The CAD file formats we accept are STEP, IGES, SolidWorks (.sldprt), Inventor (.ipt), Parasolid, DWG, DXF and dimensioned PDF. STEP and IGES are the safest CAD file formats to send, because they are neutral and survive being opened in different software.
Key facts: CAD file formats
| 3D formats | STEP (.step, .stp), IGES (.igs, .iges), SolidWorks (.sldprt, .sldasm), Inventor (.ipt, .iam), Parasolid (.x_t) |
| 2D formats | AutoCAD DWG and DXF, dimensioned PDF drawings |
| Preferred for quoting | STEP or IGES for 3D, plus a PDF drawing carrying tolerances and finish notes |
| If you only have a photograph | Send it — we will tell you whether it is enough to quote |
Why STEP usually beats a native file
A native SolidWorks or Inventor file carries the design history and depends on the software version that produced it. A STEP file carries the geometry instead. For a quotation, the geometry is what matters, so STEP removes a compatibility question before it becomes a delay.
The one thing a 3D model cannot carry is intent. A model shows the nominal shape, not which dimension must be held tightly, which face is the datum, or what finish is expected. That is why a 3D file plus a dimensioned PDF is the strongest combination: the model proves the shape, and the drawing states the requirements.
What must be on the drawing, not just the model
- Material and grade, so the process route and the material cost are both correct
- Critical tolerances, so tight limits apply to the features that need them
- Finish, including whether visible faces need a specific surface treatment
- Thread callouts, since modelled cosmetic threads do not describe the machining requirement
- Edge requirements, such as deburring or a maximum edge radius
If your drawing has none of these, send it anyway. A DFM review comes with every quotation, and recommending a material or a tolerance is part of it rather than an extra.
File handling and confidentiality
Your files are used to quote and manufacture your parts and for nothing else. Access is restricted to the engineers working on the job, and we sign non-disclosure agreements where a program requires one. Our design confidentiality page sets out how data is stored and who can reach it.
Once the design is fixed, the same file drives whichever process is economic: laser cutting for flat profiles, bending for formed parts, or CNC machining where the part has thickness features. Dimensional reporting follows NIST measurement practice.
Frequently asked questions
What CAD file formats do you accept?
STEP, IGES, SolidWorks, Inventor, Parasolid, DWG, DXF and dimensioned PDF.
Which CAD format is best for quoting?
STEP and IGES are the safest formats to send, because they are neutral and survive being opened in different software. A 3D file plus a dimensioned PDF is the strongest combination.
What should be on the drawing as well as the model?
The material and grade, the critical tolerances, the finish, the thread callouts and the edge requirements such as deburring.