Best format for sharing designs

[jsquaredz 0]

I am designing stuff in Fusion 360 and like to share my designs with others. So far I have always given out the Source in addition to the STL file. I have generally put it out in STEP format since that is what I saw Ultimaker release the UM2 source files as step format, so I figured some thought went into that.

In any case, I would like to know if its best to be giving these out in STEP or IGES format since I can export to either. Want to give the best fidelity into the orgiginal design while also using the more "Open source" format.

 

[solid-print-3d 30]

Do both, and save out as Step and Igs (or iges). Both are inter-compatible with almost every decent cad program out there. I have noticed that Keyshot tends to import igs files a little better for things like springs, or other complex objects. Inventor, Solidworks, and all the other big dogs, will easily import step or igs. Fusion handles step and igs. Some step files that have faces with their own texture applied sometimes carry over better in step (214, not 203, but that might just be the programs I use). Sketchup needs a plugin to open step files.

It only starts to get tricky when you want to save for poly modeling programs like Blender. They don't seem to know what to do with step or igs, but most poly modelers will import the tried and true .stl.

For what it's worth, I use nurbs modeling, and save everything out as both step and igs, so the end user can pick which one is best for them.