IGES → STEP · CAD EXCHANGE
Convert IGES to STEP and check the result
Move supported IGES geometry into a STEP file without first turning it into a triangle mesh. Open the model in 3DXDE, inspect the imported geometry and export a new CAD exchange file.
Changing the container format does not create information missing from the source. An IGES collection of open surfaces may remain open surfaces in STEP.
Keep CAD geometry
The conversion works from imported CAD geometry. Display tessellation does not become the STEP export geometry.
Read source units
IGES unit information is read at import and normalized for viewing and measurement.
Inspect before handoff
Check available part properties and compare key dimensions before passing the file to another application.
Step-by-step
Select the IGES source
Choose the .iges or .igs file in Open files. Include any required companion files in the same local file group.
Load and inspect
Confirm the primary file and load the model. Rotate it, use standard views and inspect individual geometric parts or faces.
Check dimensions and closure
Measure a known length. If you need a solid, check whether the part reports a valid volume; an unavailable volume is not a zero-volume solid.
Export STEP
Open Convert, select STEP and review the information-loss note. Download the converted .step file.
Reopen the exported file
Load the new STEP file in 3DXDE or your receiving CAD tool. Compare dimensions, placement, visible components and any names or colors you rely on.
A STEP file is not necessarily a solid
Both exchange workflows can involve surfaces as well as solids. If the IGES source contains gaps, separate trimmed faces or invalid topology, a STEP export does not by itself establish a valid closed body.
3DXDE does not offer an automatic repair workflow for sewing arbitrary surface sets into manufacturing-ready solids. If your receiving tool requires one closed solid, resolve the geometry in a suitable CAD editor and verify it again.
Which details need checking?
- Geometry and scale: compare known dimensions rather than judging only the screen appearance.
- Names, colors and organization: preservation depends on the source content and the entities supported by both formats. Do not assume missing assembly information can be recreated.
- Design intent: feature history, constraints and native CAD parameters are not reconstructed by neutral-format conversion.
- Units: source file units affect physical size. Choosing different display units in Measure only changes the readout.
CAD exchange and mesh exchange are different paths
STEP, IGES and BREP inputs retain CAD geometry for supported CAD outputs. STL, OBJ, GLB and glTF inputs follow the mesh conversion path and cannot be exported as exact STEP, IGES or BREP surfaces.
Choose STEP when the next tool needs supported CAD geometry. Choose a mesh format when it needs triangles, and review what that export discards.
Your files stay in your browser
3DXDE reads the files you select and processes model geometry locally in your browser. Model files are not uploaded or saved to a cloud file history. No account is required. The browser still downloads the application and its processing resources when needed.
Referenced files must be included in your selected file group. Missing files, ambiguous names and references outside that group are rejected; model references are not fetched from external websites. Refreshing the page clears the loaded model, so keep your original files and any exports you download.
The public website uses Google Analytics for basic page-visit statistics, including browser identifiers and cookies. Model files, filenames, file paths and geometry are excluded from analytics. Forms, model downloads and model interactions are not tracked.
Common questions
Are IGS and IGES both supported?
Yes. The .igs and .iges extensions identify IGES input files. Select the correct main file when a group contains more than one model.
Will conversion close gaps between surfaces?
Do not rely on it to do so. Converting to STEP is a format exchange operation, not a guarantee of topology repair or solid creation.
Does mesh quality reduce STEP precision?
The quality setting controls tessellated display or mesh output. STEP export uses the retained CAD geometry, subject to the source geometry and exchange-format capabilities.
What if the receiving tool shows different colors or names?
Check what was present in the original IGES file and what the receiving application reads. Neutral formats do not carry every application-specific property; inspect the exported result before relying on metadata.