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STEP Viewer
open STP and STEP files

CATIA Siemens-NX CREO SolidWorks Solid Edge Inventor Rhino JT STEP X_T DWG-DXF IGES-SAT-VDA 3MF-STL PLY-3DS-WRL-OBJ

What are STEP and STP Files?

  • Files with the file extension step or stp contain 3D models in STEP format. The "Standard for the Exchange of Product model data" is one of the most important data exchange formats for 3D designs between applications and companies.
  • All major CAD programs can save and open assemblies and components as STEP files.
  • In addition to exact geometric data and the assembly structure, a STEP file can also contain triangulated visualization data, materials, colors and other product information.
  • The STEP format is being continuously developed, especially with regard to Product and Manufacturing Iformation (PMI), and will remain an important 3D exchange format in the future.

STEP file and STP file viewer

STEP-Versionen

  • AP203 is the original STEP format and maps the geometry, topology and part structure of a 3D solid model, but does not contain any color information or assembly structures, for example.
  • AP214 extends the AP203 standard and is known as the "Core Data Model for Automotive Mechanical Design Processes". It adds important information such as colors and assembly information.
  • AP242 is an extension of the AP214 standard and contains product and manufacturing information (PMI) in addition to the 3D data. The 3D data can be available as exact BREP geometries and/or triangulated visualization data.

Special STEP Formats

A STEP file usually contains the complete model, i.e. in the case of an assembly, the complete assembly and all parts. Some CAD programs offer the option of splitting the components of an assembly into several part STEP files linked via assembly STEP files. In SolidWorks, this is called an "Atomic STEP file".

Files with the extension stpz contain one or more STEP files in compressed form, similar to a ZIP archive. The STEP format can be compressed very well, so that stpz files are relatively small. For CAD/CAM software that cannot read stpz files directly, the stpz archive can be unpacked using a ZIP program. The unzipped files then only need to be given the file extension stp to open them.

How Do I Open STEP Files?

Typically, CAD/CAM software with a STEP interface is used for this purpose.

There are a few free STEP readers and even online STEP file viewers for viewing a 3D design in STEP format. However, these are limited to pure viewing.

The 3D-Tool CAD viewer is a STEP reader and opens all STEP file formats and variants listed above. Professional measuring tools and analyses utilize the full potential of STEP data.

How Can I Convert STEP Files?

If you do not have CAD/CAM software with a STEP interface, the model must be exported from the original CAD system to another 3D exchange format or 3D visualization format (e.g. for 3D printing or design software such as Blender).

Conversion from STEP to IGES, SAT, OBJ, STL, etc. is also possible with a 3D converter resp. CAD converter.

3D-Tool Premium includes the 3D‑NativeCAD Converter, which converts many 3D CAD formats into common 3D exchange formats. The 3D-Tool Viewer converts 3D models in a number of MESH formats such as STL and PLY.

Test the STEP Viewer and STEP Converter

3D-Tool is a CAD viewer with interfaces for common native CAD formats and 3D exchange formats. 3D-Tool offers professional measuring functions, demolding analysis and wall thickness analysis.

  • Open and publish STEP files in all variants for the 3D-Tool Free Viewer or as a 3D PDF
  • Open STEP files in all variants and save as STL, 3DS, PLY, WRL, OBJ, or PLY
  • Convert exact STEP data to CATIA V5, IGES, VDA, SAT and X_T

Simply download the 3D-Tool, start it and request a trial key. Test for 14 days with all functions, all interfaces and the 3D-Native CAD-Converter. Open and convert STEP, IGES, SAT, Parasolid and also CATIA, Siemens NX, Inventor, SolidWorks and other formats.

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