What is the OBJ file format?

Wavefront (.obj)

It was first developed by Wavefront for its Advanced Visualizer animation software. The OBJ file format has been adapted by scores of other 3D graphics software just as, Solidworks, CATIA, REVIT, etc. It’s in an open-source data format that only represents 3D geometry. It’s a popular CAD file format for 3D printing because of its ability to store information about multicolor printing within a single object.

The OBJ file format is a simple data file format that represents 3D geometry and shapes alone. Namely, the position of each vertex, the UV position of each texture coordinate vertex, vertex normals, and the faces. The faces that make each polygon are defined as a list of vertices, and texture vertices.

Solidworks (.sldprt, .sldasm)

In this article, we are going to export the .obj file from Solidworks so that this file can be used in other graphics software. Solidworks is CAD software that is used majorly for designing manufacturing parts and components. Creating assemblies of the parts, making renders, motions study, simulation, and drafting is the key role of Basic Solidworks users. It also has various modules which are used by other engineering fields such as Electrical, etc.

Solidworks software has more than 20 file format options to save the file. Solidworks optimizes the model and makes a compatible file that can be opened in other software.

Converting .obj file using Solidworks

When you import a mesh or cloud point file into a Solidworks document using ScanTo3D. You can export the document as another file type that contains the mesh or cloud point data. Then in Menu > file > Save as…

Browse the location where you want to save the file. Give the file name and select File format from the dropdown as ScanTo3D (.obj), Then click on Save. Your file will be now saved as an OBJ file.

 

If you want to save the model which doesn’t have mesh or cloud points. Then we have to use of two software Solidworks and blender for file conversion.

First, open the geometry or assembly in Solidworks. Then in Menu > file > Save as…

Browse the location where you want to save the file. Give the file name and select File format from the dropdown as STL (.stl), Then click on Save. Your file will be now saved as an STL file. In the case of assembly, it will show the number of files that are going to save. Click on OK if that popup comes.

• Now open Blender, Go to File > Import > Stl (.stl) file. Keep in mind to delete the default cube in a blender.

• Browse the file, Select it and Click on Import Stl File.

• Now go to File > Export > Wavefront (.obj)

• Browse the location where you want to save the file, Give your name and Click on Export OBJ.

The file will be saved in the selected location in OBJ file format. Now you can open this in any software which supports Obj file format.