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 5.5

Answer:

CAD Geometry

Mesh Geometry

Implicit Geometry

Finite Element Data

Lattice Structure

Point Data

Voxel Grid

Slices

Bitmap

Tables

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 - 2022 1.0
CATIA V5 *.CATPart, and *.CATProduct V5 R8 - V6 R2024
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
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:

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:

Implicit Geometry

Import and Export: 

File Type File Extension
nTop Implicit File *.implicit

How-to:

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

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

How-to:

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:

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:

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 Export

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:

Bitmap

Import

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

How-to:

Tables

Import and Export

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

 

Keywords:

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