

This level of precision can not be achieved using the polygon and triangle representations utilized by visualization-oriented OBJ, FBX, glTF and USDZ. The NURBs curve specification is capable of storing data with exact precision. The STEP 3D file format stores its data using a mathematical representation of curves referred to as NURBS. Mathematically Perfect Surface Definition Therefore, if your goal to achieve wide interoperability with a large variety of CAD systems, this is by far the best format to use. In addition, no CAD tool that we know of has significant usage that does not support the STEP file format.

No other CAD format has such wide adoption among professional CAD tools as STEP. It was standardized by ISO committee in 1994 under the official name “ISO 10303-21.” Being a standard makes it easier for the various CAD software tools to implement support for it. Common CAD software tools that support STEP files include AutoCAD, Fusion, SolidWorks, OnShape, PTC Creo, CATIA and ArchiCAD.Ī major reason for its popularity as a data exchange format is that it is an official international standard (STEP stands for Standard for the Exchange of Product Data). It is primarily used to transfer real-world mechanical and architecture designs between different CAD software tools. stp) is a data exchange format applied in the computer aided design (CAD) industry. In this article, we'll discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the STEP file format so you can decide if it's right for the task at hand.īen Houston's Ultimate Guide to 3D File Formats Should you use the STEP/STP 3D file format? As is the case with all 3D file formats, it depends on what you're trying to do.
