How to convert CATPart
to IFC?

CATPart is a native format developed by Dassault Systems for storing parts of the assemblies created in CATIA V5 software suite, which is extensively used in mechanical engineering including aerospace, automotive, shipbuilding and other domains.

CATPart stores geometry, structure and metadata of 3D models dedicated to single parts. Multiple CATPART files can be combined into a CATProduct assembly file.

Among CAD applications that support CATPart extension are Autodesk Inventor, Fusion 360, and 3ds Max.

IFC or Industrial Foundation Classes is a 3D file format, used in the Architecture Engineering Construction (AEC) segment. It’s supported in the major software packages like Revit and AutoCAD by Autodesk, Tekla Structures by Tekla or SmartPlant3D by Intergraph.

The main value of the IFC is accordance to the Building Information Modeling requirements. BIM is a concept of design, construction and exploitation of the buildings prescribing creation of the large volume of the digital data around architectural objects.

This data may include not only 3D geometry, but tons of information pieces like authors, milestones and deadlines, supplier information and so on. Prior to beginning of the construction, the data base is created. It will include all the information, related to the building. Once the process kicks off the project team members will populate the data base with all the aspects of the future building.