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Glossary

Glossary

STEP

STEP stands for Standard for the Exchange of Product Model Data and is formally specified in ISO 10303. It's the dominant open CAD exchange standard, used heavily in industrial and mechanical engineering. STEP describes 3D parts mathematically through parametric geometry, perfect for engineering but unsuitable for direct display on the web. For Web AR, STEP files are therefore converted into polygon-based formats like GLB or USDZ.

Quick Facts

Standard
ISO 10303
File extensions
.step, .stp
Used for
Engineering, CAD exchange between vendors
Conversion required for
Web, AR, real-time visualization
Typical size
5 to 200 MB depending on detail

In industrial settings, STEP is what PDF is in office life: the format everybody agrees on. Engineers from different companies exchange assemblies as STEP, suppliers ship parts as STEP, and manufacturers often offer STEP downloads of their products straight from the website.

For Web AR, though, STEP cannot be used directly. Browsers and 3D viewers work with polygons; STEP describes mathematical surfaces. The path into the browser always runs through a conversion: typically STEP to GLB for web and Android, plus STEP to USDZ for iOS AR. STEP-to-GLB is the demanding step, since it involves controlled tessellation, decimation and material setup, and is typically a professional service. Once you have a GLB, turning it into USDZ is the easy part: our free GLB to USDZ converter runs in the browser.

A real example: Whipps brought their entire water control solutions portfolio from CAD and STEP into 3D and Web AR on their website, with the output running in PausAR Viewer on the WordPress side.

Comparison

PropertySTEPGLB / USDZ
GeometryParametric, exactPolygonal, optimized for display
ApplicationCAD, engineeringWeb, AR, mobile display
Direct web displayNoYes

FAQ

Can I upload STEP files directly to WordPress?

Upload yes, display no. To show the model in the browser or in AR, you first convert it to GLB and USDZ. The GLB then goes into a 3D viewer like PausAR Viewer.

Which tools convert STEP to GLB and USDZ?

STEP-to-GLB is typically handled by CAD software (SolidWorks, Fusion, Inventor) with web-export plugins, or by professional conversion services. GLB-to-USDZ is straightforward and can be done with our free GLB to USDZ converter in the browser.

Do I lose accuracy in the conversion?

A bit, but for web display it is irrelevant. What matters is the right triangulation level. Too fine and files balloon, too coarse and the model looks faceted. A good service or workflow calibrates this for the intended display size.

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