Import .stp files

Karel Landa · ‎2025-08-04

From AI summary:
A STEP file, also known as an STP file, is a standardized file format for 3D models used in CAD (Computer-Aided Design) software. It is an ISO standard (ISO 10303) that allows for the exchange of product data, including 3D geometry, between different CAD systems. STEP files store detailed information about a 3D model, including its geometry, topology, and other relevant data, making it suitable for creating, editing, and sharing 3D designs across various software

Graphisoft claims that Archicad is open and offers a great interoperability.

Many manufactures still use this .stp file format to distrubute their products. It will open many possibilities to use such products without the need to use 3rd party software.

Piotr Dobrowolski · ‎2025-08-27

Ifc was created as a fork of STP, so it should be possible to do it. However the problem can raise with very detailed STP files. So i would add an option to filter types of the elements included - similar as with IFC.

For now as a workaround I use FreeCad which opens STP natively and save IFC from there (drawback in stepping the curves) - so sometimes I save dae from there along.

Miha_M

Not so long ago I needed to import hydro-mechanical equipment models made with PTC Creo, which doesn't have native ifc export options. There are some commercial export addons available though which seem to work for geometry and some properties, but I couldn't find a way to map properties to ifc entities.

Obj import into Archicad seems to work well for geometry. V29 could bring even better support for obj import.