Convert IAM to IFC in your application
3D InterOp is a CAD interoperability SDK that lets your software read IAM files and write IFC, writing the exact geometry into a format that can also hold facets.
Spatial does not offer an online converter or a desktop conversion app. 3D InterOp is a component that software vendors embed in their own products.
- Reads Inventor assembly · Writes IFC
- Exact geometry → mixed-geometry format
- C++ / C# APIs
IAM to IFC at a glance
Inventor assembly stores exact geometry; IFC can hold exact solids and facets. What ends up in the IFC file depends on what the IFC writer writes, as detailed below.
| Inventor assembly (source) | IFC (target) | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Autodesk Inventor Assembly | Industry Foundation Classes |
| Standard / owner | Autodesk | buildingSMART, ISO 16739 |
| File extensions | .iam | .ifc, .ifczip |
| Geometry | Exact B-Rep (in the referenced parts) | Exact B-Rep and tessellated geometry |
| Assemblies / structure | Yes | Yes: spatial and element hierarchy |
| 3D InterOp support | Read only | Read and write |
What's preserved, what changes
Here is what your application can expect to carry across from Inventor assembly to IFC.
-
Preserved
Exact geometryExact B-Rep read from IAM is written to IFC as exact geometry.
-
Preserved
Product structureThe IAM product structure is written to IFC.
Why software vendors add IAM to IFC conversion
Open BIM deliverables
Many projects specify IFC deliverables. Writing it lets your users meet those requirements from your software.
Coordination and clash detection
Coordination tools gather models from every discipline in IFC. Your users can contribute without a round trip through another tool.
Facility and asset data
Owners and operators often receive building data as IFC for asset management after handover.
Things to check before you ship
- Written IFC versions: IFC2x3 to IFC4x3 ADD2 (.ifc).
- Exact B-Rep needs IFC4 or later; IFC2x3 files only get tessellation.
- IAM has no BIM semantics: check which IFC class your application assigns to each object.
- Supported IAM input: Inventor V11 to 2027.
- Validate a sample of translated files in the target system your users actually work with.
Working with Spatial was a real milestone for us: Thanks to the powerful 3DInterOp library, we were able to successfully bring our complex CAD-based solutions to the cloud while remaining flexible to meet individual customer requirements. For us, Spatial is not just a technology partner, but a true enabler of our product strategy.
Dr. Arno Michelis, Founder, Simus Systems
Read the Case StudyAbout the formats
-
Source format
What is an IAM (.iam) file?
An IAM file is an Autodesk Inventor assembly. It stores the product structure and constraints, and references the IPT part files.
-
Target format
What is an IFC (.ifc) file?
IFC is the open, vendor-neutral standard for exchanging building information models, maintained by buildingSMART and published as ISO 16739. It carries building elements with their geometry, properties and relationships.
Frequently asked questions
The exact B-Rep that 3D InterOp reads from IAM is written to IFC.
Yes. 3D InterOp reads the IAM product structure and writes it to IFC.
Write IFC4 or later to keep exact B-Rep: IFC2x3 files only get tessellation. 3D InterOp writes IFC2x3 to IFC4x3 ADD2.
IAM has no BIM semantics, so your application decides which IFC class each object is written as.
3D InterOp reads Inventor V11 to 2027.
3D InterOp writes IFC2x3 to IFC4x3 ADD2 (.ifc).
No. 3D InterOp reads IAM but doesn’t write it. To send data back to Inventor users, write a neutral format they can import, such as STEP.
-
Building software that needs to convert IAM to IFC?
3D InterOp is an SDK that lets your application read Inventor assembly and write IFC alongside 30+ CAD and BIM formats.