Quick question about IGS and STP files

[Anonymous]

Hi everyone

I'm brand new to Autodesk (and the world of 3D).
I have received some IGS and STP files from a designer, and would like to send them to a manufacturer.
Are these files enough for them to have all the information they need to start production and, if necessary, changing the design? Or do they also need specific CAD-files.

Thanks in advance and best regards!

I.

[beyoungjr]

I would NEVER trust another persons content to send straight to manufacturing!

You should be importing these files and analyzing the content to ensure the object/s meet your specifications and that they are properly prepared for the manufacturer to use in their production workflow.

You should be sending DWG or DXF files that you have reviewed entirely.  The manufacturer should be fully capable of utilizing these standard Autodesk formats.

Be sure to save your files to whatever version of DWG or DXF the manufacturer requests.  AutoCAD formats change every few years and those file-types compile differently.  Look at the file-type to save when using the SAVEAS function, probably need to save to an earlier year of the file-type.

[Anonymous]

Dear Mr Young

Thank you for your quick reply.
I fully understand your concern and I will certainly review all files before sending them to the manufacturer.
The design has already been manufactured by another company, and we were pleased with the result. Now however, we're changing to a new manufacturer, which is why I need all the necessary files to transfer to them.
Are IGS and/or STP files sufficient for a manufacturer to start the production process? Or should the designer provide me with the aforementioned DWG or DXF files?

Thanks again and best regards

I.

[beyoungjr]

If the STP and IGS files are only for the 3D model then you could probably rely on them, but I would not do so.

You should request the files directly from the application they were designed in.  If they were designed in an Autodesk product then get the files without conversion to STP or IGS.

I understand that you are happy with the product from the prior manufacturer but what makes you sure that any file provided by that manufacturer will be exactly as produced?  Any number of factors could result in something difference than expected.  If the files were produced by injection molding then you would be dependent upon the molds created.  If the parts are CNC machined then whatever CAM application utilized the file may have introduced some enhancements or alterations.

I cannot stress the importance of checking the files in their native design application!

[Tomislav.Golubovic]

You really should be asking the new manufacturer what files they'll need to do the job. We could recommend one file type, but they might not be able to read it?