Native CAD interfaces
Direct support for the CAD formats listed here.
STEP Viewer
Open STP and STEP files
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affordable & universal many 3D/2D interfaces
Modern, easy-to-use CAD viewer
Cost-effective CAD converter for all formats
The 3D-Tool Viewer opens STEP, STP, STPZ, and STPX files without any additional CAD software.
The 3D-NativeCAD Converter converts STEP models to a wide range of formats such as JT, IGES, SAT, Parasolid X_T, STL, OBJ, PLY, 3D-PDF, 3D-HTML, FBX, 3MF, and glTF.
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Windows support
Compatible with current Windows versions.
What are STEP and STP files?
- Files with the step or stp file extension 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 parts as STEP files.
- In addition to exact geometric data and assembly structure, a STEP file can also contain triangulated visualization data, materials, colors, and other product information.
- The STEP format is continuously evolving, especially for Product Manufacturing Information (PMI), and will remain an important 3D exchange format in the future.
STEP versions
- AP203 is the original STEP format and represents the geometry, topology, and part structure of a 3D solid model, but for example does not contain color information or assembly structures.
- 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 Manufacturing Information (PMI) in addition to the 3D data. The 3D data can be stored as exact BREP geometry and/or triangulated visualization data. STEP AP242 is intended to represent the complete product lifecycle in the context of Industry 4.0 in the future.
Special STEP formats
Atomic STEP file: Typically, a STEP file contains the complete model-in the case of an assembly, the entire assembly and all parts. Some CAD programs offer the option of splitting the components of an assembly into multiple part files linked via assembly STEP files.
STPX (STEP-XML): Similar to an Atomic STEP file, these models consist of multiple files. The XML file with the stpx extension contains the assembly structure and additional metadata in text-based, human-readable XML format. The 3D geometry data, meaning the actual 3D parts, is stored in externally linked STEP files.
STPZ / STPXZ: stpz files contain one or more STEP files in compressed form, similar to a ZIP archive. The STEP format compresses well, so the files become relatively small. stpxz files are accordingly compressed projects in STEP-XML format.
How do I open STEP files?
Typically, CAD/CAM software with a STEP interface is used for this purpose. However, older interfaces do not always support, or only partially support, more modern formats such as STEP AP242 and STEP-XML.
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 a STEP file?
Without 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.
The 3D-NativeCAD Converter in 3D-Tool Premium converts all STEP file formats and many other 3D CAD formats reliably into the standard 3D exchange formats STEP, IGES, SAT, and Parasolid X_T. The 3D-Tool Viewer also converts 3D models into Mesh formats such as 3MF, STL, and PLY.
Try the STEP viewer and STEP converter for free
3D-Tool is a CAD Viewer with interfaces for common native CAD formats and 3D exchange formats. 3D-Tool offers professional measurement tools, draft analysis, and wall thickness analysis.
- Open, measure, annotate, and publish STEP files in all variants for the 3D-Tool Free Viewer or as 3D-PDF
- Open STEP files in all variants and save them as STL, 3DS, PLY, WRL, or OBJ
- Convert STEP data to JT, IGES, VDA, SAT, and X_T
- Convert STEP models into 3D product visualizations such as 3D-HTML, FBX, Collada, 3MF, and glTF
Simply download 3D-Tool, start it, and request a trial key. Test all functions, all interfaces, and the 3D-NativeCAD Converter for 14 days. Open and convert STEP, IGES, SAT, Parasolid, as well as CATIA, Siemens NX, Inventor, SolidWorks, and many other formats.
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