STEP file viewer?

[Ether]

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]

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]

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]

Originally Posted by Ether

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?

Are you on Mac or Windows.

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

[Ether]

Originally Posted by marccenter

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]

Originally Posted by geomapguy

Are you on Mac or Windows.

Looking for app for a 32-bit WinXP machine.

[protoserge]

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]

Originally Posted by stinglikeabee

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]

Originally Posted by Ether

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]

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]

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]

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