RenderDraw / Workflows / Engine / CAD Blocks
CAD Conversion

CAD Conversion Workflow Blocks

Embed professional CAD file conversion into any workflow. Convert STEP, IGES, SolidWorks, Revit, CATIA, and 30+ other formats to 3D web assets — and feed the results directly into AI vision analysis, workbook population, and proposal delivery.

Technology

HOOPS Exchange Conversion Engine

RenderDraw's CAD conversion blocks are powered by HOOPS Exchange — the industry-standard CAD translation library used by PTC, Siemens, and major CAD vendors for cross-format conversion. HOOPS Exchange handles the geometric fidelity, tessellation quality, and format-specific nuances that simpler converters miss.

The conversion engine runs server-side in RenderDraw's infrastructure. You do not need to install any software, maintain any CAD license seats for the conversion step, or manage conversion infrastructure. Upload the file, trigger the block, poll for completion, receive the 3D web asset.

HOOPS Exchange conversion supports native format reading for all major mechanical CAD and BIM formats — not just exchange formats. This means full assembly structures, part-level metadata, appearance and color, and design views are preserved through conversion.

30+
Supported input formats
GLB
Primary output format

Why GLB/GLTF Output

GLB (Binary GLTF) is the 3D web standard — supported natively in browsers via Three.js, Babylon.js, and model-viewer. GLB output from RenderDraw workflows can be:

  • Embedded in web portals and proposals as interactive 3D viewers
  • Processed by AI vision models for takeoff and BOM extraction
  • Linked to workbook line items for configuration and pricing
  • Delivered to customers as interactive 3D product views
Block Types

CAD Conversion Block Types

🟠

Trigger CAD Conversion Block

Submits a CAD file for conversion via the HOOPS Exchange pipeline. Takes a file URL from a previous workflow block (trigger, file upload, datasource) and returns a conversion job ID for status polling. The conversion runs asynchronously — the workflow continues polling via the status block until complete.

Inputs

  • File URL: The source CAD file to convert — must be accessible from the RenderDraw conversion service
  • Output format: GLB (default), GLTF (split), or STEP (format translation)
  • Tessellation quality: Low (fast, smaller file), Medium (default), High (accurate, larger file), Custom (configure chord height and angle tolerance)
  • Include PMI: Include Product and Manufacturing Information (GD&T, dimensions) in output
  • Include metadata: Preserve part properties, material assignments, and custom attributes from source file
  • Design view: For Inventor files with Design View Representations — specify which view to load
  • Hidden bodies: Include or exclude hidden bodies/components from the output

Outputs

  • job_id: Unique identifier for this conversion job — pass to the Status Poll block
  • submitted_at: Timestamp of submission
  • estimated_duration_seconds: Estimated conversion time based on file size and complexity
ⓘ

Conversion time. Simple parts and small assemblies typically convert in 10–60 seconds. Complex mega-assemblies with thousands of parts can take several minutes. The durable workflow execution model means your workflow can wait for long conversion jobs without consuming resources or timing out.

Tessellation Quality Guide

Low AI analysis, thumbnails, previews
Medium Web viewer, proposals, customer delivery
High Precision manufacturing review, FEA prep
🕐

Conversion Status Poll Block

Polls the status of a running conversion job at a configured interval until the job reaches a terminal state (completed or failed). The workflow is suspended between polls — no resources consumed, no busy-waiting. When the job completes, the block outputs the results and the workflow continues.

Configuration

  • Job ID source: Typically the output of a preceding Trigger CAD Conversion block
  • Poll interval: How often to check status — default 15 seconds for small files, 60 seconds for large assemblies
  • Max wait time: Maximum total time to wait before treating the job as failed — default 30 minutes
  • On timeout: Route to fallback path (retry, notify, or terminate run)

Outputs on Success

  • glb_url: Download URL for the converted GLB file
  • viewer_url: Embeddable 3D viewer URL for the converted model
  • file_size_bytes: Size of the output GLB file
  • part_count: Number of parts/components in the converted assembly
  • conversion_time_ms: Actual conversion duration in milliseconds
  • metadata: Part names, materials, and custom properties from the source file (if include_metadata was set)

Example: Assembly in a Takeoff Workflow

📄

File Upload Trigger

STEP file received

🟠

Trigger Conversion

Submit STEP → GLB, Medium quality

🕐

Poll Status

Wait for GLB completion

📷

AI Vision Analysis

Extract BOM from model view

Format Support

Supported Input Formats

HOOPS Exchange supports native reading of all major mechanical CAD and BIM formats. Native reading preserves assembly structure, part properties, and design intent that exchange-format readers miss.

