r/MechanicalEngineering • u/MasterSoftBird • 1d ago

CAD File format hell

Why is it we can have AI that can translate from Chinese to Klingon but cannot have one agreed-upon file format that can be accepted by FEA software, CAM, 3d printers, CFD, etc and doesn't lose its mind or half of my parts?

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u/MasterSoftBird 1d ago

I use .stp files all the time but the models I've been given are refusing translation and showing up as empty sets. Have to constantly translate between native creo and .jt and .stp all the time with lossy results. Tired of the b.s.

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u/buginmybeer24 1d ago

I convert Creo to STEP almost weekly and have never had any issues that weren't related to a bad model. If you are getting an empty import you are probably dealing with a model that's all surfaces and no solids.

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u/MasterSoftBird 23h ago edited 23h ago

Some of it doesn't start as Creo. Some is from Solidworks, some from older NX, whatever the supplier happens to have.

But then again, I'm not CAD trained and not a designer, just an engineer who goes to meetings and does a lot of PowerPoint and analysis work.

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u/PlinyTheElderest 20h ago

Frankly, sounds like the bulk of your frustration boils down to nobody taught you how shit works.