Convert SAT to IFC in your application
3D InterOp is a CAD interoperability SDK that lets your software read SAT 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 ACIS · Writes IFC
- Exact geometry → mixed-geometry format
- C++ / C# APIs
SAT to IFC at a glance
ACIS 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.
| ACIS (source) | IFC (target) | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | ACIS model file (text SAT, binary SAB) | Industry Foundation Classes |
| Standard / owner | Proprietary — Spatial (Dassault Systèmes) | buildingSMART, ISO 16739 |
| File extensions | .sat, .sab | .ifc, .ifczip |
| Geometry | Exact B-Rep | Exact B-Rep and tessellated geometry |
| Assemblies / structure | Parts in SAT/SAB, assemblies in ASAT/ASAB | Yes: spatial and element hierarchy |
| 3D InterOp support | Read and write · ACIS R18 to 2026 1.0 | Read and write |
What's preserved, what changes
Here is what your application can expect to carry across from ACIS to IFC.
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Preserved
Exact geometryExact B-Rep read from SAT is written to IFC as exact geometry.
Why software vendors add SAT 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.
- SAT has no BIM semantics: check which IFC class your application assigns to each object.
- Supported SAT input: ACIS R1 to 2026 1.0.
- 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
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Source format
What is an ACIS SAT file?
SAT is the native file format of 3D ACIS Modeler, Spatial's geometric modeling kernel used in CAD, CAM and CAE applications. It stores exact B-Rep models as text (.sat) or binary (.sab); ACIS assemblies use the .asat and .asab extensions.
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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 SAT is written to IFC.
Write IFC4 or later to keep exact B-Rep: IFC2x3 files only get tessellation. 3D InterOp writes IFC2x3 to IFC4x3 ADD2.
SAT has no BIM semantics, so your application decides which IFC class each object is written as.
Yes. 3D InterOp reads both ACIS text (SAT) and binary (SAB) files.
3D InterOp reads ACIS R1 to 2026 1.0.
3D InterOp writes IFC2x3 to IFC4x3 ADD2 (.ifc).
Yes. 3D InterOp reads and writes both formats, so IFC to SAT is supported too.
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Building software that needs to convert SAT to IFC?
3D InterOp is an SDK that lets your application read ACIS and write IFC alongside 30+ CAD and BIM formats.