What Are Most Common Drawing File Types?

CAD (reckoner-aided pattern) files are digital files that house 3D & 2D designs likewise as information regarding materials, processes, tolerances, and other data.

From design to production, everything begins with the CAD file.

However, think of the various stakeholders that eventually handle the file:

• Different companies
• Internal departments
• Employees
• Suppliers
• Sub-contractors
• Customers

All utilize different CAD software, making interchange difficult for all– especially when geometric information and 3D annotations such as PMI (production manufacturing information) must maintain integrity.

Native CAD file formats from PTC Creo, Siemens NX, CATIA, SolidWorks, Autodesk Inventor, and others are proprietary and need to be translated & validated for downstream processing.

Due northeutral CAD file formats, however, are interoperable betwixt different CAD software. Today we await at the all-time 8 neutral CAD file formats, especially pertaining to mechanical CAD conversion.

Capvidia is a business firm believer in CAD formats that are standards (e.g. ISO, ANSI, etc. that ensure quality and consistency) and that are model-based definition (MBD) ready.

MBD CAD files include both the geometry and product manufacturing & quality requirements, which are ordinarily done on 2D drawings.

By combining second drawing data into the 3D CAD model, it becomes the administrative source for a product'due south lifecycle. This enables automation, data insights, and connectivity from pattern to manufacturing from a unmarried source of truth that is both human and machine readable.

Information technology's CAD in the historic period of IoT connectivity and smart data.

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Have Questions Most Neutral CAD Files?

Capvidia is a leader in CAD translation & validation, especially pertaining to digital transformation and the MBD journey. Have questions? Talk to our team today.

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Table of Contents:

MBD CAD Files:

1. STEP
2. QIF
3. JT

Not-MBD CAD Files:

4. 3D PDF
5. IGES
6. STL
7. ACIS
8. PARASOLID

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1. Step (File Extension: *.STEP, *.STP)

• Year Introduced: 1994, Last Update: 2022.
• Standard: ISO 10303-242:2020
• Representation: B-rep (precise) & Vis-rep (approximation)
• Arrangement: International Organization for Standardization and PDES Inc.

Pace files are the nigh widely used & accepted neutral CAD format today, therefore, making it a standard across multiple industries.

Most CAD software supports importing & exporting Stride files, allowing information technology to be interoperable between unlike systems including CAM (computer-aided manufacturing), CAI (computer-aided inspection), and CAE (computer-aided engineering).

In regards to mechanical CAD in that location are 3 major STEP file formats:

1. STEP AP203: Defines geometry, topology, and configuration management data of solid models for mechanical parts & assemblies.
2. Stride AP214: Includes STEP AP203 features along with colors, layers, GD&T, and design intent.
3. STEP AP242: Merges both Pace 203 & STEP 214 to introduce model-based definition (MBD) workflows.

However, both Step AP203 and Stride AP214 have deprecated in favor of STEP AP242.

PROS:

• Mature and ubiquitous file format.
• MBD-gear up if using AP242.

CONS:

• Big organisation means slow to release new updates apace.

two. QIF (File Extension: *.QIF)

• Year Introduced: 2022, Terminal Updated: 2022
• Standard: ISO 23952:2020
• Representation: B-rep (precise) & Vis-rep (approximation)
• Organization: DMSC (Digital Metrology Standards Consortium)

QIF (Quality Data Framework) files are made for the  digital manufacturing in the 21st century. Information technology optimizes for semantic PMI which allows for human & machine-readable CAD leading to two main things: interoperability & traceability downstream.

Although the newest format on this list, its gained the more attending as more than OEMs need a robust file format to exchange information downstream from blueprint to manufacturing to quality.

PROS:

• Well-nigh robust neutral MBD CAD file.
• XML-based framework: easy integration & interoperability with other systems, web/internet applications, and other formal standards.
• Highly valued in Metrology and Quality departments.

CONS:

• Although gaining credibility in MBD, still early and has not gained widespread adoption. Learn more virtually QIF.

3. JT (File Extension: *.JT)

• Year Introduced: 2007, Concluding Updated: 2022
• Standard: ISO 14306:2017
• Representation: B-rep (precise) & Vis-rep (approximation)
• Organization: Siemens PLM Software

JT (Jupiter Tessellation) files are the nigh confusing of the neutral CAD format grouping. Although known for vis-rep, it can also accept total B-rep and PMI, therefore making it MBD-ready.

Information technology's internal B-rep representation is flexible, including back up for ISO 10303 (Step) and Parasolid. If a JT exported from NX contains B-rep information, it will be in the Parasolid format.

