STEP file viewer?

[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...