> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.ntop.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# What file types can nTop import and export?

## Question:

Can nTop export STEP files?

Can users export to CAD?

What file types can I import?

## Applies to:

nTop 5.45

## Answer:

* ### [CAD Geometry](#h-01exft1zdd4ahwmp47mcqet9y0)
* ### [Mesh Geometry](#h-01exft26qhcnnnh56fj8e5jkve)
* ### [Implicit Geometry](#h-01jazs2ed7w9n7taewqa9ybqf6)
* ### [Finite Element Data](#h-01exft2emnnz0jegy3sx4sghhn)
* ### [Lattice Structure](#h-01exft2ne63vh897t59s6f2f7v)
* ### [Point Data](#h-01exft2wtm9twecvbcnecj05pt)
* ### [Voxel Grid](#h-01exft32w8vm4t0m8r2z048fks)
* ### [Slices](#h-01exft38t3m3j6w59h1xmav2ad)
* ### [Bitmap](#h-01exft32w8vm4t0m8r2z048fks)
* ### [Tables](#h-01gthvcrjnmsj5mwwrbc0vggd4)

## 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:**

| File Type         | File Extension                           | Versions                   |
| ----------------- | ---------------------------------------- | -------------------------- |
| ACIS              | \*.sat, and \*.sab                       | R1 - 2025 1.0              |
| CATIA V5          | \*.CATPart, and \*.CATProduct            | V5 R8 - V6 R2025           |
| Pro/E or Creo     | \*.prt \*.prt. \*.asm                    | 16 - Creo 11.0             |
| Autodesk Inventor | \*.ipt (V6 - V2025) .\*iam (V11 - V2025) | V6 - 2025                  |
| Siemens NX        | \*.prt                                   | 11 - NX 2412               |
| Parasolid         | \*.x\_t and \*.x\_b                      | 9.0 - 38.0.163             |
| SolidWorks        | \*.sldprt \*.sldasm                      | 98 - 2025                  |
| STEP              | \*.step and \*.stp                       | AP 203, AP 214, and AP 242 |

CAD File types available for Import

**Export:**

| File Type | File Extension      |
| --------- | ------------------- |
| Parasolid | \*.x\_t and \*.x\_b |
| STEP 242  | \*.step             |
| IGES      | \*.iges and \*.igs  |

CAD File types available for Export

How-to:

* [How to Import a Part](https://support.ntop.com/hc/en-us/articles/360049994434)
* [How to Export a CAD Part (STEP or Parasolid)](/help-articles/knowledge-base/interop/how-to-export-geometry-overview-of-export-workflows)

## Mesh Geometry

**Import:**

| File Type                    | File Extension           |
| ---------------------------- | ------------------------ |
| STL                          | \*.stl, \*.stla, \*.stlb |
| OBJ                          | \*.obj                   |
| Standard Polygon File Format | \*.ply                   |
| 3MF                          | \*.3mf                   |
| Object File Format           | \*.off                   |

Mesh file types available for Import

**Export:**

| File Type                    | File Extension           |
| ---------------------------- | ------------------------ |
| STL                          | \*.stl, \*.stla, \*.stlb |
| OBJ                          | \*.obj                   |
| Standard Polygon File Format | \*.ply                   |
| 3MF                          | \*.3mf                   |

Mesh types available for Export

How-to:

* [How to Export an STL](/help-articles/knowledge-base/interop/how-to-export-an-stl)
* [Export Mesh and Lattice to 3MF Format](/help-articles/knowledge-base/interop/how-to-export-a-mesh-and-lattice-to-3mf-format)
* [Can lattice shell elements be exported as 3MF?](/help-articles/knowledge-base/interop/can-lattice-shell-elements-be-exported-as-3mf)

## Implicit Geometry

**Import and Export:**

| File Type          | File Extension |
| ------------------ | -------------- |
| nTop Implicit File | \*.implicit    |

How-to:

* [Can I export an implicit body?](/help-articles/knowledge-base/interop/how-to-export-an-implicit-body)

## Finite Element (FE) Data

**FE Mesh**

**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           |                                                         |

FE Mesh file types available for Import

**Export:** To see a full overview of what data is supported for export, go [here](https://support.ntopology.com/hc/en-us/articles/360039792513).

**FE Results**

**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                |

FE Results available for Import

**Export:** To see a full overview of what data is supported for export, go [here](https://support.ntopology.com/hc/en-us/articles/360039792513).

How-to:

* [How to Export your Design to Ansys Fluent](/help-articles/knowledge-base/interop/how-to-export-your-design-to-ansys-fluent-2)

## Lattice Structure

**Import & Export:**

| File Type                        | File Extension |
| -------------------------------- | -------------- |
| Lattice Graph Interchange Module | \*.ltcx        |
| 3MF                              | \*.3mf         |

Lattice file types available for Import and Export

How-to:

* [Export Mesh and Lattice to 3MF Format](/help-articles/knowledge-base/interop/how-to-export-a-mesh-and-lattice-to-3mf-format)
* [Can lattice shell elements be exported as 3MF?](/help-articles/knowledge-base/interop/can-lattice-shell-elements-be-exported-as-3mf)

## Point Data, Vector, and Scalar Point Map

**Import & Export:**

| File Type              | File Extension |
| ---------------------- | -------------- |
| Comma Separated Values | \*.csv         |

Point Data, Vector, and Scalar Point Map file types available for Import and Export

How-to:

* [How can I Export the Displacement Results from a Simulation?](/help-articles/knowledge-base/interop/how-can-i-export-the-displacement-results-from-a-simulation)
* [How to import and use a Point Map](/help-articles/knowledge-base/interop/how-to-import-and-use-a-point-map)
* [How to use simulation results to create a Point Map or Field](/help-articles/knowledge-base/structures/how-to-use-simulation-results-to-create-a-point-map-or-field)

## Voxel Grid

**Import & Export:**

| File Type | File Extension |
| --------- | -------------- |
| VDB       | \*.vdb         |

Voxel Grid file types available for Import and Export

## Slicing for Additive Manufacturing

**Import**

| File Type              | File Extension |
| ---------------------- | -------------- |
| Common Layer Interface | \*.cli         |

Slicing file types available for Import

**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         |

Slicing file types available for Export

How-to:

* [Slicing and Exporting Walk-through](/help-articles/knowledge-base/additive-manufacturing-preparation/how-to-create-and-export-slices)

## Bitmap

**Import**

| File Type | File Extension |
| --------- | -------------- |
| PNG       | \*.png         |

Image file types available for Import and Export

How-to:

* [How to deboss an image](/help-articles/knowledge-base/textures/how-to-deboss-an-image)

## Tables

**Import and Export**

| File Type | File Extension |
| --------- | -------------- |
| CSV       | \*.csv         |

Table file types available for Import and Export

####

## 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*