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3D Modeling Glossary

Understand the definitions of 3D modeling key terms with our glossary. Navigate this page to learn about the essential concepts of 3D development.

Glossary

bs 1192

A British standard for organizing and managing construction information, ensuring consistent documentation in building projects.

COBie BIM File

COBie (Construction-Operations Building Information Exchange) is a data format for capturing and exchanging building asset information.

IFC

IFC (Industry Foundation Classes) is a vendor-neutral BIM format for interoperability among architectural, engineering, and construction.

NWD file format

A Navisworks .NWD file for viewing, reviewing, and combining 3D building or structural designs in a single environment.

Revit File Format

Autodesk Revit’s .RVT file, used for Building Information Modeling (BIM) in architecture, structural, and MEP design.

What is Clash Detection

Identifies overlapping or colliding elements within a BIM model, preventing design conflicts before construction.

CAD Morphing

Deforming B-Rep models according to a vector field (e.g., smooth displacement), while preserving design intent.

Direct Editing

Modifying geometry without a parametric feature tree, enabling quick changes to “dumb” solids.

Extrusion

Creating 3D geometry by extending (or sweeping) a 2D profile in a straight or curved path.

Faceting

Approximating solid or surface geometry by dividing it into flat polygons (facets), often for visualization or formats like STL.

Lofting

Generating a shape (surface or solid) by blending multiple cross-sections along a path or between guide curves.

Subtract

A Boolean operation that removes the intersecting volume of one solid from another.

Sweep

Forming geometry by sweeping a 2D profile along a user-defined 3D path.

Mesh Generation

The process of subdividing geometry into discrete elements (mesh) for FEA or CFD simulations.

How to Repair STL Files

Steps or tools to fix STL mesh errors (holes, inverted normals, overlapping faces) to ensure a valid, watertight model for 3D printing/analysis.

JT File Format

A lightweight 3D format (.JT) by Siemens for product visualization and collaboration, often used in PLM workflows.

How to Open STP file in Autocad

A guide on importing or opening STEP (.STP) files in AutoCAD for further editing or reference.

Catpart to 3D xml

Converting a CATIA V5 .CATPart file into the 3D XML format for lightweight viewing, collaboration, or data sharing.

Catpart to IGES Converter

Exporting .CATPart files to the IGES neutral format, enabling interoperability with non-CATIA CAD systems.

Catpart to STL

Transforming CATIA .CATPart files into STL format, commonly used for 3D printing or mesh-based simulation.

Catpart to STL

(Label provided as “Catpart to STL” but the URL is for STP) Converting CATIA .CATPart to STP (STEP), another widely used neutral CAD format for interoperability.

IGES to CAD

Translating IGES geometry into a native CAD format so the model can be edited or used directly in that system.

IGES to STL

A workflow converting IGES data (surfaces/curves) into a triangulated STL mesh, commonly for 3D printing or analysis.

IGES to STP

Converting IGES geometry to the STEP format (STP), facilitating data exchange between different CAD platforms.

How to view 3D XML file formats

Tools or methods (e.g., Dassault’s 3D XML Player) for opening and viewing 3D XML files, including geometry and PMI data.

Converting IGES to 3D-XML

A process or utility for converting IGES models into Dassault’s 3D XML format, often for lighter-weight sharing or visualization.

CAD Import

A general term for bringing CAD data (e.g., SOLIDWORKS, CATIA) into another system or environment.

Wireframe Modeling

A basic 3D modeling technique displaying only edges and vertices without surfaces or volumetric data.

3dm file

A .3DM file, commonly used by Rhino3D, which stores NURBS-based 3D geometry and is compatible with other design or graphics tools.

CAD File Format

A general term for 2D/3D design data files created by CAD software, including both proprietary (e.g., CATPart) and neutral (e.g., STEP) formats.

IGES file format

IGES (Initial Graphics Exchange Specification) is a vendor-neutral file format for exchanging 2D/3D CAD data between different systems.

Part file format

A generic term for a CAD system’s native “part” file (e.g., .SLDPRT, .CATPart) storing 3D geometry, features, and metadata.

