Chief Delphi - STEP file viewer?

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Ether

13-01-2014 10:45

STEP file viewer?

Lots of folks are posting STEP files, especially the 3-day robot teams.

I'd like to look at them, but I'm not a CAD guru and don't have access to any CAD programs.

I did a bit of Googling and Binging, and it appears there are free STEP file viewers out there.

Has anybody used any of them successfully? Which one(s) would you recommend?

Chris_Elston

13-01-2014 12:41

Re: STEP file viewer?

I had the same problem. I am electrical and I couldn't view them either. Some places that offer STEP also have a PDF. Wished everyone did this. But for me I had to finally just installed Inventor on my laptop through my team to view these files too.

marccenter

13-01-2014 12:52

Re: STEP file viewer?

Ether,

As a team coach, FIRST offers Autodesk products and PTC products. Are you not availing yourself to them because you are not part of any team?

geomapguy

13-01-2014 13:01

Re: STEP file viewer?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ether (Post 1326385)

Are you on Mac or Windows.

The Mac App Store has a free version of Autodesk Inventor Fusion

Ether

13-01-2014 13:02

Re: STEP file viewer?

Quote:

Originally Posted by marccenter (Post 1326450)

FIRST offers Autodesk products and PTC products. Are you not availing yourself to them because you are not part of any team?

Thank you, but:

- I don't have access to those products.

- Even if I did, I don't care to install them.

For various reasons, I'm looking for a solution which is more lightweight, free, and without a license.

Ether

13-01-2014 13:07

Re: STEP file viewer?

Quote:

Originally Posted by geomapguy (Post 1326457)

Are you on Mac or Windows.

Looking for app for a 32-bit WinXP machine.

protoserge

13-01-2014 13:27

Re: STEP file viewer?

Here are five that I found:

DesignSpark Mechanical

FreeCAD

Blender

OpenCascade

NETGEN

I've only used DesignSpark Mechanical, FreeCAD, and Blender. DesignSpark is the best and is built on the SpaceClaim kernel.

It appears that OpenCascade and FreeCAD may be built on the same core/kernel judging by the screenshots.

Ether

13-01-2014 15:33

Re: STEP file viewer?

Quote:

Originally Posted by stinglikeabee (Post 1326476)

I've only used FreeCAD and Blender

Of those two, is there a clear winner for the occasional user who just needs to view a STEP file once in a while?

protoserge

13-01-2014 15:47

Re: STEP file viewer?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ether (Post 1326548)

Of those two, is there a clear winner for the occasional user who just needs to view a STEP file once in a while?

FreeCAD. Blender is more of an artist's tool (no physical dimensioning), but does retain proper dimensional relations.

(!) I also forgot about DesignSpark Mechanical, which is quite excellent. It does require a quick registration. You will want DesignSpark Mechanical.

rogerlsmith

14-01-2014 00:10

Re: STEP file viewer?

Agreed; I just found FreeCAD 2 days ago, and it works well for viewing .step files. My only complaint right now is that it only provides dimensions in millimeters...

eli2410

14-01-2014 00:19

Maybe try Autodesk 360? I don't know if it costs or not, since they give students a lot of free stuff. Also, not sure if STEP files are viewable.

eli2410

14-01-2014 00:22

STEP files are viewable. (Sorry, can't edit last post since I'm using Tapatalk)

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