Convert IGES to USDZ
Free IGES to USDZ converter that runs in your browser. See real dimensions before you download.
How to convert IGES to USDZ
- Drop your IGES file onto the converter — it opens in your browser, nothing is uploaded.
- Check the preview and the dimensions in mm; fix units or the up axis in “Units & orientation” if the size or orientation looks wrong.
- Choose USDZ as the output and click Convert. Several files download as one ZIP.
What carries over from IGES to USDZ
| IGES | USDZ | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colour / materials | No | Yes | — |
| Textures | No | Yes | — |
| Units stored in file | Yes | Yes | Written as mm → metres |
| Separate parts | Yes | Yes | Kept |
| Usual up axis | Z | Y | Rotated (switchable) |
About IGES files
IGES was first published in 1980 by the US National Bureau of Standards, with participation from Boeing, General Electric and others, as one of the earliest standards for moving CAD data between different systems. Files use the .igs or .iges extension and are fixed-width 80-column text records divided into Start, Global, Directory Entry, Parameter Data and Terminate sections, a layout that reflects its punched-card heritage. IGES describes wireframe curves, trimmed and untrimmed NURBS surfaces, and, in later revisions, solids, but in practice it is mostly used for surface data. The format has not been updated since version 5.3 in 1996; STEP replaced it as the preferred standard. Even so, aerospace, automotive and tooling companies keep large IGES archives, and some CAM and surface-modelling programs still ask for it.
About USDZ files
USD, Universal Scene Description, was created at Pixar for film production and released as open source in 2016. USDZ was introduced by Apple and Pixar in 2018 as a single-file, uncompressed and unencrypted zip archive that packs a USD scene with its textures so it can be delivered and displayed without extra files. Apple built USDZ into iOS, iPadOS, macOS and visionOS: tapping a .usdz link in Safari or Messages opens AR Quick Look, where the object can be placed in the room at real-world scale. The file format is aligned with USD's metersPerUnit and upAxis metadata, and uses physically based UsdPreviewSurface materials. Retailers use it for product previews, and the format also appears in Reality Composer, Xcode and Blender's USD exporter. It is a viewing and AR format, so it plays no role in slicing.
3D printing notes
IGES is not a printing format, and slicers do not open it. The file must be tessellated to STL or 3MF first, and the surface-only nature of many IGES files creates the main difficulty: if patches are not stitched into a closed shell, the resulting mesh has holes and slicers report it as non-manifold. When that happens, stitch or sew the surfaces in your CAD program, or run a mesh repair afterwards. MeshShift reads IGES and IGS through OpenCascade in the browser, with draft, normal or fine tessellation, and then offers the print check to find open edges and rebuild a closed solid at the same size. It does not write IGES; STEP is the better target for CAD.
Frequently asked questions
Is this IGES to USDZ converter free and private?
Yes. The conversion runs in your browser with JavaScript and WebAssembly, so your IGES file is never uploaded to a server. There is no sign-up, no watermark and no daily limit; very large files are limited only by your device's memory.
Is IGES the same as IGS?
Yes. IGS is the three-letter extension used by systems that limited file names, and IGES is the full form. They contain the same data, and software that opens one will open the other, so renaming a .igs to .iges is safe.
How do I view a USDZ file on iPhone?
Open it from Files, Messages, Mail or a Safari link and tap it; AR Quick Look starts, and you can place the model in your room at real-world scale with the camera. No app install is needed on supported iPhones and iPads.