How to convert STEP to IGS
- Add your .STEP file - drop it in the box above or click to browse.
- Convert it to .IGS in a few seconds.
- Download your new .IGS file.
What to expect
- IGES is surface- and wireframe-oriented, so precise STEP solids may be exported as surfaces and lose true solid topology.
- Assembly structure and some product data that STEP can hold may not survive the move to the older IGES format.
- Both are plain-text neutral CAD formats with no executable code; the main trade-off is IGES's reduced fidelity versus STEP.
Frequently asked questions
Why convert STEP to IGS?
IGS (IGES) is an older vendor-neutral CAD exchange format. Converting is useful when a downstream program or an older CAD system accepts IGES but not STEP, letting you move part geometry between tools.
Does the conversion preserve solid geometry?
Not always fully. STEP represents precise solids, while IGES is centered on surfaces and wireframe, so a solid may be exported as a collection of surfaces and lose watertight solid topology in the process.
What opens an IGS file?
Free tools like FreeCAD and Open Cascade CAD Assistant open IGES, and the Autodesk Viewer reads it in a browser. It is broadly supported across CAD software because it is a neutral standard.
STEP or IGES - which keeps the model better?
STEP (a newer standard with solid and assembly support) generally preserves models more reliably than IGES. Convert to IGS mainly for compatibility with tools that require the older format, not for better fidelity.
Programs that convert STEP: SolidWorks · CATIA · AutoCAD · 3D Object Converter · Argon · TurboCAD · 3ds Max (3D Studio Max) · Alibre Design Professional
