IAM File

What are IAM files and how to open them

Are you having problems opening an IAM file or are you simply curious about its contents? We're here to explain the properties of these files and provide you with software that can open or handle your IAM files.

What is an IAM file?

An .IAM file is an Autodesk Inventor Assembly file.

Autodesk Inventor Assembly files (extension .iam) are 3D CAD documents created by Autodesk Inventor to represent mechanical assemblies: collections of individual component parts and sub-assemblies arranged together into a functioning unit. These files record how components fit and relate - how they move, align, or are constrained to each other - without duplicating the geometry of each part.

Inventor writes .iam files when putting together multiple .ipt (part) files. The assembly file holds references or links to those part files and defines the spatial relationships among them. If any referenced .ipt file is renamed or moved, the assembly can break. To transfer a complete assembly to someone else, Inventor provides a "Pack and Go" feature that bundles the .iam with all its referenced parts, or alternatively the assembly can be exported into a neutral format like STEP.

Technically the .iam is stored using a Microsoft Compound File Binary container (OLE2 structured storage), the same basic file structure used by other Inventor document types such as drawing (.idw) and presentation (.ipn) files. The header often begins with the hex signature D0 CF 11 E0 A1 B1 1A E1 at offset zero.

How to open IAM files

We have identified one IAM opener that is compatible with this specific type of IAM file.

Programs that open Autodesk Inventor Assembly files

Last updated: August 7, 2026

Various apps that use files with this extension

These apps are known to open certain types of IAM files. Remember, different programs may use IAM files for different purposes, so you may need to try out a few of them to be able to open your specific file.

Help us help others

File.org helps thousands of users every day, and we would love to hear from you if you have additional information about IAM file formats, example files, or compatible programs. Please use the links below or email us at submit@file.org to discuss further.