IPT could not be opened error; no database

[jjspoc]

Since most parts are not available in STEP format and I do only have access to Fusion360. Unfortunately the free hobbyist license does not allow for importing IPT or IAM files. Hence I use a transformation route through Siemens´ SolidEdge 2022 (free as well). It occurred to me that many IPT files are not readable in Inventor Viewer, which is essential in this transformation process. Few examples (tested today 2022-Sep-19 with a freshly cloned GIT repo):

• Inventor 2021 Viewer errors, e.g.:: [ERROR] The database in...

  • .\CAD\RAW\IPT\00_Linear_Stepper_90mm_slide.ipt could not be opened.

• or

  • .\CAD\RAW\IPT\20_Cube_Insert_Linear_Stage_NEMA11_china_cubemount.ipt could not be opened.

Interestingly are the thumbnails correctly shown by Windows Explorer. So it could be a matter of my installation/configuration. However, I have the suspicion, that this behavior shows only up for entities which are part of an (sub) assembly, so the viewer expects the rest of it without access.

The short of it, it would be great if STEP files could be made available, or, usable IPT/IAM files. STL´s, as mentioned elsewhere (see https://github.com/openUC2/UC2-GIT/issues/88#issue-1258076299 ), are not an option for editing or working. The alternative being the recreation.

Best,

Jörg