The IFC format and its compatibility with other applications is a complex affair, use with care.Īn excellent, widespread 2D graphics formatįreeCAD can already import and export to/from several flavors of GCode, but only a small number of machines is supported at the moment. Requires the installation of IfcOpenShell-python. All solid and NURBS-based objects of FreeCAD will be converted to mesh on export. All solid and NURBS-based objects of FreeCAD will be converted to mesh on export.Īn older mesh-based format. All solid and NURBS-based objects of FreeCAD will be converted to mesh on export.Ī mesh-based format, commonly used for 3D printing. The main import/export format of Sketchup. An alternative exporter is provided by the Arch workbench, more suited to the export of architectural models. This format suffers from the same limitations as DXF.Ī mesh-based format. Requires the installation of the Teigha File Converter utility. Since the 3D data inside a DXF file is encoded in proprietary format, FreeCAD can only import/export 2D data to/from this format. The native format of OpenCasCade, FreeCAD's geometry kernel.Īn open format maintained by Autodesk. Some older applications don't support STEP but have IGES. Use it whenever it is possible.Īn older solid format, also very well supported. This is the most faithful import/export format available, since it supports solid geometry and NURBS. If I am understanding you correctly you may have a step file that contains only surfaces or something, but a step file can be a single solid, and if the original step file object was a solid FreeCAD would (or should) be importing it as a single solid. Here is a list of the most important ones with a short description of the available features: Your first post, Welcome to FreeCAD without seeing your file we can only guess. FreeCAD can import and export to many filetypes.