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How to convert Autodesk Inventor (.iam,.ipt) to Maya (.ma,.mb)?

PolyTrans|CAD+DCC performs mathematically precise CAD, DCC/Animation, GIS and BIM 3D file conversions into all key downstream 3D packages and file formats. Okino software is used and trusted throughout the world by many tens of thousands of 3D professionals in mission & production critical environments, backed by respectable personal support directly from our core development team.

Autodesk Inventor

Autodesk Inventor is Autodesk's main MCAD "BREP solids" modelling software program which has competed with its rivals of SolidWorks, ProE/Creo, Solid Edge, Unigraphics NX (and partly) CATIA v4/v5 since its original release in 1999.

The file formats of key importance would be ".ipt" which contains the geometry of each part/object in the scene, and, ".iam" files which contain the scene assembly information.

Conversion from Autodesk Inventor into Okino software is handled by these 3 ideal methods:

• Via DWF-3D files exported from Inventor. This is the most ideal and "least mentally taxing" conversion method. It also supports material and texture map conversion.
• Via native import of the .iam or .ipt files,
• Via STEP AP214 or IGES 'BREP solids' files.

Maya

Maya is a well known and respected DCC/Animation system which had originally been developed by Alias Research in Canada then purchased by Autodesk in 2006 after Alias went bankrupt.

As is very little understood, no program on this planet can read or write Maya ".ma" (ASCII) or ".mb" (binary) files because the full geometry modifier stack of the Maya software, and its various plugin modules, are needed in order to properly evaluate the file before it can be rendered. This is what forced Okino to write its well known PolyTrans-for-Maya system, which allows for all Okino 3D converters to run within Maya itself. For example, if you want to convert to/from CINEMA 4D (.c4d files) then you would do so entirely inside of Maya.

Due to multi-decades history, Maya users are notorious for using the OBJ file format to convert files to/from other software packages just as 3ds Max users wrongly use the 1985-era .3ds file format. OBJ is an "okay" file format but there are much better or more preferred methods to convert the data.

Autodesk Inventor import converter's overview

Maya export converter's overview