A parts supplier offers ready-made 3D files for download and I wonder which file format is the most optimal to use with MoI. Here's the list I can choose from:

Seems Iges and Step are perfect! :) in fact the only ones in direct nurbs import from your list!

Thanks for help. So it doesn't matter if I use IGES or STEP? I just wonder if one maybe is better suited to work with MoI. Also there are two STEP formats and I have no clue what the APxxx numbers mean :)

Hi Martin,

> So it doesn't matter if I use IGES or STEP?

It might not be a bad idea to get both, that way if you run into some problem you can try the other format.

You'd probably want to try STEP first.


> Also there are two STEP formats and I have no clue what the APxxx numbers mean :)

Either variation should work, the 203 one is sort of the main one for mechanical solid modelers, the 214 one is some kind of extension for the automotive industry that adds some other things like support for colors. So if you want things like colors to come through pick the 214 one. If you don't care about colors it probably doesn't make any difference which one you use.

- Michael

Thanks Michael!

Acis is listed there too (That's SAT)

Many of those others are NURBS based, but listed in their native program name. May download as "the program itself" is needed.

With the generic step, iges and sat, a lot of times the "best" for MoI just depends on "What program/exporter" was used to generate them. The best thing is to get them all (the generic ones) and see which translates in ok. Once you know for that site, then use that. This can be a good rule for all the other "come get a model here" sites.

Thanks BurrMan!