The Complete CATIA to Rhino 3DM Conversion Guide.

August 01, 2025

General Information

This guide is part of the RapidPipeline 3D Formats Knowledge Database. It shows how to convert CATIA to Rhino 3DM, if you'd like to know more about the formats, please check out the following links:

Converting and Optimizing CATIA Files to Rhino 3DM

There are various ways to convert between CATIA and Rhino 3DM. With RapidPipeline, you can easily convert and and optimize CATIA files, at scale. It supports Rhino 3DM, as well as many other file formats (examples: FBX, glTF, OBJ, PLY, STL, USD, USDZ, VRM), at high quality.

Below you can find a video explaining how to convert your files:

What are CATIA and Rhino 3DM files commonly used for?

The CATIA file is a format mostly used for Advanced 3D design, engineering and manufacturing applications.
The Rhino 3DM file is a format mostly used for NURBS-based 3D modeling and design.

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Comparison of Features Supported by CATIA and Rhino 3DM

FeatureSupported by CATIASupported by Rhino 3DM
Morph TargetsPartial0No
Rigid AnimationsYesNo
Skinned AnimationsPartial1No
AnimationsYesNo
Free-Form SurfacesYesYes
Geometry CompressionPartial2No
Quad MeshesYesYes
Basic 3D GeometryYesYes
PBR MaterialsYesYes
Transparent MaterialsYesYes
Vertex ColorsYesYes
MaterialsYesYes
Scene CompositionYesYes
Hierarchical Scene GraphYesYes
Scene NodesYesYes
Standardized FormatPartial3Partial4
Embedded TexturesYesPartial5
Multiple UV ChannelsYesYes
Normal MappingYesYes
Procedural TexturesPartial6Partial7
Texture CompressionPartial8No
Texture TransformsYesYes
TexturingYesYes

0 - Basic morphing capabilities available through parametric modeling and feature-based design changes.
1 - Limited support for skinned animations, mainly through assembly motion simulation rather than character animation.
2 - CATIA supports various compression techniques for geometry data, particularly in the 3DXML format, though not as extensively as dedicated compression formats.
3 - While CATIA files are proprietary, the software supports many industry standards and has openly published the 3DXML format specification.
4 - Proprietary format with open specification (openNURBS)
5 - Textures can be embedded in the 3DM file
6 - CATIA supports procedural materials and textures through its advanced material system, though primarily focused on engineering applications.
7 - Basic procedural material support
8 - Basic texture compression is supported, mainly for visualization and lightweight formats like 3DXML.

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Limitations of CATIA Files to Rhino 3DM Conversion Workflow

The following limitations should be taken into account when converting CATIA files to Rhino 3DM format:

CATIA Feature (not supported by Rhino 3DM)Limitation Details
Geometry Compression

Geometry Compression Support:

CATIA: Partial support | Rhino 3DM: No support

Geometry Compression illustratedlack of support for Geometry Compression illustrated

CATIA Notes:

CATIA supports various compression techniques for geometry data, particularly in the 3DXML format, though not as extensively as dedicated compression formats.

Impact:

Geometry compression describes the process of compressing the representations of a 3D model's geometry, usually a triangle mesh. 3D geometry compression does not change the topology of a 3D model, but just changes the way that a 3D model and its 3D positions and related vertex data is stored. Geometry compression can be lossy (just like JPEG compression in image processing can be lossy, for example), in which case one might notice slight artifacts like variations in 3D vertex positions (compared to the uncompressed 3D model). However, such differences are often not noticeable. There are only very few standards for geometry compression, like glTF's support of Draco compression and similar extensions.

Texture Compression

Texture Compression Support:

CATIA: Partial support | Rhino 3DM: No support

Texture Compression illustratedlack of support for Texture Compression illustrated

CATIA Notes:

Basic texture compression is supported, mainly for visualization and lightweight formats like 3DXML.

Impact:

Texture compression refers to a process of compressing 2D texture images for memory-efficient rendering (and sometimes for efficient transmission). The decompression of compressed texture data is therefore performed on-the-fly during rendering, so that it never has to be stored in unpacked form, but can be kept as-is in GPU memory. Formats supporting texture compression methods, such as the ones offered by glTF through KTX2 containers, therefore allow 3D models to use a smaller memory footprint on the client device during rendering. This can speed up rendering time, and also make it possible to store and use larger amounts of texture data than it would otherwise be possible.

