Iterate File Directory and Copy CAD Lines to Geodatabase in Model Builder

Question

I've tried every way I could find to iterate through a file directory, extract CAD files, and then copy the CAD lines to a geodatabase. I want to avoid having to append each dataset individually to a matching db layer. I tried using a number of tools and combinations of tools and settings, creating new feature classes vs using existing ones. I am using Arc 10.6, and Autodesk 2018.

Nothing works. All I get are errors and empty outputs. I'd like to do this in model builder but wondering if it is even possible? None of these tools seem to do what they say they do. Just a few of the many things I've tried are shown below. Can anyone point me to a workflow that actually works?

Feature Class to Feature Class

CAD to Geodatabase

Copy Features

Copy

Collect Values

Create Feature Layer

AdrianWelsh · Answer

Adam, I am not really sure. That is a good question about whether or not those CAD formats are only supported in ArcGIS Pro‌ versus ArcMap. Is there a way to use a 'lesser' version of the CAD data (like save it down to 2013 version or whatever) and try the model iterations that way? Other than that, I would not know.

There doesn't seem to be a lot of documentation on wildcards for modelbuilder. I found this article but does not have much detail:

Examples of using iterators in ModelBuilder—Tools | ArcGIS Desktop

AdamDaily · Answer

These supported formats are for Pro, would it matter that I'm using desktop/catalog and not Pro? I've noticed a number of other arc toolbox tools that I use regularly in model builder that suddenly don't work well when exported to python.

AdrianWelsh · Answer

These are the supported CAD formats, according to Esri:

Supported CAD formats in ArcGIS—ArcGIS Pro | ArcGIS Desktop

So, it looks like you should be ok. If you were to use a 'lower' version of a dwg CAD file, would it make a difference in your model?