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For software developers · 3D InterOp SDK

Convert SLDPRT to FBX in your application

3D InterOp is a CAD interoperability SDK that lets your software read SLDPRT files and write FBX, generating the FBX mesh from the geometry it reads, with tessellation settings your application controls.

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 SOLIDWORKS part · Writes FBX
  • Exact geometry → triangle mesh
  • C++ / C# APIs
bracket.sldprtSOLIDWORKS part · exact B-Rep · PMI
Your application
3D InterOp SDK
SOLIDWORKS readerTessellationFBX writer
scene.fbxFBX · mesh scene

SLDPRT to FBX at a glance

SOLIDWORKS part stores exact geometry; FBX stores triangles. The translation is a tessellation, and the settings you choose decide how close the mesh stays to the original.

SOLIDWORKS part (source)FBX (target)
Full nameSOLIDWORKS PartFilmbox
Standard / ownerDassault Systèmes SOLIDWORKSAutodesk
File extensions.sldprt.fbx
GeometryExact B-RepTriangle mesh
Assemblies / structurePart file (assemblies are SLDASM files)Yes: scene hierarchy
PMISemantic (DimXpert) and graphical, SOLIDWORKS 2014 and laterNone
3D InterOp supportRead onlyRead and write

What's preserved, what changes

Here is what your application can expect to carry across from SOLIDWORKS part to FBX.

  • Changes
    Geometry is tessellated
    The exact SOLIDWORKS part B-Rep is replaced by a triangle mesh, generated by 3D InterOp from the exact geometry it reads. Accuracy depends on the tessellation settings your application uses.
  • Not carried
    PMI
    FBX has no place for PMI, so the PMI read from SLDPRT isn’t written.

Why software vendors add SLDPRT to FBX conversion

Lightweight review

FBX carries tessellated geometry that opens much faster than the full CAD model, so design reviews and digital mockups stay responsive.

Sharing outside engineering

Marketing, training and sales teams rarely have CAD software. A FBX file gives them the shape in a format their tools can open.

Easier handling of large assemblies

Without exact surfaces and feature data, FBX files are easier to transfer and display, even for large assemblies.

Things to check before you ship

  • Written FBX versions: FBX 7.7.0.
  • Points and wires aren’t written to FBX.
  • The FBX writer is available through the UConnect interface only.
  • Supported SLDPRT input: SOLIDWORKS 98 to 2026.
  • Test tessellation settings on your heaviest parts: finer meshes mean larger files.
  • 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 Study

About the formats

  • Source format

    What is an SLDPRT (.sldprt) file?

    An SLDPRT file is a SOLIDWORKS part: a single component with its exact 3D geometry, feature tree and properties. SOLIDWORKS is built on the Parasolid kernel.

  • Target format

    What is an FBX (.fbx) file?

    FBX is Autodesk’s format for exchanging 3D scenes between content-creation, game and real-time tools. It stores meshes, materials and the scene hierarchy.

Frequently asked questions

3D InterOp tessellates the geometry it reads from SLDPRT when it writes FBX. Your application sets the tolerances, so it controls the trade-off between accuracy and file size.

FBX has no place for PMI, so the PMI read from SLDPRT isn’t written. Your application can still access it after import, or offer STEP AP242 as an output.

No. The FBX writer writes meshes; points and wires from the source aren’t written.

The FBX writer is available through the 3D InterOp UConnect interface.

Yes. If your application uses Parasolid, a Parasolid-based SOLIDWORKS reader is available.

Semantic PMI from SOLIDWORKS 2014 to 2026, and graphical PMI from SOLIDWORKS 2014 onwards.

3D InterOp reads SOLIDWORKS 98 to 2026.

  • Building software that needs to convert SLDPRT to FBX?

    3D InterOp is an SDK that lets your application read SOLIDWORKS part and write FBX alongside 30+ CAD and BIM formats.