What is the difference between Parasolid data and Step data?

Rhino
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Hello.
I am confused about the intermediate file format when passing 3D data created with Rhinoceros to the supplier. When I checked, Parasolid seems to be good, but I don’t understand the difference with Step. Can you tell me thank you.

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They are two different file formats. Both format support curves, surfaces, and solids.

What problem are you trying to solve?

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Hi Hiroki - I guess parasolid/X_T is associated with the parasolid modeling kernel whereas Step is a more general purpose exchange format for transferring files among different cad systems. Rhino writes to (an old version of) X_T but does not read X_T.

-Pascal

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Sorry for my late reply.

Mr,John
The content of data exchanged is mainly solids and surfaces.

I usually use Step files, but I recently learned about Parasolid.
I want to know what Parasolid is better than Step.

Mr,Pascal
Parasolid kernel CAD (NX, SolidWorks, etc.)
If the other party uses the above CAD, is it better to pass it as parasolid data?

In other words, is it an advantage that it is more accurate and easier to see than steps? Please let us know if there are any other benefits of Parasolid.

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Hi Hiroki - Rhino’s X_T export is very old, so that in itself may be a consideration. In any case, I would use Step. Not that I am particularly expert, but I do not know anything that would be more accurately conveyed from Rhino as Parasolid. I suppose Parasolid might be helpful if there is a construction tree that can be maintained across platforms, for example but Rhino does not have any of that.

-Pascal

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STEP is abbreviation from “Standard for the Exchange of Product Data”. So I would say that it is the intermediate file format that you are looking for. It’s literally made to exchange data between different CAD software.

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So, is STEP data larger when importing? I need to import models from a vendor, and I usually need to turn that layer off when working on an assembly. Is there a way to take the model received as a STEP and reduce the size?

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Short answer, no. You just have to put up with it, or ask the vendor to stop sending piles of unneeded crap.

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In this case- I will be putting up with it. Thanks for the help!!