Convert STEP to USDZ
Free STEP to USDZ converter that runs in your browser. See real dimensions before you download.
How to convert STEP to USDZ
- Drop your STEP 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 STEP to USDZ
| STEP | USDZ | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colour / materials | Yes | Yes | Kept |
| 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 STEP files
STEP, formally ISO 10303 and known as the Standard for the Exchange of Product model data, has been developed since the 1980s and is the main neutral format for moving CAD models between companies and systems. The usual application protocols are AP203 and AP214 for geometry and assemblies, and AP242 for modern product and manufacturing information. A .step or .stp file is plain text written in the EXPRESS-based Part 21 syntax. Unlike STL, it does not store triangles: it stores boundary representation (B-rep) geometry, meaning exact planes, cylinders, splines and NURBS surfaces joined by edges and faces into solids. That keeps holes perfectly round and dimensions precise, and allows the receiving CAD to keep editing faces. Files can contain assemblies, product structure, colours and units.
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
Most slicers cannot read STEP, though some, like PrusaSlicer, will import it and mesh it internally, so the usual step is exporting STL or 3MF from your CAD program. Tessellation quality decides how smooth the printed curves look: too coarse and cylinders become visible facets, too fine and files grow huge. MeshShift reads STEP and STP using OpenCascade in the browser and lets you pick draft, normal or fine tessellation. When it writes STEP, the result is a faceted B-rep: a solid made of flat triangular faces, not a parametric CAD model, so it will not give you editable holes or fillets. Use it to exchange a mesh as a solid, not to recover design intent.
Frequently asked questions
Is this STEP to USDZ converter free and private?
Yes. The conversion runs in your browser with JavaScript and WebAssembly, so your STEP 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.
What is the difference between STEP and STP?
Nothing in the content. Both extensions hold the same ISO 10303 Part 21 text; .stp exists because older systems limited extensions to three letters. Any program that reads one reads the other, and renaming the file is enough.
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.