body?

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Finite Element (FE) Data

FE Mesh Import:

FE Mesh file types available for Import
File Type	File Extension	Notes
Abaqus	*.inp	The format supports node, element, face, and edge sets.
ANSYS Mechanical	*.cdb	Format only supports node and element sets.
ANSYS Fluent	*.msh	Only mesh export is currently supported.
LS-DYNA	*.k
Nastran	*.bdf
Patran	*.pat
CGNS CFD Data File	*.cgns
Universal File Format	*.unv

Export: To see a full overview of what data is supported for export, go here. FE Results Import:

FE Results available for Import
Result Type	File Type	File Extension
Static Structural Result, Modal Result, Buckling Result, and Time-Dependent Structural Result	Ansys Structural Result	*.rst
	NASTRAN Output File	*.op2
Static Thermal Result and Time-Dependent Thermal Result	Ansys Thermal Result	*.rth
	NASTRAN Output File	*.op2
CFD Analysis Results	Fluent Case File	*.cas, and *.cas.gz
	Fluent Data File	*.dat, and *.dat.gz
Topology Optimization Result	NASTRAN Output File	*.op2

Export: To see a full overview of what data is supported for export, go here. How-to:

• How to Export your Design to Ansys Fluent

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Lattice Structure

Import & Export:

Lattice file types available for Import and Export
File Type	File Extension
Lattice Graph Interchange Module	*.ltcx
3MF	*.3mf

How-to:

• Export Mesh and Lattice to 3MF Format
• Can lattice shell elements be exported as 3MF?

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Point Data, Vector, and Scalar Point Map

Import & Export:

Point Data, Vector, and Scalar Point Map file types available for Import and Export
File Type	File Extension
Comma Separated Values	*.csv

How-to:

• How can I Export the Displacement Results from a Simulation?
• How to import and use a Point Map
• How to use simulation results to create a Point Map or Field

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Voxel Grid

Import & Export:

Voxel Grid file types available for Import and Export
File Type	File Extension
VDB	*.vdb

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Slicing for Additive Manufacturing

Import

Slicing file types available for Export
File Type	File Extension
Common Layer Interface	*.cli

Export:

Slicing file types available for Export
File Type	File Extension
Common Layer Interface	*.cli
Common Layer File	*.clf
Renishaw CLI	*.cli
Renishaw RenExposure (Point Data)	*.cli
EOS CLI	*.cli
Arcam ABF	*.abf
Concept Laser v4	*.cls
3D Systems	*.slc
Stratasys Layer	*.ssl
B&W Image Stack	*.png

How-to:

• Slicing and Exporting Walk-through

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Bitmap

Import

Image file types available for Import and Export
File Type	File Extension
PNG	*.png

How-to:

• How to deboss an image

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Tables

Import and Export

Table file types available for Import and Export
File Type	File Extension
CSV	*.csv

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Keywords:

import cad stl mesh ply obj fea points export eos arcam cli clf ssl solidworks nx catia parasolid step 3mf ansys nastran abaqus iges voxel ltcx csv vdb inventor fluent inp cdb unv pat msh universal patran dyna acis ptc cre autodesk siemens prt ipt sat sab stp ls