A family of ISO standards for computer-interpretable representation and exchange of product manufacturing information (PMI), STEP (Standard for the Exchange of Product Model Data) aims to provide interoperability between computer-aided design (CAD) software, assist with automation in computer-aided manufacturing (CAM), and support long-term archival of 3D, CAD, and PDM data. The standard is designed to be a common format for exchanging product data, including 3D models, 2D drawings, and related information such as dimensions, tolerances, and material specifications.
Purpose and Benefits
STEP was developed to improve the exchange of product data between companies and organizations, reducing the costs associated with translating data between different systems. It is considered a more advanced and capable neutral file format compared to IGES, handling more complex models and providing more comprehensive information.
Applications
STEP is widely used in mechanical engineering and the aerospace industry. Its ability to exchange data between different CAD and CAM systems, regardless of the software or hardware used to create the original data, makes it a valuable tool for these sectors.
Structure
Due to its broad scope, ISO 10303 is subdivided into approximately 700 underlying standards. Key parts include Parts 11-18 and Part 21, which describe the EXPRESS data schema definition language and STEP-file (or STEP-XML) used for the textual representation of PMI data codified by the standard.