If a design is published with the intention of a possible remix, should the STEP file or native CAD file be included up front?Īre there categories or types of models where STEP files are always, or never, needed? Would a native CAD file for Solidworks or Inventor be of any use? If you customize or remix a design, do you try to use the STL or would a STEP file be preferable?

I would like to hear the desires of both designers and end users:Īre STL or 3MF files sufficient for most users needs? Is printable geometry all you want or need? What are others doing and what do they need/want?

And that leads me to question what I should be supplying when I publish a design. I'm sure there are many that just download and print with no thought of ever making changes. If the original CAD files or at least STEP files are not included then I reverse engineer the whole thing from the STL. Because it's either never quite what I need or I don't like the way it was originally designed. If I download a design then I tend to do remix.

But what other file types should be included? STL is still the standard for publishing files destined for 3D printing.

Freecad 3mf