CAD Glossary
STEP File Format
Standard for the Exchange of Product Data — the most widely supported neutral CAD exchange format.
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STEP (Standard for the Exchange of Product Data, ISO 10303) is the most widely supported neutral CAD exchange format. It encodes 3D geometry as B-rep solid models — faces, edges, vertices, and their topological relationships.
Application protocols
The three most common application protocols in use:
- AP203 — Configuration-controlled design. Geometry only. Supported by virtually all CAD systems.
- AP214 — Core data for automotive mechanical design. Geometry, color, and layer information. The most common format for general exchange.
- AP242 — Managed model-based 3D engineering. Full PMI (Product Manufacturing Information), GD&T, and model-based definition. Required for aerospace and defense supply chains.