Although JT is technically an open format,  many vendors use Siemen'due south JT Open Toolkit. This toolkit is particularly important if dealing with Parasolid data, which makes employ of blends with proprietary recipes. Considering of this, information technology isn't quite widely accepted equally STEP or QIF.

PROS:

• Common interoperability format for Siemens users.
• JT is primarily used in automotive manufacture.
• Lightweight format.

CONS:

• Less common exterior of Siemens software environments.

4. 3D PDF (File Extension: *.PDF)

• Yr Introduced: 2004, Last Updated: 2022 (for CAD)
• Standard: ISO 14739-1:2014
• Representation: Vis-rep (approximation)
• Organization: 3D PDF Consortium

3D PDF files are popular for a reason. It's a ubiquitous format, hands viewed on computers, smartphones, and tablets. Specially convenient for those who don't accept CAD systems or viewers.

PROS:

• Only requires Adobe Reader to view files.
• PDF files can be used as containers for other files like STEP, QIF, or other documentation.

CONS:

• Huge file size and slow operation.
• 3D ergonomics in Adobe aren't great.
• What this file blazon is capable of doing is sharply limited by the Adobe surroundings.

5. Stereolithography Files (File Extension: *.STL)

• Year Introduced: 1987, Last Updated: None.
• Standard: None.
• Representation: Vis-rep (approximation)
• Organisation: 3D Systems

STL files are universal 3D formats that focuses on surface geometry and shapes but not for colors, textures, or other model attributes, which is good for rapid prototyping, 3D printing, and some CAM software.

Withal, it uses triangulated mesh surface which is acceptable for visual representation, simply non workable in CAD systems since near work in solids.

When complicated CAD is not required, STL files are acceptable in nigh basic situations.

PROS:

• Widely supported file format.
• Popular for 3D printing.

CONS:

• Describes surface geometry merely — it is not precise B-rep.
• Very simple data model — no support for color, surface grouping, or even user-divers attributes.

six. IGES (File Extension: *.IGS, *.IGES)

• Year Introduced: 1980, Terminal Updated: 1996
• Standard: ANSI
• Representation: B-rep (precise)
• Organization: American National Standards Found

IGES files were the first neutral CAD file invented and deployed in the late 1970s/early 1980s.

Although an older standard technologically superseded past Step & QIF, information technology's still used today since information technology's been effectually for a long time and is very widely supported.

More often than not used for surface geometry (although it can support solid models) and design work. Can ofttimes get translated with gaps between surfaces, missing faces, and fifty-fifty surfaces with wrong orientation. So information technology's recommended to go with Pace or QIF or take a tool for repairing bad geometry and stitching surfaces.

PROS:

• It's your granddad's CAD file.
• Ubiquitously supported.

CONS:

• IGES can back up solids, however, it's mostly used for surface geometry.

7. ACIS (File Extension: *.Sabbatum)

• Twelvemonth Introduced: 1989, Last Updated: 2022
• Standard: None.
• Representation: B-rep (precise) & Vis-rep (approximation)
• Organization: Dassault Systemes

ACIS files are 3D solid and surface CAD files from Spatial, a Dassault Systemes sectionalisation. Information technology is a geometric modeling kernel compiled in C++ and used in CAD, CAM, CAE, and CMM.

PROS:

• The internal modeling language used by many modeling software such equally AutoCAD, BrisCAD, and Cimatron.

CONS:

• Not a standard data format.
• Usually requires a custom translators to export to ACIS.
• Doesn't support semantic PMI in any standard mode.

8. PARASOLID (File Extension: *.X_T)

• Year Introduced: 1989, Last Updated: 2022
• Standard: None.
• Representation:  B-rep (precise)
• Organization: Siemens

Parasolid files are used past the geometric modeling kernel currently owned by Siemens and used in CAD, CAD exchange, CAM, CAE, and production visualization.

Licensed and used in over 350+ applications such as NX, SolidWorks, SolidEdge, MasterCAM, Onshape, and others.

Can correspond wireframe, surface, solid, and general non-manifold models. Virtually Parasolid files migrate 3D solids and/or surface data.

PROS:

• The internal modeling language used many CAD and downstream software.
• Great CAD export option if you utilise NX or SolidWorks.

CONS:

• Non a standard data format.
• Uses some proprietary blend recipes, making some data inaccessible to not-Parasolid modelers.

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Have questions most neutral CAD formats? Ask away, nosotros'll exist happy to help.

Capvidia is a leader in CAD translation & validation, especially pertaining to digital transformation and the MBD journey. Take questions? Talk to the expects today.

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Source: https://www.capvidia.com/blog/top-neutral-3d-cad-file-formats

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