Embedded Textures

Embedded Textures Support:

CATIA: Full support | Rhino 3DM: Partial support

Embedded Textures illustratedlack of support for Embedded Textures illustrated

Rhino 3DM Notes:

Textures can be embedded in the 3DM file

Impact:

Embedded textures allow the storage and exchange of an entire 3D model and its materials within a single file, by embedding the texture images directly into the 3D file (and not storing them as separate image files). Without support for this feature, textures have to be stored in separate image files, and referenced from the main 3D model file.

Animations

Animations Support:

CATIA: Full support | Rhino 3DM: No support

Animations illustratedlack of support for Animations illustrated

Impact:

Animations are an important part of many interactive 3D assets, for example in real-time rendering (including games, XR training, assembly instructions, product demos, and other use cases). There are various kinds of animations that can be used on 3D models. In this example model, a rigid animation is used to make the gears spin. Without support for this feature, in this example, the gears won't move.

Skinned Animations

Skinned Animations Support:

CATIA: Partial support | Rhino 3DM: No support

Skinned Animations illustratedlack of support for Skinned Animations illustrated

CATIA Notes:

Limited support for skinned animations, mainly through assembly motion simulation rather than character animation.

Impact:

Skinned animations are commonly used for 3D character models in interactive applications, such as games or virtual worlds. They make it possible to easily animate the 3D model using a helper structure based on virtual bones, composing a virtual skeleton for animation control. In this example, a skinned animation is used to pose a 3D character. Without support for skinned animations, the 3D model will remain in its default pose, such as the default T-pose.

Morph Targets

Morph Targets Support:

CATIA: Partial support | Rhino 3DM: No support

Morph Targets illustratedlack of support for Morph Targets illustrated

CATIA Notes:

Basic morphing capabilities available through parametric modeling and feature-based design changes.

Impact:

Morph Targets, or "Blend Shapes", are commonly used to animate facial expressions and soft surfaces, for example cloth under a cloth simulation. They model various states of the animations with different vertex positions. In contrast to skinned animations, morph targets do not use any virtual bones, but work solely on the vertex data. In this example, a facial animation is achieved through morph targets. Without suport for this feature, in this example, the face will not show the animation.

Rigid Animations

Rigid Animations Support:

CATIA: Full support | Rhino 3DM: No support

Rigid Animations illustratedlack of support for Rigid Animations illustrated

Impact:

Rigid Animations are typically used to animate mechanical parts. In this example, the door of this 3D model of a microwave can be interactively opened or closed, using a rigid animation that gradually changes the 3D transformation of the door. Without support for this feature, in this example, the door will just stay in place and won't move.

What's the best way to get CATIA files into my 3D applications, and are there alternatives to using Rhino 3DM?

Doing 3D conversion right, especially at scale, can be tricky, as 3D data is in general a rather complex (yet very powerful!) medium. This also applies to CATIA and Rhino 3DM files - the conversion guide above provides a rough first idea about that. Once you know what you would like to do, tools like RapidPipeline can help you perform the necessary steps, and to even automate the process for thousands or even millions of files.

Especially when introducing pipelines and workflows at scale in an enterprise context, it is usually good to rely on dedicated tools and expertise, making sure you do not introduce any steps into your 3D workflow that are detrimental to the final output's quality, or that take your team too much time (and money).

If you're interested to hire dedicated expertise from the best in the field to help your company reach your goals fast and reliably, please do not hestitate to contact DGG. Being the creators of RapidPipeline, and ambassadors for open 3D standards for more than a decade, we have been building some of the world's most advanced 3D pipelines, having processed many millions of 3D assets.

Therefore, our expertise will help you to reach your goals faster, at scale, and with the least possible friction, since we are focused on maximum interoperability.

To get started with 3D data conversion and optimization today, sign up for a free account!

If you have any questions, feel free to chat with our human team.

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3D Knowledge Team

3D Technical Artists

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