STEP File
Also called .step, .stp, iso 10303
A STEP file is a neutral 3D format that stores exact solid geometry rather than a mesh, so a design can move between different CAD programs without losing precision. It is the usual way engineering and manufacturing software exchange models.
Where STEP comes from
STEP is an international standard built so that one company's CAD software can read another's. It stores solids and surfaces as exact maths, not as triangles, so a cylinder stays a true cylinder.
In jewelry it turns up when a design has passed through engineering-side software such as SolidWorks or Fusion 360, or when a manufacturer sends a model back to a designer who works in a different program.
Rendering from a STEP file
STEP is one of the four formats we accept, with 3DM, STL, and OBJ. Because the geometry is exact, we can mesh it as finely as the render needs, which keeps polished metal clean and edges sharp.
What STEP does not carry well is jewelry-specific information. Stones are just solids to it, and there is no metal or gem data attached. Tell us the materials, stone types, and sizes when you send it, and note that stones sometimes arrive as plain shapes that need proper gem materials applied.
Questions about STEP File
Can you render a STEP file?
Yes. STEP is one of the four accepted formats. Send the material and stone details with it, since the file itself does not describe them.
What is the difference between STEP and STL?
STEP keeps exact solid geometry, STL approximates the shape with triangles. STEP stays smooth at any zoom, an STL is only as smooth as the mesh it was exported at.