CAD Translation Pipeline

Process various CAD📐CADSoftware for creating technical drawings and 3D models.View in glossary formats (Inventor, Fusion, STEP🔧STEPISO standard for 3D CAD data exchange.View in glossary, IGES📜IGESLegacy neutral CAD exchange format.View in glossary) for web viewing.

Workflow Overview

CLI Approach

Step 1: Create CAD Bucket

raps bucket create --key cad-library --policy persistent --region US

Step 2: Upload CAD Files

# Inventor assembly
raps object upload cad-library assembly.iam

# Inventor part
raps object upload cad-library part.ipt

# STEP file
raps object upload cad-library model.stp

# IGES file
raps object upload cad-library legacy.igs

Step 3: Translate to SVF2

# Get URN and translate
URN=$(raps object urn cad-library assembly.iam --output plain)
raps translate start "$URN" --format svf2 --wait

Step 4: Verify Translation

# Check manifest
raps translate manifest "$URN"

# Get available views
raps derivative views "$URN" --output json

Supported Formats

CI/CD Pipeline

# .github/workflows/cad-translation.yml
name: CAD Translation Pipeline

on:
  push:
    paths:
      - 'cad/**/*.iam'
      - 'cad/**/*.ipt'
      - 'cad/**/*.stp'
      - 'cad/**/*.igs'

env:
  BUCKET: cad-library-${{ github.repository_id }}

jobs:
  translate-cad:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v4

      - name: Install RAPS
        run: cargo install raps

      - name: Setup bucket
        env:
          APS_CLIENT_ID: ${{ secrets.APS_CLIENT_ID }}
          APS_CLIENT_SECRET: ${{ secrets.APS_CLIENT_SECRET }}
        run: |
          raps bucket create --key "$BUCKET" --policy persistent --region US 2>/dev/null || true

      - name: Upload and translate
        env:
          APS_CLIENT_ID: ${{ secrets.APS_CLIENT_ID }}
          APS_CLIENT_SECRET: ${{ secrets.APS_CLIENT_SECRET }}
        run: |
          for file in $(git diff --name-only HEAD~1 HEAD -- 'cad/**'); do
            [ -f "$file" ] || continue

            echo "Processing: $file"
            raps object upload "$BUCKET" "$file"

            key=$(basename "$file")
            URN=$(raps object urn "$BUCKET" "$key" --output plain)
            raps translate start "$URN" --format svf2 --wait

            echo "Translated: $key"
          done

      - name: Generate translation report
        env:
          APS_CLIENT_ID: ${{ secrets.APS_CLIENT_ID }}
          APS_CLIENT_SECRET: ${{ secrets.APS_CLIENT_SECRET }}
        run: |
          echo "# CAD Translation Report" > report.md
          echo "Date: $(date)" >> report.md
          echo "" >> report.md

          raps object list "$BUCKET" --output json | jq -r '.[].key' | while read key; do
            URN=$(raps object urn "$BUCKET" "$key" --output plain)
            STATUS=$(raps translate manifest "$URN" 2>/dev/null | jq -r '.status // "pending"')
            echo "- $key: $STATUS" >> report.md
          done

      - name: Upload report
        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
        with:
          name: translation-report
          path: report.md

Pipeline Flow

MCP Integration

Translate Single File

User: "Upload and translate the new assembly.iam file for web viewing"

AI Response:

assembly.iam has been uploaded and translated successfully.

• File size: 45 MB
• Components: 234 parts
• Translation time: 2m 34s
• Viewer URL: https://viewer.autodesk.com/…

Translate Multiple Formats

User: "I have STEP and IGES files from a supplier. Translate them all for review."

AI Response:

Translating 5 files from supplier folder:

File	Format	Status	Time
bracket.stp	STEP	Complete	45s
housing.stp	STEP	Complete	1m 12s
shaft.igs	IGES	Complete	32s
gear.igs	IGES	Complete	28s
mount.stp	STEP	Complete	55s

All files ready for viewing.

Format-Specific Options

STEP Translation

# Standard STEP translation
raps translate start "$URN" --format svf2 --wait

# With specific output views
raps translate start "$URN" --format svf2 --views "3d"

Inventor Assembly with References

# Upload assembly with all referenced parts
raps object upload cad-library assembly.iam
raps object upload cad-library part1.ipt
raps object upload cad-library part2.ipt

# Translate assembly (references resolved automatically)
URN=$(raps object urn cad-library assembly.iam --output plain)
raps translate start "$URN" --format svf2 --wait

ZIP Package with Root File

# Create zip with assembly and parts
zip -r model-package.zip assembly.iam *.ipt

# Upload package
raps object upload cad-library model-package.zip

# Translate with root file specified
URN=$(raps object urn cad-library model-package.zip --output plain)
raps translate start "$URN" --format svf2 --root "assembly.iam" --wait

Related

• Multi-Format Batch Processing
• Bill of Materials Extraction
• Cookbook: Manufacturing