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Inventor, NavisWorks, Revit

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What are IAM and IPT files?

Files with the IAM and IPT file extensions are native 3D files of the Autodesk Inventor CAD/CAM software. IPT is the part file format and contains 3D geometries and, in some cases, product manufacturing information (PMI). IAM is the assembly file format and is linked to at least one, but usually several, IPT files and often additional IAM files.

What are NWD files?

Files with the NWD file extension are published projects of the Autodesk NavisWorks CAD software. They contain all 3D models and project-related data of a NavisWorks project in a single, compressed file.

What are RVT and RVA files?

RVT and RFA files are Autodesk Revit formats for BIM (Building Information Modeling) projects. RVT files (Revit project files) contain the entire 3D model of a project, while RFA files (Revit families) contain individual, reusable components such as doors, windows, or furniture.

Inventor viewer for IAM and IPT

IAM and IPT Versions

Inventor 1 was released in 1999, and up to Inventor 11, the versions were simply numbered. Starting in 2007, versions are named with the year following the release year; for example, the version released in 2024 is called Inventor 2025. File versions created with newer releases cannot be opened with older releases.

NWD Versions

The NWD format is used by all Navisworks versions (e.g., NavisWorks 2025). When creating an NWD file, you can specify that it should be saved in an older version. Up to NavisWorks 2015, this was necessary if you wanted to make the NWD file available to a user of an older version. Starting in 2016, NWD files are backward compatible, so a NavisWorks 2025 NWD file can also be opened with NavisWorks 2016.

RVT and RFA Versions

Revit version names are based on the release year, e.g., Revit 2025. Revit RVT and RFA files are neither backward nor forward compatible. Older files must be updated to a new version before opening, which makes them inaccessible in the older version.

Additional Native Autodesk File Formats

  • idw Native 2D drawing from Inventor, derived from IPT or IAM. Can only be opened in Inventor or Inventor View.
  • dwg Native 2D drawing from AutoCAD. Can be used in AutoCAD and Inventor due to the close relationship, however: A DWG created with Inventor can only be modified in Inventor. A DWG created with AutoCAD can only be modified with AutoCAD.
  • dxf The 2D format DXF was developed because the first AutoCAD versions under Windows, MacOS and Linux required different DWG data. The DXF format was later retained as it had proven itself for exchange with other CAD programs. However, a number of CAD functions are lost compared to DWG.
  • nwf Native NavisWorks assembly files. A NWF file contains links to the original native files together with Navisworks-specific data, such as review markups. No model geometry is saved with this file format; this makes an NWF considerably smaller in size than an NWD.

How do I open Inventor, NavisWorks, and Revit files?

For IPT and IAM files, an Inventor installation is typically used. They can also be opened with CAD/CAM software that has an Inventor interface, such as Siemens NX. Inventor is free to use in read-only mode.

In addition to a commercial NavisWorks installation, the free NavisWorks Freedom opens NWD files.

Like Inventor, Revit is free to use in viewer mode to view RVT and RFA files.

Autodesk now also offers a web viewer for Inventor, NavisWorks, and Revit models. Using the viewer requires registration with Autodesk.

The 3D-Tool CAD Viewer opens IPT, IAM, NWD, RVT, and RFA files and, in addition to being easy to use, offers numerous measurement and analysis tools. The 3D tool can be tested free of charge for 14 days.

How do I convert Inventor, NavisWorks, and Revit files?

If you don't have CAD software with the appropriate interfaces, the design must be exported by the creator into a common 3D exchange format, such as STEP.

Converting IPT, IAM, NWD, RVT, and RFA files to STEP is also possible with a 3D converter or CAD converter.

3D-Tool Premium includes the 3D NativeCAD Converter. In addition to these formats, it converts models from many common CAD systems into the 3D exchange formats supported by most CAD/CAM programs: STEP, IGES, SAT, and Parasolid X_T.

Test the Inventor, NavisWorks, and Revit Viewer and Converter

3D-Tool is a CAD viewer with many native CAD interfaces, including Inventor, NavisWorks and Revit. It provides professional measuring functions, demolding analysis and wall thickness analysis.

  • IPT, IAM, NWD, RVT, RFA open, dimension, markup and publish for the 3D-Tool Free Viewer or as 3D PDF
  • Open IPT, IAM, NWD, RVT, RFA and save as STL, 3DS, PLY, WRL, OBJ, or PLY
  • IPT, IAM, NWD, RVT, RFA convert to STEP, IGES, SAT, X_T and JT
  • Convert the models into 3D product visualizations such as 3D-HTML, FBX, Collada, 3MF, and glTF.

Free and non-binding 14-day trial with all functions, the Autodesk interfaces and the 3D-Native CAD Converter. The trial key activates all 3D interfaces, such as CATIA, Siemens NX, SolidWorks, Creo, STEP, SAT.

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