# Converting IGS CAD drawing to DXF? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 18, 2005, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/converting-igs-cad-drawing-to-dxf/326818 "2005-10-18T22:18:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2005, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/converting-igs-cad-drawing-to-dxf/326818/1 "2005-10-18T22:18:32Z")
Is there an easy way to convert an IGS CAD drawing into a DXF file? ---
**Author:** ![BoringDad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ad7895/32.png) [@BoringDad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoringDad)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2005, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/converting-igs-cad-drawing-to-dxf/326818/2 "2005-10-18T23:40:07Z")
> [@CynicalGabe](#): > > Is there an easy way to convert an IGS CAD drawing into a DXF file? What CAD package do you have available? ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2005, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/converting-igs-cad-drawing-to-dxf/326818/3 "2005-10-19T00:02:44Z")
> [@BoringDad](#): > > What CAD package do you have available? I’m using the free program that came from [eMachineshop.com](http://eMachineshop.com). It only imports DXF. ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2005, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/converting-igs-cad-drawing-to-dxf/326818/4 "2005-10-19T03:16:37Z")
I also have the file in SolidWorks format. BUMP I need to convert to DXF. anyone? ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Rhubarb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/59ef9b/32.png) [@Rhubarb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhubarb)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2005, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/converting-igs-cad-drawing-to-dxf/326818/5 "2005-10-19T03:44:16Z")
Microsoft Visio has the ability to open ,igs files and the ability to save as .dxf. It might be necessary to convert the file to an .emf (enhanced metafile) as an intermediary step. That has been my experience with some of the newer CAD files, especially AutoCad 2004. If you don’t have access to Visio, Try going back to the source of the file to see if they can re-save in .dxf format. I’m pretty sure Intergraph has that option. ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2005, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/converting-igs-cad-drawing-to-dxf/326818/6 "2005-10-19T04:39:45Z")
> [@Rhubarb](#): > > Microsoft Visio has the ability to open ,igs files and the ability to save as .dxf. It might be necessary to convert the file to an .emf (enhanced metafile) as an intermediary step. That has been my experience with some of the newer CAD files, especially AutoCad 2004. If you don’t have access to Visio, Try going back to the source of the file to see if they can re-save in .dxf format. I’m pretty sure Intergraph has that option. I’ve got visio, but it does not open IGS. _sigh_ How do I convert the IGS to an EMF? ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2005, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/converting-igs-cad-drawing-to-dxf/326818/7 "2005-10-19T04:58:32Z")
I’ve discovered that Visio 2003, which I have, does not support IGS. So now my quest becomes to find a way to convert IGS to EMF ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2005, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/converting-igs-cad-drawing-to-dxf/326818/8 "2005-10-19T16:39:26Z")
> [@CynicalGabe](#): > > I’ve discovered that Visio 2003, which I have, does not support IGS. > > So now my quest becomes to find a way to convert IGS to EMF Email it to me (assuming it ain’t more than about 5Meg and isn’t proprietary confidential information). I can convert IGS to DXF. Microstation has an IGES translator incorporated. Address is in my profile. ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2005, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/converting-igs-cad-drawing-to-dxf/326818/9 "2005-10-19T17:26:00Z")
Sent. Thanks loads! ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2005, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/converting-igs-cad-drawing-to-dxf/326818/10 "2005-10-19T21:35:32Z")
Thanks for the conversion. However, I ran into this further snag with the program: > [@Help file](#): > > Only 2D information is transferred - all layers, space, port and 3D information is ignored. You need to add 3D information after the transfer. I know a guy who has a machine shop with a CNC machine. With luck I can get that part made there without going through [eMachineshop.com](http://eMachineshop.com). I have doubts about whether the online place would even make that part for me. I was hoping to get pricing information from them. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2005, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/converting-igs-cad-drawing-to-dxf/326818/11 "2005-10-19T21:47:12Z")
Bummer. I specified a 3D file in the Microstation import of your source file. It was indeed a 3D model after that initial conversion. I also opened the DXF export in AutoCAD and verified the model’s 3D-ness. I’m gonna be away from my office working at a client site for the 4 to 5 business days. If there’s something else you can think of to try, send me an e-mail and I’ll see what I can do when I get back here. ---
**Author:** ![Rhubarb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/59ef9b/32.png) [@Rhubarb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhubarb)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/converting-igs-cad-drawing-to-dxf/326818/12 "2005-10-20T01:39:09Z")
> [@CynicalGabe](#): > > I’ve discovered that Visio 2003, which I have, does not support IGS. > > So now my quest becomes to find a way to convert IGS to EMF Sorry. I’m using Visio 2002. I know that since Microsoft acquired Visio, it’s functionality seems to decrease with each new release. :mad: Also, it wouldn’t handle 3D info in any incarnation. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/converting-igs-cad-drawing-to-dxf/326818/13 "2005-10-20T01:56:29Z")
I can’t wait for Visio 2008 Slogan: “It reads JPEGs!”