System and method of converting geometric entities of 1D elements in a finite element model (FEM) from a source finite element analysis (FEA) tool format to a destination FEA tool format is disclosed. In one embodiment, coordinates of all the geometric entities associated with each 1D element in the FEM are transformed from the source FEA tool format to a global coordinate system. The geometric entities of the ID elements in the FEM are then converted from the source FEA tool format to the destination FEA tool format using the transformed coordinates of all the geometric entities associated with each 1D element.