Mechanical CAD (Native)

  • SolidWorks — .sldprt, .sldasm (2010–2025)
  • PTC Creo / Pro/E — .prt, .asm
  • CATIA V5/V6 — .CATPart, .CATProduct
  • Siemens NX — .prt
  • Autodesk Inventor — .ipt, .iam
  • Solid Edge — .par, .asm
  • ACIS — .sat, .sab

Exchange Formats

  • STEP — AP203, AP214, AP242
  • IGES — .igs, .iges
  • JT — Siemens JT Open
  • 3D PDF — Embedded PRC/U3D
  • VRML — .wrl
  • STL — .stl (mesh input)
  • OBJ — .obj with .mtl

BIM / AEC Formats

  • Autodesk Revit — .rvt, .rfa (via RVT reader)
  • IFC — IFC2x3, IFC4 (ISO 16739)
  • Navisworks — .nwd, .nwc
  • DGN — Bentley MicroStation
  • DWG / DXF — AutoCAD 2D and 3D
  • FBX — Autodesk FBX
  • glTF / GLB — Pass-through and optimization
Use Cases

CAD Blocks in Real Workflows

Takeoff from STEP Files

Customer uploads STEP file of mechanical assembly → trigger conversion to GLB (Low quality for speed) → AI vision analysis on rendered views → extract component count and material types → populate workbook for pricing → human review gate → proposal generation.

Result: automated BOM extraction from CAD files without manual counting. Reduces takeoff time from hours to minutes.

See Takeoff Workflows →

3D Viewer in Proposals

RFP workflow extracts project scope → AI drafts proposal sections → CAD conversion block converts provided drawings → Poll block waits for GLB → PDF generation block embeds the viewer_url as an interactive 3D embed in the delivered proposal PDF.

Result: proposals include interactive 3D views of the proposed solution — differentiating your submission from static PDF-only competitors.

Automated Design Review Queue

File upload trigger on project SharePoint → filter for .rvt and .step files → trigger conversion for each uploaded file → poll for completion → link GLB to project in RenderDraw → notify project team with viewer link via Teams notification block.

Result: every uploaded CAD file is automatically converted and made viewable in a browser — no manual conversion step, no "I don't have SolidWorks installed" blockers.

Manufacturer Product Catalog Update

Schedule trigger (nightly) → Salesforce datasource query for products with new CAD files → loop over products → trigger conversion for each → poll for completion → update Salesforce product record with viewer_url → update RenderDraw knowledgebase with new 3D viewer links.

Result: product catalog 3D viewers stay current automatically as the engineering team uploads new CAD revisions.

Advanced Configuration

Conversion Block Configuration Options

Assembly Configuration Options

For complex assemblies with multiple configurations or design views, the conversion block supports configuration selection before conversion begins:

  • Configuration name: For SolidWorks and Creo files with multiple configurations — specify which configuration to load
  • Design View Representation: For Inventor files with DVRs — specify which appearance state to convert
  • Level of detail: For files with LOD representations — select which detail level to use for the 3D web output
  • Positional states: For Inventor files with positional states (e.g., "Cutter Raised" vs "Cutter Lowered") — convert all states and include state deltas in the GLB output

Output Optimization Options

  • Mesh compression: Apply Draco compression to reduce GLB file size by 60–80% — recommended for web delivery
  • Texture optimization: Resize and compress textures for web performance
  • Merge instances: Merge repeated identical components into instanced meshes — critical for performance with large assemblies containing thousands of identical fasteners
  • Bake transforms: Bake node transformations for simpler downstream processing
  • Strip metadata: Remove proprietary metadata before delivery to external parties

Add 3D to Every Workflow

From STEP file to interactive 3D web viewer in your proposal — automatically, as part of the same workflow that handles AI analysis and pricing.

Start Building → Takeoff Workflows →