CAD Formats

.step

The .STEP file format (Standard for the Exchange of Product Data) is a universal 3D CAD format used to transfer 3D models between different CAD and 3D printing software platforms. It is the most widely-used format for 3D printing, and is supported by most CAD and 3D printing software programs, including Solidworks, Autodesk Inventor, CATIA, Fusion 360, FreeCAD, and Blender. It is also widely used in the aerospace and automotive industries for product development.

.sldprt

The .sldprt file format is a 3D file format used to store 3D model data. It is widely used by 3D software such as SOLIDWORKS, Autodesk Inventor, and AutoCAD Mechanical. The file format is optimized for 3D design and can be used to create 3D prototypes, parts, components, and assemblies. The .sldprt file format is commonly exported to .stl, .step and .obj for 3D printing 

.stl

The .stl file format is a standard file type for 3D printing. It stands for "stereolithography" and is a CAD (Computer Aided Design) format used for creating 3D models. The .stl file format stores information about the surface geometry of the 3D model, including vertices, edges, and other features. The .stl format is very limited and does not contain geometry that can be easily updated. .step is preferred over .stl

.x_t & .x_b

The .x_t file format is  an open standard file format that is used to describe 3D objects or scenes for 3D moedls. It is based on the ISO 10303-21 standard and is used by a variety of CAD software packages. The .x_t format allows for the exchange of 3D models between different CAD programs and 3D printing services. It also includes support for color, texture, and other properties of 3D objects.