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FAQ - Import CAD

FAQ — Import CAD

What CAD formats are supported?

CAD Forge supports a wide range of formats including CATIA V5, CATIA 3DEXPERIENCE, SolidWorks, Inventor, STEP, IGES, JT, and more. Check the CAD Forge documentation for the complete list of supported formats.

How do I improve import quality?

Adjust the SAG (Surface Angular Gap) value during import. Lower values produce finer mesh tessellation (higher quality) but result in larger files. The default value provides a good balance for most use cases.

What does the "deduplication" option do?

When enabled, deduplication identifies identical geometries in your model and instances them (shares the same mesh data). This significantly reduces memory usage and improves performance for models with repeated components.

What is Legacy mode?

Legacy mode uses an older import pipeline. Enable it if you encounter issues with the standard import process — some older CAD formats or non-standard files may import more reliably with Legacy mode.

My import is stuck or failed. What should I do?

  1. Check the import status indicator in CAD Forge for error details

  2. Ensure the file is not corrupted and opens correctly in the source CAD application

  3. Try importing a simpler version of the model to isolate the issue

  4. Ensure sufficient disk space and RAM are available

  5. Try enabling Legacy mode

  6. If the issue persists, contact support with the error details and file format information

Can I import non-CAD 3D data?

Yes. In the Unreal Editor, you can:

  • Use Datasmith to import 3ds Max, SketchUp, and Revit files

  • Import FBX files directly

  • Import Point Cloud data (XYZ, PTS, TXT, LAS, E57) using the LiDAR Point Cloud plugin

What does "version mismatch" mean in CAD Forge?

This status indicates the data was prepared with a different version of the preparation tools. Re-import the data with the current version to resolve this.

How do I import point cloud data?

  1. Enable the LiDAR Point Cloud Plugin in Unreal Editor (Edit > Plugins)

  2. Restart Unreal Engine

  3. Drag and drop your point cloud file into the Content Browser

  4. Adjust the data source columns and import settings

  5. Drop the point cloud asset into the viewport

Supported formats: XYZ, PTS, TXT, LAS, E57.