| Name | STEP | STL |
| Full name | Standard for the Exchange of Product model data | Stereolithography File Format |
| File extension | .step | .stl |
| MIME type | ||
| Developed by | ISO | 3D Systems |
| Type of format | ||
| Description | STEP is a neutral file format that allows the transfer of files between different CAD software. The development of STEP started in 1984 as a successor of IGES, SET, and VDA-FS. STEP format (Standard for the Exchange of Product Data) is an ISO standard exchange format. It is used for representing three-dimensional data in a format that multiple programs can recognize. ISO standard number: 10303. | STL is a file format native to the stereolithography CAD software created by 3D Systems. Many other software packages support this file format. It is widely used for rapid prototyping, 3D printing, and computer-aided manufacturing. STL files describe only the surface geometry of a three-dimensional object without representing color, texture, or other common CAD model attributes. The STL format specifies both ASCII and binary representations. Binary files are more common since they are more compact. |
| Technical details | STEP formats can be used to exchange data between CAD, Computer-aided manufacturing, Computer-aided engineering, Product Data Management/EDM, and other CAx systems (Computer-aided technologies). STEP is the same as STE and STP. The disadvantage is that a STEP file is not editable, and the design tree of the model is not available either. | An STL file describes a raw, unstructured triangulated surface by the unit normal and vertices (ordered by the right-hand rule) of the triangles using a three-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system. All STL coordinates were required to be positive numbers in the original specification, but this restriction is no longer enforced, and negative coordinates are commonly encountered in STL files today. As a result, STL files contain no scale information, and the units are arbitrary. |
| File conversion | STEP conversion | STL conversion |
| Associated programs | Dassault Systemes SolidWorks, AutoCAD, SolidWorks eDrawings Viewer, Unigraphics, Autodesk Inventor Fusion, IronCAD, IMSI TurboCAD, Autodesk Inventor Fusion, Rhinoceros, CATIA, Siemens Solid Edge, STEP Tools STEP File Browser, Kubotek USA KeyCreator, Free CAD. | TurboCAD, GOM Inspect, STL Viewer, Geomagic Explorer, Parametric Technology Creo, Dassault Systemes CATIA, KeyCreator, MeshLab, SolidWorks, Pro/Engineer, CloudCompare, Blender, AutoCAD, 3D Studio Max, Autodesk Inventor, Mechanical Desktop |
| Wiki | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_10303 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/STL_(file_format) |
How To View Step Files
Step File Viewer With Measurement
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