Import

You can import a wide range of file formats into Shapr3D, allowing you to easily bring in designs from other CAD software. From sketches to 3D models and technical drawings, this article guides you through the process of importing supported formats.

Before you begin

• Ensure that you’re importing supported file types.
• Verify that the source file is not damaged or corrupted.
• Confirm that your device has enough memory to process the import.
• The source model should fit within Shapr3D’s design space, which is 1 km³.
• Avoid importing files that include sketches with polylines.
  Note: Some lines and curves from other software may not display accurately in Shapr3D.

Import Preferences

You can also enable advanced import preferences in Settings or Preferences to customize how Shapr3D handles incoming geometry. These options allow for faster processing and better model quality when importing STEP, IGES, CATIA, SolidWorks, and Solid Edge files.

The following advanced settings are available during the import process:

• Simplify Geometry – Remove redundant topology, simplify smaller details. This might change the model’s shape.

• Advanced Healing (Parasolid Bodyshop Repair) – Precisely recalculate all edges based on face intersections and replace tolerant edges with accurate ones.

• Healing (HOOPS) – Controls adjustment of topological tolerances, removing geometric discontinuities, eliminating slicer faces, etc.

• Accurate Edge Computation – Analyze bodies and attempt to rectify any geometry problems found.

• Sewing – Joins touching surfaces during import to form valid bodies. Improves editability and downstream modeling results.

• Import Planar Curves as Sketches – Convert planar curves (circles, lines, splines) into editable sketches in History.

Import images

Images help anchor your design process by serving as visual guides while you model. Import photos, sketches, or scanned drawings when you need a reference to trace, match proportions, or align design features.

To import an image:

1. From the Insert menu, select Image.
   Note: You can also access Import from the File menu (Windows/macoS), More menu (iPadOS) or by selecting Import in the Dashboard.
2. Choose a photo, file, or if using an iPad, capture a new one with your device’s camera.
3. Use the gizmo  to scale, move, or rotate the image.
4. Adjust Opacity to help with tracing or overlaying details.
5. To finish, select Done.

Import files

External CAD files and existing Shapr3D projects can be brought into your workspace when you need to continue work started elsewhere or combine multiple designs. Importing allows you to integrate geometry from other CAD tools, reuse parts from previous Shapr3D projects, or incorporate supplier components directly into your current model.

To import a file:

1. From the Insert menu, select File.
   Note: You can also access Import from the File menu (Windows/macoS), More menu (iPadOS) or by selecting Import in the Dashboard.
2. Choose a file to import.
3. Optional: Use the Move/Rotate or Translate tool to reposition your newly imported file.

Import Shapr3D projects from the Dashboard

You can bring entire Shapr3D projects into your current design directly from the Dashboard. Importing existing projects into your current one allows you to reuse models you’ve already created, combine multiple projects into one workspace, or build larger designs by extending earlier work. Once imported, the project appears in the Items Manager, and its features are added to your project’s History so you can continue editing everything in a single, unified model.

To import a Shapr3D project from the Dashboard:

1. From the Insert menu, select Project.
2. Choose a Shapr3D project from your Dashboard.
   Note: To select and import multiple projects at once, tap Select (iPadOS), or hold down CTRL (Windows) or Shift (macOS).
3. Select Import.
   
   

History settings

When you import files or projects, Shapr3D adds the action to your History so you can review or adjust how the imported content is added to your design.

How imported items appear in History depends on the file type:

• Shapr3D projects (.shapr) with unmerged history steps
  These projects keep their original history. Their feature steps appear in your History sidebar, allowing you to continue editing them as if they were created in your current project.
• All other imported formats (STEP, IGES, STL, DWG, DXF, images, etc.)
  These are added as a single Import step in History. The geometry is still fully editable, but the import action is treated as one item instead of multiple feature steps.

To manage an import entry in History:

1. Open History.
2. Look for the import step you want to edit.
3. Click or tap Settings (…) to modify the history settings for the import step.