Net-Inspect AS9102 Form 3 Import Format Guide

If your customer requires FAI submission through Net-Inspect, you know the pain. You build Form 3 in Excel, then spend another hour manually re-entering every characteristic into Net-Inspect's web interface because the formats do not match.

I have talked to quality engineers who do this weekly: build the form once in their own template, then transcribe it into Net-Inspect row by row. Understanding the Net-Inspect Form 3 import format eliminates that double-entry and prevents the transcription errors that cause rejections.

Net-Inspect is the most widely used FAI platform in aerospace with over 100,000 users globally. Boeing, GE Aerospace, Collins Aerospace, Safran, Rolls-Royce, and most major OEMs and Tier 1s use it for FAI submission and review. Prabhat at GE Aerospace confirmed he uses Net-Inspect and eCAV daily for FAI management. If you are a subcontractor in the aerospace supply chain, you will eventually submit through Net-Inspect.

Net-Inspect Form 3 Import Format: How Data Gets Into the System

Method 1: Manual Entry (What Most Small Shops Do)

The quality engineer logs into Net-Inspect, opens the Form 3 template for the part, and types each characteristic one by one. For each row, they enter: characteristic number, reference location, designator, requirement description, nominal, upper tolerance, lower tolerance, and inspection method. On a 95-characteristic drawing, this takes 1 to 2 hours of pure data entry.

This is on top of the 4 to 8 hours already spent preparing the Form 3 from the drawing. The total process becomes: 4 to 8 hours building the Form 3 in Excel + 1 to 2 hours transcribing into Net-Inspect = 5 to 10 hours per FAI just on documentation before any measurement happens.

Manual entry also introduces transcription errors. A tolerance of +/-0.1 typed as +/-0.01. A datum reference of A|B|C entered as A|B. A characteristic number misaligned with the wrong row. These errors surface during customer review and require correction cycles.

Method 2: Third-Party Tool Export

DISCUS, InspectionXpert (now Ideagen Quality Control Pro), SOLIDWORKS Inspection, and other tools can export data in formats that Net-Inspect accepts. DISCUS specifically has a built-in Net-Inspect export function.

The workflow: extract and balloon the drawing in DISCUS, review the Bill of Characteristics, then export to Net-Inspect format. The export maps DISCUS fields to Net-Inspect fields. This eliminates manual re-entry but requires both tools to be properly configured.

Common issues with third-party exports: field mapping mismatches (DISCUS calls it "Tol+" while Net-Inspect expects "Upper Tolerance Limit"), GD&T symbol rendering differences (Unicode symbols vs text descriptions), and missing required fields that the third-party tool does not populate (designators, inspection methods).

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Method 3: Structured File Import

Net-Inspect accepts structured data files (CSV or Excel) with specific column headers and field formats. If your Form 3 data is in a compatible structure, it can be imported directly without manual re-entry.

This is the fastest method but requires your Form 3 template to match Net-Inspect's expected column structure exactly.

The Required Fields for Net-Inspect Form 3

Every Form 3 row imported into Net-Inspect must contain these fields:

Characteristic Number. Sequential unique identifier. Must match the balloon number on the ballooned drawing. Net-Inspect uses this to link the Form 3 row to the visual reference on the drawing.

Reference Location. Sheet and zone/view where the characteristic is found on the drawing. Net-Inspect uses this for Rev C traceability. Format varies by customer but typically "Sheet 3, Section A-A" or "Sht 3, View B." We covered reference location requirements in AS9102 Rev C requirements explained.

Characteristic Designator. Critical, Major, or Minor. Net-Inspect validates that every row has a designator. Leaving it blank causes the import to flag the row as incomplete. We covered designator assignment rules in how to assign designators in AS9102 Form 3.

Requirement. The full text description of the requirement. For dimensions: "62.0 +/-0.1 mm." For GD&T: "Perpendicularity 0.2 Datum A." For notes: the note text. Net-Inspect displays this field to the reviewer as the primary description of what is being inspected.

Nominal. The target value as a number. For a dimension of "62.0 +/-0.1," the nominal is 62.0. For a limit dimension of ".310/.315," the nominal is 0.3125.

Upper Tolerance Limit. The maximum acceptable value. For "62.0 +/-0.1," the upper limit is 62.1. For a fit class like "9.0 G6" with expanded limits, the upper limit is 9.014.

