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How to convert IGES (.igs) to Maya (.ma,.mb)?

PolyTrans|CAD+DCC performs mathematically precise CAD, DCC/Animation, GIS and BIM 3D file conversions into all key downstream 3D packages and file formats. Okino software is used and trusted throughout the world by many tens of thousands of 3D professionals in mission & production critical environments, backed by respectable personal support directly from our core development team.

IGES

IGES was the defacto 'go-to' MCAD translation file format but has long since been overtaken by the STEP file format. IGES and STEP are equally good file formats to translate CAD and MCAD model data files but it all depends on how well the files are exported from the corresponding MCAD modeller software.

As an ANSI standard since 1980, IGES has been used in the automotive, aerospace, and shipbuilding industries. Version 5.3 (1996) is the last published and stable standard of IGES. IGES is one of the original CAD vendor-neutral 3D data translation file formats which was designed for high fidelity data exchange between all major professional 3D modelling applications. IGES uses the .igs and .iges file extensions.

Okino's PolyTrans|CAD provides for a defacto 3D IGES file conversion solution used by the world's primary & professional engineering, aerospace, military, corporate, animation/multi-media and VR/AR industries.

A much deeper overview plus explanation of IGES, and how it can be best used + understood, is outlined in this Okino WEB page. It is vitally important to understand the differences between "old school" and "new school" IGES files, as this is little understood by most 3D graphics users.

Maya

Maya is a well known and respected DCC/Animation system which had originally been developed by Alias Research in Canada then purchased by Autodesk in 2006 after Alias went bankrupt.

As is very little understood, no program on this planet can read or write Maya ".ma" (ASCII) or ".mb" (binary) files because the full geometry modifier stack of the Maya software, and its various plugin modules, are needed in order to properly evaluate the file before it can be rendered. This is what forced Okino to write its well known PolyTrans-for-Maya system, which allows for all Okino 3D converters to run within Maya itself. For example, if you want to convert to/from CINEMA 4D (.c4d files) then you would do so entirely inside of Maya.

Due to multi-decades history, Maya users are notorious for using the OBJ file format to convert files to/from other software packages just as 3ds Max users wrongly use the 1985-era .3ds file format. OBJ is an "okay" file format but there are much better or more preferred methods to convert the data.

More information about IGES

IGES import converter's overview

Maya export converter's overview