Can You Save a SolidWorks Assembly as a Step File?

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Can You Save a SolidWorks Assembly as a Step File?

If you work with SolidWorks, you may be wondering if it’s possible to save your assembly files as STEP files. The good news is that yes, you can save your SolidWorks assemblies as STEP files, and this article will guide you through the process.

What is a STEP file?

A STEP file is a type of 3D CAD file format that stands for Standard for the Exchange of Product model data. It’s an ISO standard used for exchanging 3D models between different CAD software systems.

Why would you want to save a SolidWorks assembly as a STEP file?

There can be several reasons why you might want to save your SolidWorks assembly as a STEP file:

  • Compatibility: If you need to share your design with someone who uses a different CAD software, saving it as a STEP file ensures that they can open and work with the assembly without any issues.
  • Data exchange: Using the STEP format allows for easy data exchange between different CAD systems, making collaboration and integration seamless.
  • Archival purposes: Saving your assembly as a STEP file can serve as an archival format to ensure future accessibility and compatibility.

How to save a SolidWorks assembly as a STEP file?

Saving your SolidWorks assembly as a STEP file is quite simple. Follow these steps:

  1. Open your assembly in SolidWorks.
  2. Select ‘File’ from the menu bar at the top.
  3. Navigate to ‘Save As’.
  4. Choose ‘STEP (*.stp, *.step)’ from the file type drop-down menu.
  5. Specify the desired location and file name for your STEP file.
  6. Click ‘Save’.

That’s it! Your SolidWorks assembly will now be saved as a STEP file.

Considerations when saving as a STEP file

While saving your SolidWorks assembly as a STEP file, keep the following considerations in mind:

  • Limited feature information: When you save an assembly as a STEP file, some specific feature information may be lost or simplified. This is because the STEP format doesn’t support all the advanced features of SolidWorks.
  • File size: Depending on the complexity of your assembly, the resulting STEP file may have a larger size compared to the original SolidWorks files.
  • Hierarchy preservation: The STEP format does preserve the hierarchy of your assembly, allowing you to maintain the structure and relationships between components.

In conclusion

Saving a SolidWorks assembly as a STEP file provides compatibility with other CAD software systems and allows for seamless data exchange. It is a straightforward process that can be done within SolidWorks itself. However, keep in mind that certain feature information may be lost or simplified in the resulting STEP file.

If you need to share your design with someone using different CAD software or want to ensure future accessibility and compatibility, saving your SolidWorks assembly as a STEP file is an excellent option.

So go ahead and give it a try! Start utilizing the versatility of the STEP file format for your SolidWorks assemblies.