Lower Tolerance Limit. The minimum acceptable value. For "62.0 +/-0.1," the lower limit is 61.9. For "9.0 G6," the lower limit is 9.005.

Results (Actual Value). The measured value from the CMM or manual instrument. This can be left blank when importing the empty Form 3 template, then filled in later after inspection. Or it can be populated from CMM data import (Net-Inspect supports direct import from several CMM formats).

Status. Pass, Fail, or Pending. Calculated automatically by Net-Inspect when the actual value is compared against the upper and lower limits.

Optional but Recommended Fields

Inspection Method. CMM, caliper, micrometer, bore gauge, visual, etc. Not required by Net-Inspect but highly recommended because it helps the inspector plan the measurement sequence and the reviewer verify that the appropriate method was used.

Tolerance Source. The origin of the tolerance value: explicit on drawing, ISO 2768-m table, Boeing Note 8N, fit class expansion, etc. Not a standard Net-Inspect field but can be added as a note or custom field. This is critical for reviewer confidence. We covered tolerance sourcing in AS9102 Form 3 tolerance source for untoleranced dimensions.

Unit of Measure. mm or inches. Should be consistent across all rows and match the drawing unit. Net-Inspect flags inconsistencies.

Common Import Problems and Fixes

Problem 1: Column Header Mismatch

Your Excel template has different column headers than Net-Inspect expects. "Tol+" vs "Upper Tolerance Limit." "Char #" vs "Characteristic Number." "Ref Loc" vs "Reference Location."

Fix: create your Excel template with the exact column headers that Net-Inspect expects. If you are unsure of the exact headers, export an empty Form 3 from Net-Inspect and use that as your template structure.

Problem 2: GD&T Symbol Rendering

Your Excel uses Unicode GD&T symbols (⏥ for perpendicularity, ⌖ for position). Net-Inspect may render these differently or expect text descriptions ("Perpendicularity," "Position").

Fix: use text descriptions in the Requirement field for maximum compatibility. "Perpendicularity 0.2 Datum A" instead of "⏥ 0.2 A." Save the symbols for the ballooned drawing, not the Form 3 data.

Problem 3: Unit Inconsistency

Some tolerance values were entered in mm (from the ISO 2768mk lookup table) while dimensions are in inches (from a mixed-unit drawing). Or the nominal is in one unit but the tolerance is in another.

Fix: convert everything to one unit system before import. The Form 3 header should declare the unit. Every row should be consistent.

Problem 4: Missing Required Fields

Net-Inspect requires a designator for every row. If your Excel leaves the designator blank on 15 rows, those 15 rows will be flagged or rejected during import.

Fix: assign designators to every row before export. Default to Minor for general dimensions, Major for GD&T and tight tolerances. Adjust Critical based on drawing markings or customer requirements.

Problem 5: Fit Classes Not Expanded

Your Form 3 shows "9.0 G6" in the Requirement field but the Upper Limit and Lower Limit fields are blank. Net-Inspect cannot calculate pass/fail without numerical limits.

Fix: expand every fit class to actual limits before import. "9.0 G6" becomes Upper Limit 9.014, Lower Limit 9.005. Show both the original callout ("9.0 G6") in the

Requirement field and the expanded limits in the tolerance fields. We covered fit class expansion in ISO fit class G6 tolerance limits.

Optimizing Your Net-Inspect Workflow

Create a reusable template. Build an Excel template with Net-Inspect's exact column structure. Use this as your starting point for every Form 3. This eliminates the column mapping step.

Build the Form 3 once, use it everywhere. If you prepare your Form 3 in a Net-Inspect compatible format from the start, you never need to re-enter or re-map data. The same file that you use for internal review exports directly to Net-Inspect.

Use CMM data import for actual values. Net-Inspect supports import from Zeiss, Mitutoyo, and other CMM output formats. Once your Form 3 template is in Net-Inspect with the "Drawing Says" side populated, the CMM data can flow directly into the "Actual Value" column without manual transcription.

Mavlon Outputs Net-Inspect Compatible Form 3

Mavlon's Form 3 output includes every field Net-Inspect requires: characteristic numbers matching balloon sequence, reference locations with sheet and view, designators based on characteristic type, full requirement descriptions with tolerances expanded, nominals, upper and lower limits, and inspection method recommendations.

GD&T is described in text format for maximum compatibility. All fit classes are expanded to actual limits. The output is structured for direct import without re-entry or field re-mapping.

Bring Your Drawing to a Demo to get a Net-Inspect ready Form 3.