The following settings are recommended up to CATIA V4.2.5 (Dassault) and Autodesk Inventor 2017.

CATIA V4 (Dassault) - System

• No elements should be placed in NOSHOW/NOPICK.
• Model should be cleaned of all unused information, because the translator exports the complete content of CATIA-parts. Delete:
• Unused DETAILS (in all workspaces)
• Unused elements from NOSHOW (in all workspaces)
• Drawings
• Update SOLID-M into SOLID-E with CATSOE utility.
• Perform SOLIDE/UPDATE, also if message UPDATE ALREADY DONE appears. (Regeneration removes inconsistencies.)
• Generate Volumes from SOLID-E and delete SOLID-E in all workspaces. (Geometry is still exported as a solid in STEP.)
• Scaled and mirrored dittos (EXPLODE function) should not be used.
• Before export elements of special CATIA modules (e.g. PIPING, BUILDING DESIGN) need to be converted to STEP conform elements.
• Use CATCLN.
• Assembly structures in SETs should be transferred to DETAILS.
• Link all SETs if possible (SETS -> LINK).
• Solids/Volumes consisting of separate Bodies should be avoided.
• Objects used for Boolean operations should show good penetration.

STEP Preprocessor

• The COM/STEP STEP Processor can be used in batch, interactive and Java mode. The following descriptions refer to the Java GUI.
• Menu STEP:
• Conformance Class: CC2 for geometry and CC20 for drawings
• Select Product Structure S3: Item_Definition_Structure for assemblies
• Geometry and topology: select G2, G3 and G5, do not select G4 and G7
• Menu Conversion:
• INDEX and DATA size should always be set to generous values (50000, 200000).
• Exporting DETAIL/DITTO creates STEP assemblies with the top level product named after the CATIA model.

STEP File

• No adjustment is necessary.

Inventor - STEP Postprocessor

• To import a STEP File please choose File -> Open... and select STEP file.
• It is recommended to import the STEP files first without any automatic healing (in options selectable).

Inventor - System

• Shaded view is helpful and gives a first impression of the model quality.
• A volume calculation of the imported model gives more information about a successful import of a solid.