Convert STL to STEP

What is STL file?

The STL (.STL) file extension is one of the most widely used mesh formats. It was developed by 3D Systems Corporation for use with its proprietary STL-Format 3D Printer. The STL file format is a simple, of binary format which records the surface geometry of a 3D object as a series of colored facets. A binary STL file is typically composed of geometric facet information and some metadata, such as the RGB color values for the facets. The most common use for . [ ⏩ ] STL file extension

What is STEP file?

The STEP (.STP) file format is a widely-adopted 3D model standard used by major CAD programs and software packages, such as SOLIDWORKS, and the Autodesk® Inventor® suite. It is designed to accurately represent precise three-dimensional shapes of physical objects, which makes it an ideal format for the transfer and storage of designs between CAD applications and engineering systems. [ ⏩ ] STEP file extension

How to convert the file from STL to STEP?

To successfully convert the STL file to STEP, you should install one of the applications from the list. After installing the software, open the program and select the file you want to convert (file-name.STL). The next step is to select the target format from the list, in this case STEP (usually converters allow you to convert to several different formats, so check out their features - maybe one of the available formats will suit you more than STEP).

What is a file conversion?

A data conversion is normally an automated process to some extent. The effect of the operation of one program is automatically the input product of another application. If that does not happen we need to help the process a little bit and convert the file on our own, e.g. STL to STEP. To obtain a matched structure of the data, it is necessary to use an appropriate converter.

Program for converting STL files to STEP files is a kind of a "binary code translator" compensating for the differences in the code or translating it in such a way so that another application could use it. For us, as users, the visible change will be only another file extension. (After converting the file, it will be the extension STEP, while before this step we had the STL file). For the programs, the difference is on a much higher level – either the application will be able to open a new STEP file, or not.

Other STL and STEP file conversions