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How to convert IGES (.igs) to STL (StereoLithography)?

PolyTrans|CAD+DCC performs mathematically precise CAD, DCC/Animation, GIS and BIM 3D file conversions into all key downstream 3D packages and file formats. Okino software is used and trusted throughout the world by many tens of thousands of 3D professionals in mission & production critical environments, backed by respectable personal support directly from our core development team.

IGES

IGES was the defacto 'go-to' MCAD translation file format but has long since been overtaken by the STEP file format. IGES and STEP are equally good file formats to translate CAD and MCAD model data files but it all depends on how well the files are exported from the corresponding MCAD modeller software.

As an ANSI standard since 1980, IGES has been used in the automotive, aerospace, and shipbuilding industries. Version 5.3 (1996) is the last published and stable standard of IGES. IGES is one of the original CAD vendor-neutral 3D data translation file formats which was designed for high fidelity data exchange between all major professional 3D modelling applications. IGES uses the .igs and .iges file extensions.

Okino's PolyTrans|CAD provides for a defacto 3D IGES file conversion solution used by the world's primary & professional engineering, aerospace, military, corporate, animation/multi-media and VR/AR industries.

A much deeper overview plus explanation of IGES, and how it can be best used + understood, is outlined in this Okino WEB page. It is vitally important to understand the differences between "old school" and "new school" IGES files, as this is little understood by most 3D graphics users.

STL

STL (StereoLithography) is one of the industry's oldest (and simplest) 3D file formats created back in 1987 for 3D Systems' first commercial 3D printer. It is widely used for rapid prototyping, 3D printing and CAM. Okino has provided one of the very first and still primary STL export conversion systems for close to 3 decades.

Please take note that there is no 3D file format which is much simpler than STL. It is not a high-end, high fidelity 3D conversion file format as many people have come to wrongly believe. Rather, STL defines just a raw triangulated polygon mesh with no smoothing information (vertex normals), no uv texture coordinates, no assembly hierarchy part naming or any material assignments. 3MF and VRML2 are often much better file formats for moving 3D datasets into downstream programs and/or 3D printers.

The Okino STL exporter WEB page provides good graphical tutorial about how to convert CAD file data into STL and also how to clean a 3D model which is 'almost water tight'.

More information about IGES

IGES import converter's overview

How to Convert CAD to STL

STL export converter's overview