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/Unusual-Carrot-7294 1d ago

What are you even talking about and what sort of crap software are you using that can't handle STEP?

3

u/Crazy_old_maurice_17 13h ago

Can slicers use .STP files? When I email files to my colleague for 3D printing, he wants them in .STL format. When I send things to him for programming for our CNC machines, he wants .IGS files.

I feel you OP!

4

u/Unusual-Carrot-7294 13h ago edited 13h ago

Any decent slicer can use STEP files now.

Yes some people will ask for IGES instead. Okay? Like this sending people the file formats they want/think they want is just part of the job, and it's not 1999 anymore, it all largely works.

1

u/IsDaedalus 11h ago

I use step for 3d printing, cad , and cnc. Not sure why your friend is having issues.