Recommended File Formats and Data Volume

Some formats work better than others with certain CAD programs. Here you can find some recommendations and notes concerning the amount of data.

Recommended File Formats

Data Volume (Number of Triangles)

Recommended File Formats

CATIA V5/V6
CATPart, CATProduct, STEP, IGES, STL

CATIA V4
MODEL, EXP, STEP, IGES, STL

Creo, Pro/E
PRT, ASM, STEP, IGES, STL

Autodesk Inventor
IPT, IAM, STEP, IGES, SAT, STL

SolidWorks
SLDPRT, SLDASM, STEP, IGES, X_T, STL

Solid Edge
PAR, PSM, ASM, STEP, IGES, X_T, STL

UG/Siemens NX
PRT, JT, STEP, IGES, STL

I-Deas
STEP, IGES, STL

Rhino
3DM, STEP, IGES, STL, OBJ, (GLTF/FX)

All other CAD programs
STEP, IGES, STL, X_T and JT (if supported by target system)

Tip
Use the filter settings in the File Open dialog to select the file formats.

Data Volume (Number of Triangles)

3D-Tool uses triangulated data to display 3D models i.e. they are pictured through numerous triangles. Generally, there is no limit to the number of triangles.

Even though the quality of the display increases analogous with the number of triangles, the number of triangles should not be set to the largest number possible. Too many triangles will slow down 3D-Tool, and eventually the model cannot be handled properly. Most computers should be able to display up to one million triangles.

The number of triangles that are produced may be adjusted when importing native CATIA, Creo, ProE, Autodesk Inventor, Autodesk Navisworks, I-Deas, UG/NX, Rhino, Solid Edge, SolidWorks and STEP, IGS, VDA, SAT, PARASOLID and JT files (see Advanced/Premium Import Settings).

For all other formats the number of triangles is affected by the output precision during the export of a model. To adjust the output precision of triangulated files, see the Help menu or manual of your CAD software.

Example
A lot of CAD programs let you control the number of triangles when STL files are exported by setting the chord height parameter.