Step Exports

STEP export from Altium to Third Party

Any Altium PCB document should be considered a candidate for Step export. Apart from proclaiming which objects are to be included, no other actions should be necessary in order to create compliance with major third party MCAD software. The exported file is in accordance with ISO-10303-21 and the files should be recognised as AP-214 version software.

 

Exports of Boards and footprint components

Altium Designer exports step files via the File » Export menu. By selecting .STEP as the file extension, the save function will begin the export set up.

You are immediately presented with a dialog describing that all Step files are exported according to an absolute origin. You will be prompted to select which objects to export. Altium's protocol in this instance is to include by means of previously selected objects.

This means that if you wish to be selective about which components to export, you will need to make certain actions before you begin the save process. For instance, if you choose to export selected components - and none have been selected - this will ensure that no such objects will be exported into the file. This image displays the export choices.

{Note} One note of advice - the step export file will retain the view configuration for colours of soldermasks, only if the export is carried out whilst in the 3D view state. If you choose to export whilst in the 2D view, the export will retain individual component information for appearance, but the board will be exported as a standard green colour. {Note}

The saved file can be imported back into Altium Designer as part of an assembly of another main board in a PCB document. The recently saved STEP file will be the default drive and path directory for the next import process making a comparison style import of a step file placed next to the original - or placed in another document - an easy practice.

This image is of an assembly stack example where several boards have been exported and then 'Placed' (imported) into an Altium Designer main board document to check their physical alignment characteristics along with a through hole connector.

This kind of process can determine connector selections based on their ability to be handled or auto assembled in large volumes.

This can be useful for making comparisons when importing the step files you have created alongside the original - as in the image below. Because Altium does not export either copper or text, the file size is reduced without losing mechanical information about individual objects on the board.


 

The resultant step files of populated boards can be imported into many third party CAD tools for whatever purpose is required. Most third party tools will involve options or filters which may need to be configured in order to enable the imported models to draw as expected. The following example is from the Solidworks 2008, SP5 Step import options list. The settings in this example should be considered as a reasonable standard when importing Step files exported from Altium Designer software.