OpenSCAD only exports meshes. Drop in a .scad file or a whole project folder and get a STEP file with true planes, cylinders and holes — geometry that Fusion, SolidWorks, Onshape, FreeCAD and CAM software can measure, select and machine.
Convert a .scad file →95% of 7,378 real Thingiverse .scad files convert. What converts exactly →
Mesh wrapped in STEP
256 triangular faces
Forgent3D B-rep STEP
4 faces: 2 planes, 2 cylinders
STL is fine for 3D printing. For CNC machining, injection molding, a manufacturer's quote or further work in CAD you need STEP: an STL has only triangles, so a hole has no diameter and a curved face has no curvature.
Usually, yes. We test against 7,378 .scad files from Thingiverse, and 95% of them convert. Drop in the whole downloaded folder so the files they include come along.
Yes, as geometry: measure it, fillet edges, cut pockets or push and pull faces in any CAD program. A STEP file carries no OpenSCAD parameters, so for parametric changes edit the .scad and convert again.
STEP is the neutral format every major CAD and CAM package imports. The exported file contains solids with analytic faces, so holes and round faces come in as cylinders you can select and dimension.
