#Freecad open step file how to#

First, you have to convert a STEP file in CAD into a 3D printable format, such as an STL file. It may take a couple of seconds before you can see all the assembly components.

Click “Open” to successfully import the file into the program.

Note: If you can not see the file in the folder, make sure you have selected “All Files” (as shown below) instead of “Mastercam Files,” “Mastercam X Files,” or “All Mastercam Files.” Go to the file directory containing the STEP file.You can alternatively use the Ctrl+O shortcut for the same. In the upper left corner, click on the icon that says “Open” when you hover the mouse over it.

#Freecad open step file how to#

In this section, we will see how to open a STEP file using the Mastercam program.įollow these steps to open a 3D STEP file using Mastercam. To open a STEP file, you can use various CAD programs such as Autodesk Fusion 360, Free CAD, CATIA, etc. This blog will be a quick guide to understanding how to work around a STEP file in CAD with ease. Today, 3D STEP models are vital in every type of electronics design.

The file goes through several different names, including ISO10303. In the 1980s, the ISO developed the 3D STEP file format (Standard for the Exchange of Product Data) to accommodate the whole 3D body with unparalleled precision, not just the basic geometries. However, IGES files capture surface models envisioning the whole solid model was still too far from reality. In response, ANSI developed the Initial Graphics Exchange Specification (IGES) protocol for the US Air Force. With the rising popularization of mechanical CAD designs (MCAD) by 1976, the need for exchanging model files between dissimilar CAD models witnessed a new peak.