INVENTOR 3D program

[Charles Warner]

Does anyone have experience using a 3D file in INVENTOR? I need a bulkhead made and can get the file.Thanks,

[Chris Livengood]

Are you trying to have the bulkhead machined?

If so, and you have a model in a standard file type like .stl, .ipt, and many others, then probably most machinists can just import the file into their CAD/CAM and take care of it.

[Mike B]

Ask if you can get the file in IGES or STEP (.igs or .stp) format. Then any solid model program should be able to open it and work with it.

[Rick Kirchner]

I'm trying to remember but I don't think you can go directly from .stl to a machine tool. I had a 1/4" steel plate laser cut a while back and I printed a prototype before committing to metal - but fusion 360 free edition won't export any of the fully-featured file formats, so I had to create a STL and then use a free online converter to get to the tool compatible version.

I had really good results from oshcut.com

[Chris Livengood]

That absolutely depends on the control and machine.

.stl gets used very often, obviously not for what you were up to.

[Mike B]

- but fusion 360 free edition won't export any of the fully-featured file formats,

It will export to a STEP file. I've never dug deep enough to see if it loses any features, though.

I had really good results from oshcut.com

I've had excellent experiences with SendCutSend but I'll have to look into this option.

[Charles Warner]

Thanks to all. I have the .stp file on the way.