Import Export
Overview
This page gathers the different file formats that can be imported or exported from FreeCAD. Most of these file formats are implemented by a specific module. This module doesn't need to be loaded in order to import or export to that format, but must be loaded to display the corresponding preferences page.
Related
See the following pages for more details:
Formats
Format | Description | Import | Export | Module | Preferences page |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
FCStd | FreeCAD's native file format | yes | yes | Built-in | no |
FCMat | FreeCAD Material Card | yes | yes | Built-in | no |
FCMacro | FreeCAD Macro | yes | yes | Built-in | no |
STEP | One of the most widely used exchange format for engineering models | yes | yes | Part | yes |
STPZ | Compressed version of STEP exchange format for engineering models | yes | yes | Part | yes |
IGES | A bit older but still much in use solid-based format | yes | yes | Part | yes |
BREP | OpenCasCade's native format | yes | yes | Part | no |
DXF | Autodesk Exchange Format. Only 2D geometry is supported | yes | yes | Draft | yes |
DWG | Autocad main format. Only 2D geometry is supported. Requires the installation of external software. | yes | yes | Draft | yes |
SVG | 2D format widely used for vector graphics | yes | yes | Draft / Drawing | yes |
OCA | Open CAD Format (obsolete, 2D-only format) | yes | yes | Draft | yes |
IFC | Industry Foundation Classes, used to exchange BIM models. Requires the installation of external software. | yes | yes | Arch | yes |
DAE | Collada format, used for exchange of mesh geometry | yes | yes | Arch | yes |
OBJ | Mesh exchange format | yes | yes | Arch / Mesh | no |
STL | Mesh exchange format mostly used for 3D printing | yes | yes | Mesh | no |
BMS | Binary mesh exchange format | yes | yes | Mesh | no |
AST | Mesh exchange format | yes | yes | Mesh | no |
OFF | Mesh exchange format | yes | yes | Mesh | no |
PLY | Mesh exchange format / Points cloud | yes | yes | Mesh / Points | no |
INP | Abaqus format | yes | yes | FEM | no |
POLY | Tetgen format | no | yes | FEM | no |
UNV | FEM exchange format | yes | yes | FEM | no |
MED | FEM exchange format | yes | yes | FEM | no |
DAT | FEM exchange format (FEM) or 2D airfoil profile (Draft) | yes | yes | FEM / Draft | no |
BDF | FEM exchange format | yes | no | FEM | no |
FRD | CalculiX result format | yes | no | FEM | no |
NC | G-Code file format | yes | yes | Path | no |
GC | G-Code file format | yes | yes | Path | no |
NCC | G-Code file format | yes | yes | Path | no |
NGC | G-Code file format | yes | yes | Path | no |
CNC | G-Code file format | yes | yes | Path | no |
TAP | G-Code file format | yes | yes | Path | no |
GCODE | G-Code file format | yes | yes | Path | no |
EMN | IDF file format | yes | no | Idf | no |
IV | OpenInventor file format | yes | yes | Built-in | no |
VRML | Web 3D format | yes | yes | Built-in | no |
WebGL (HTML) | Web 3D format | no | yes | Arch | no |
SCAD | OpenSCAD file format | yes | yes | OpenSCAD | no |
CSG | OpenSCAD Constructive Solid Geometry | yes | yes | OpenSCAD | no |
ASC | Points cloud format | yes | no | Points | no |
POV | Povray format | no | yes | Raytracing | no |
CSV | Comma-separated values spreadsheet | yes | yes | Spreadsheet | no |
Adobe portable document format | no | yes | Built-in | no |
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