Converting Objects from Inventor

Does anyone know of a way to convert Autodesk Inventor parts and assemblies into SL. Or for that matter even AutoCAD 3D models. I haven't come across any converting program other than something like Alias or Maya. I've downloaded the free personal learning additions of both. But Autodesk was sneekie and made both of the incapable of doing the import, unlike the full versions that cost $5K. I've een tried making surface models in the free Alias and Maya programs, but there again they set it up so that they save in a file format diffrent then the full version of the software. Which of course can't be brought into SL PLease let me know if anyone knows of a good convertion program that's reliable to do this (also perferably a free download).

Thanks

Short answer, no.

While SL is closer to CAD software than traditional mesh-based 3D modelers in that it uses parametric objects, it doesn't have boolean operations, path extrusion features etc. that make up CAD geometry.

Long answer:
AFAIK there is an importer for .obj (I think) models that recreates the mesh by using one triangle for every face, but IMO that's only good for very specialized purposes. There's also a plug-in for blender which basically recreates SL's build tools in blender, and then of course, there are sculpted prims, which are simple polygon meshes (by default sphere-like closed, but other types are possible) that are uploaded into SL as a 24-bit texture. They are merely a visual effect though, physics treat them as regular sphere prims. These can be made with a variety of 3D modelers. Look in the wiki if you're interested, there's a ton of info on the subject there.
You might be able to import some simple parts as sculpties, but as I said, they're merely for good looks.

On the other hand, if you're used to the parametric construction of CAD software, learning to build with SL's tools should be rather easy, whereas people with a background in "normal" 3D graphics who are used to working with polygon meshes or NURBS often have problems.

After a while I often found myself wishing SolidWorks (the CAD software our university uses) had some features of SL's build tools

Thanks for the info. I've tried the in world building tools, and they are quite similar to those in Inventor or Solid Works, but I keep running into one major problem. I need more prims then I'm allowed on 512 plot of land to finish what I want to do (build my own house). I understand how to link multiple prims together so they move as one unit, but is there anyway to make them count as only one prim once they are linked? Up until now I run into the problem where I hit the max # of prims allowed and I'm still not done. If there is some way to make these linked prims (say five of them linked) to only count as one on the land's prim counter, please let me know. That was one of the major resons I was hoping I could bring objects in from Inventor. That way I could model more involved objects in Inventor and hopfully pull them into SL as a single prim.

Thanks again

"I need more prims then I'm allowed on 512 plot of land to finish what I want to do"

Yea I know that feeling...

Unfornatly I'm fairly sure that unless you buy a larger plot (our buy and join a neigbouring plot to yours) theres no way round the prim limit.

Nope, no way around the prim limit, and that's good.
If there was, SL would quickly become unusable for everyone without a high-end computer and fast internet connection.
See it as a challenge, learn to build effectively. A good way to start are in-world classes and tutorials, one that's very good is the "Ivory Tower of Primitives" (just search for it under "places", it covers the basics very well and also shows some advanced techniques.

If you find that the land you own still isn't enough, as Orcus said, the only way to get more prims is to buy additional land. Note that it *must* be on the same sim for the prim limit to be increased... it doesn't have to be adjacent to your other land however.