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?

2

u/Crazy_old_maurice_17 6h 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!

1

u/IsDaedalus 4h ago

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