# Can't import CAD geometry **URL:** \ **Category:** RobotStudio\ **Tags:** cad, geometry, import\ **Created:** [June 10, 2021, 2:35pm UTC](https://tech-community.robotics.abb.com/t/cant-import-cad-geometry/10250 "2021-06-10T14:35:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![AuxiliumD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b19c9b/32.png) [@AuxiliumD](https://tech-community.robotics.abb.com/u/AuxiliumD)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2021, 2:35pm UTC](https://tech-community.robotics.abb.com/t/cant-import-cad-geometry/10250/1 "2021-06-10T14:35:44Z")
Hi, I am trying to import some parts and assemblies from Inventor (and Creo / Solidworks). I see lots of tutorials for this on youtube, but when I try I do not see the files in the explorer. I am using RobotStudio 2021.1.2. I’ve tried both on company license and Student license, as I thought that was the issue. The manual says it should be possible. Any ideas? ---
**Author:** ![lemster68](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/tech-community.robotics.abb.com/lemster68/32/1945_2.png) [@lemster68](https://tech-community.robotics.abb.com/u/lemster68)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2021, 3:14pm UTC](https://tech-community.robotics.abb.com/t/cant-import-cad-geometry/10250/2 "2021-06-10T15:14:16Z")
What are the file extensions? It may be that you need a license for the converter. ![image.png](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/uploads/robotics1/original/2X/3/36b95ab8f108eea6990042d07a27c69c99cba858.png) Look in options, click on licensing ---
**Author:** ![AuxiliumD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b19c9b/32.png) [@AuxiliumD](https://tech-community.robotics.abb.com/u/AuxiliumD)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2021, 3:32pm UTC](https://tech-community.robotics.abb.com/t/cant-import-cad-geometry/10250/3 "2021-06-10T15:32:37Z")
> [@lemster68](#): > > What are the file extensions? It may be that you need a license for the converter. > > ![image.png](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/uploads/robotics1/original/2X/3/36b95ab8f108eea6990042d07a27c69c99cba858.png) > > Look in options, click on licensing File extensions are iam, prt, asm, and some more. It’s weird because I have never needed a license for it before. I will check it out. I can’t see no licenses for that either, I think it should be standard? ---
**Author:** ![lemster68](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/tech-community.robotics.abb.com/lemster68/32/1945_2.png) [@lemster68](https://tech-community.robotics.abb.com/u/lemster68)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2021, 3:52pm UTC](https://tech-community.robotics.abb.com/t/cant-import-cad-geometry/10250/4 "2021-06-10T15:52:42Z")
We usually have our designers convert the files to stp, step, for us to be able to load. ---
**Author:** ![AuxiliumD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b19c9b/32.png) [@AuxiliumD](https://tech-community.robotics.abb.com/u/AuxiliumD)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2021, 6:38pm UTC](https://tech-community.robotics.abb.com/t/cant-import-cad-geometry/10250/5 "2021-06-10T18:38:54Z")
> [@lemster68](#): > > We usually have our designers convert the files to stp, step, for us to be able to load. Yeah, I would normally do that too. However I noticed how much more powerful it is to use the original files. Connectivity and update changes, also they come grouped. We have over 2000 parts in our assembly, and some need to be programmed into tools. I can’t go through them as “dead geometry” as STEP so to say. ---
**Author:** ![graemepaulin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/258eb7/32.png) [@graemepaulin](https://tech-community.robotics.abb.com/u/graemepaulin)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2021, 4:17am UTC](https://tech-community.robotics.abb.com/t/cant-import-cad-geometry/10250/6 "2021-06-11T04:17:20Z")
STP (step) is the “native” RobotStudio CAD format, all other formats require a CAD Converter. These are an additional option, you select the one(s) you want to be able to use. The only exception to the above is an Authorized Value Provider RobotStudio license which includes all CAD convertors. ---
**Author:** ![AuxiliumD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b19c9b/32.png) [@AuxiliumD](https://tech-community.robotics.abb.com/u/AuxiliumD)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2021, 4:40am UTC](https://tech-community.robotics.abb.com/t/cant-import-cad-geometry/10250/7 "2021-06-11T04:40:58Z")
> [@graemepaulin](#): > > STP (step) is the “native” RobotStudio CAD format, all other formats require a CAD Converter. > These are an additional option, you select the one(s) you want to be able to use. > The only exception to the above is an Authorized Value Provider RobotStudio license which includes all CAD convertors. That’s weird. How come it am able to import any file format in my RobotStudio 2019 edition from school, but not in the 2021? (It’s the ABB files in both cases, no files altered, same license. Where do I select this option then? ---
**Author:** ![graemepaulin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/258eb7/32.png) [@graemepaulin](https://tech-community.robotics.abb.com/u/graemepaulin)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2021, 4:44am UTC](https://tech-community.robotics.abb.com/t/cant-import-cad-geometry/10250/8 "2021-06-11T04:44:04Z")
It may be the school license also has all CAD convertors enabled as well - but I thought it was only the AVP license. Also I think the special free license during 2020 had all CAD convertors enabled, ---
**Author:** ![AuxiliumD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b19c9b/32.png) [@AuxiliumD](https://tech-community.robotics.abb.com/u/AuxiliumD)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2021, 5:45am UTC](https://tech-community.robotics.abb.com/t/cant-import-cad-geometry/10250/9 "2021-06-14T05:45:05Z")
> [@graemepaulin](#): > > It may be the school license also has all CAD convertors enabled as well - but I thought it was only the AVP license. > Also I think the special free license during 2020 had all CAD convertors enabled, I understand. I recon I have to talk to ABB to solve this issue. I recon it is not a good idea to set things up in an older version with the CAD-converter and import it. It would also lose a lot of the functionality. ---
**Author:** ![neily04](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/50afbb/32.png) [@neily04](https://tech-community.robotics.abb.com/u/neily04)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2021, 12:32pm UTC](https://tech-community.robotics.abb.com/t/cant-import-cad-geometry/10250/10 "2021-06-16T12:32:54Z")
> [@graemepaulin](#): > > STP (step) is the “native” RobotStudio CAD format, all other formats require a CAD Converter. > These are an additional option, you select the one(s) you want to be able to use. > The only exception to the above is an Authorized Value Provider RobotStudio license which includes all CAD convertors. ACIS (.sat) is the native CAD. Step needs an optional convertor. ---
**Author:** ![graemepaulin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/258eb7/32.png) [@graemepaulin](https://tech-community.robotics.abb.com/u/graemepaulin)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2021, 5:06am UTC](https://tech-community.robotics.abb.com/t/cant-import-cad-geometry/10250/11 "2021-06-17T05:06:43Z")
Yes sorry SAT is the native CAD system - sorry for the confusion ---
**Author:** ![AuxiliumD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b19c9b/32.png) [@AuxiliumD](https://tech-community.robotics.abb.com/u/AuxiliumD)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2021, 6:16am UTC](https://tech-community.robotics.abb.com/t/cant-import-cad-geometry/10250/12 "2021-06-17T06:16:21Z")
Issue fixed, it was a licensing issue.