Which CAD File Formats Can CAD Exchanger View and Convert?

Updated

CAD Exchanger reads and writes SolidWorks, STEP, JT, STL, and more than 30 other 3D formats, and it can view, explore, and convert that data across desktop, web, and mobile. It fits the common case where a part or assembly arrives in a format your tool doesn't open, or where you need to move geometry between CAD systems without losing structure. It is not a full CAD authoring tool — the emphasis is on import/export, inspection, and visualization rather than creating or editing designs.

What CAD Exchanger can do with a file

The workflow is built around three operations:

  • Import/export — read and write SolidWorks, STEP, JT, STL, and 30+ other 3D formats.
  • Access — reach assemblies and parts, precise B-Rep geometry and polygonal meshes, plus metadata and PMI (product manufacturing information).
  • Visualize — use sectioning, explode views, and multiple display modes to inspect the model.

So a typical task is: open a file in a format you can't otherwise read, check its structure and dimensions, then export it to a format your downstream tool accepts.

Formats and what each is good for

Format Typical role What you get
SolidWorks Native CAD part/assembly B-Rep geometry, assembly structure
STEP Neutral exchange between CAD systems Precise B-Rep
JT Visualization and lightweight CAD data B-Rep and/or tessellated data
STL 3D printing and mesh workflows Polygonal mesh (no B-Rep)

The distinction that matters most: B-Rep formats (SolidWorks, STEP, JT) carry precise surfaces and edges, while mesh formats like STL carry triangles only. If you convert a B-Rep model to STL, you keep the shape but lose the precise geometry and much of the structure — so choose the target format based on what the next tool actually needs.

Which product to use

CAD Exchanger is offered in several forms, and the right one depends on who you are:

  • CAD Exchanger Lab — a desktop app for viewing, exploring, and converting 3D CAD data across 30+ formats. Best for an individual who just needs to open and convert files.
  • CAD Exchanger SDK — 3D CAD libraries for C#, C++, Java, JavaScript, and Python. Best for developers embedding import/export into their own software.
  • Manufacturing Toolkit — an SDK for building quoting, DFM, and MaaS platforms.
  • Custom Development — bespoke engineering software and customization of existing applications.

The site notes that licensing is available as both perpetual and subscription, for developers and end-users, and positions this as suitable for startups and enterprise customers alike. It does not publish specific prices on the page, so check current terms directly before committing.

Practical notes before you convert

  • Check the target format's limits first. If the receiving tool only accepts meshes, exporting to STL is fine; if it needs editable geometry, stay with STEP or another B-Rep format.
  • Expect cleanup on poor data. The platform advertises automatic algorithms to heal poor data, which matters when source files are messy or come from mixed sources.
  • Verify structure survives. Assemblies, metadata, and PMI are only useful if the target format supports them — confirm after export rather than assuming.
  • Match the tool to the job. For one-off viewing and conversion, the desktop Lab app is the direct route; for repeated or embedded conversion, the SDK is the relevant choice.

If your goal is simply "open this file and give me a format my other software can read," CAD Exchanger covers that across 30+ formats. If your goal is to design or edit models, you'll want a CAD authoring tool instead.