What is the difference between neutral and native file formats?
A. Neutral formats like IGES and STEP provide a two-step process for exchanging data between different CAD systems. A CAD file is exported to a neutral format from within the native CAD system. Other applications can then read this file and convert it back into their own format but does not contain any features. Native files can only be read on the CAD system that they were created on. The one main problem that customers complain about is the end result an IGES file produces. A hole feature is sectioned during Translation into two halves usually based on the center axis. Click the the image to the left for a larger view. Notice the hole features of the part contain section lines. In most cases this format is acceptable. In instances the parts are to be utilized as placement in active assembly models where constraints to these hole features must be maintained, an IGES conversion is not always the way to go. If the model was Translated to a ParaSolid or ACIS format, the result is accurat
