How to convert STEP
to Fusion 360?

STEP or "Standard for the Exchange of Product model data" is also referred as ISO 10303. STEP has been initially designed with the idea to supersede the IGES format (which was the first broadly used vendor-neutral CAD file format). However even today both formats co-exist and data in IGES and STEP represent lion share of all CAD files.

Typically, STEP can be used to exchange data between CAD, CAM, CAE, PDM/enterprise data modeling and other CAx systems. STEP addresses product data from mechanical and electrical design, geometric dimensioning and tolerancing, analysis and manufacturing, as well as additional information specific to various industries such as automotive, aerospace, building construction, ship, oil and gas, process plants and others.

STEP is developed and maintained by the ISO technical committee. There are also various technical groups that define usage conventions and recommended practices to ensure better interoperability between software applications. In CAD world, the most prominent group is www.cax-if.org that unites software vendors and industrial users.

ISO10303 is very extremely large and complex and is structured in multiple layers, for example, from physical file format definition (Part 21) to geometrical/topological definitions (Part 42), up to Application Protocols (AP’s) defining higher-level industry use cases. CAD Exchanger supports AP203, A214 and AP242, which are most commonly used AP's.

Fusion 360 is a 3D CAD, CAM, CAE cloud-based platform by Autodesk, which connects the development processes of a product. Solid, Surface, T-Spline and Mesh geometry are supported as well as drawing, rendering and 3D-printed output for design validation and documentation. Fusion 360 runs on Windows, Mac OS and in browsers. It is mostly used by students of manufacturing and design spheres.

It is a collaborative platform where users can access each other’s files which shortens design lifecycle. As the app can run either on PC or on the cloud, it can work both with and without internet connection. Data management is built into Fusion.

Autodesk Fusion has a single model environment in which all unique parts and assemblies can be created. It incorporates both direct and parametric control. In Fusion users can make drafts, prepare designs for 3D printing as prototypes or as final parts. Fusion 360 includes integrated Assembly modelling, Motion studies, Rendering and FEA tools to help users analyse design before making it. As document management is built into the platform, files are automatically backed up to the cloud.