STEP
Technology & Computing abbreviation · File Format
| Stands for | Standard for the Exchange of Product model data |
|---|---|
| Categories | Technology & Computing |
STEP stands for Standard for the Exchange of Product model data, a file format abbreviation.
ISO 10303 family of standards and the file format (.step or .stp) used to exchange precise 3D solid models between CAD systems such as SolidWorks, CATIA, Creo and Fusion. Manufacturers request STEP files for machining and quoting.
Example: Please send the part as a STEP file, not an STL, so we can machine it accurately.
Usage notes
The first parts of ISO 10303 were published in 1994. STEP stores exact surfaces and solids (boundary representation), unlike STL's triangle approximations, so features such as holes remain true circles. Application protocols such as AP203, AP214 and AP242 define what data a file contains, including colors and manufacturing information.