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Introduction to ISO 10303 - the STEP Standard for Product Data Exchange

Published

Author(s)

Mike Pratt

Abstract

Since 1984 the International Organization for Standardization (ISO)has been working on the development of a comprehensive standard for the electronic exchange of product data between computer-based product life-cycle systems. Initial concentration has been on design and manufacturing applications. This standard, ISO 10303, is informally known as STEP (Standard for the Exchange of Product model data). Its scope is much broader than that of other existing Computer-Aided Design (CAD) data exchange formats, notably the Initial Graphics Exchange Specification (IGES), a US standard that has been in use for nearly twenty years. Whereas IGES was developed primarily for the exchange of pure geometric data between CAD systems, STEP is intended to handle a much wider range of product-related data covering the entire life cycle of a product.
Citation
Journal of Computing and Information Science in Engineering ASME

Keywords

CAD, IGES, ISO 10303, product life-cycle

Citation

Pratt, M. (2001), Introduction to ISO 10303 - the STEP Standard for Product Data Exchange, Journal of Computing and Information Science in Engineering ASME, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=821600 (Accessed April 26, 2024)
Created March 1, 2001, Updated February 17, 2017