STL Files

A mesh format (.STL) that approximates surfaces with triangles, commonly used in 3D printing and rapid prototyping.

What is an IGES file?

Explains the .iges file format as a neutral exchange mechanism for transferring 2D or 3D geometry among different CAD platforms.

What is an STP File?

STP (STEP) is an ISO-standard neutral file format used to exchange 3D product data across different CAD systems.

What Is a .dwg File?

DWG is the native file format of Autodesk AutoCAD, widely used for 2D drafting and 3D design data.

SOLIDWORKS File Format

SOLIDWORKS’ proprietary extensions (.SLDPRT, .SLDASM, .SLDDRW) for parts, assemblies, and drawings in mechanical design.

SAT File Format

A text-based ACIS file (.SAT) containing precise 3D geometry, used by various CAD and modeling applications.

Rhino File

Another reference to .3DM, the native file for Rhinoceros (Rhino3D), known for free-form NURBS modeling.

X_T File Format

A Parasolid “transmit” file (.X_T) used for precise 3D geometry in Parasolid-based systems.

WRL File Format

A VRML (.WRL) file describing 3D geometry, colors, and basic attributes; historically used for simple web-based 3D viewing.

What is the Catpart File Extension?

A .CATPart file is the CATIA V5 native format for storing 3D part geometry, parametric features, and related metadata.

CAD

CAD (Computer-Aided Design) is the process of creating, modifying, and optimizing 2D/3D designs using computer software.

CAD Associativity

The ability to maintain links to a master model, so any design changes are automatically propagated to associated files or assemblies.

Geometric Modeling Kernel

The core “engine” in many CAD systems (e.g., ACIS, Parasolid) that manages geometry definitions and topological operations.

Semantic PMI Import

The import of Product Manufacturing Information (dimensions, tolerances, annotations) in a way that retains semantic intelligence rather than just graphics.

SOLIDWORKS Model Based Definition (MBD)

Incorporates manufacturing annotations (dimensions, tolerances, etc.) directly into 3D SOLIDWORKS models, minimizing reliance on 2D drawings.

Solid Modeling

A 3D modeling approach where objects are represented by volume, enabling robust engineering analysis and manufacturing workflows.

Surface Modeling

A method of defining and manipulating smooth surfaces (often NURBS) to represent complex free-form shapes in CAD.

What is Hybrid Modeling?

Combines multiple modeling techniques (solid, surface, direct, etc.) within a single CAD environment for greater design flexibility.

What is the 3D XML file format used for?

3D XML is Dassault Systèmes’ lightweight format containing geometry, textures, and PMI data for easy sharing and visualization.

CAE

Computer-Aided Engineering encompasses simulation, validation, and optimization (FEA, CFD, etc.) in product development.

Finite Element Method (FEM)

A numerical method that divides geometry into smaller elements to analyze stress, heat, or other physical phenomena (Finite Element Analysis).

Simulation Modeling Process

The end-to-end CAE workflow: import CAD, mesh, define boundary conditions, run solver, then analyze results.

Parasolid

A widely adopted modeling kernel (by Siemens) that provides robust solid/surface modeling, Boolean operations, and more.

3d toolkit

A set of software libraries/frameworks enabling the creation, manipulation, or visualization of 3D data in various solutions.

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3D Modeling Glossary

Glossary

bs 1192

COBie BIM File

IFC

NWD file format

Revit File Format

What is Clash Detection

CAD Morphing

Direct Editing

Extrusion

Faceting

Lofting

Subtract

Sweep

Mesh Generation

How to Repair STL Files

JT File Format

How to Open STP file in Autocad

Catpart to 3D xml

Catpart to IGES Converter

Catpart to STL

Catpart to STL

IGES to CAD

IGES to STL

IGES to STP

How to view 3D XML file formats

Converting IGES to 3D-XML

CAD Import

Wireframe Modeling

3dm file

CAD File Format

IGES file format

Part file format

STL Files

What is an IGES file?

What is an STP File?

What Is a .dwg File?

SOLIDWORKS File Format

SAT File Format

Rhino File

X_T File Format

WRL File Format

What is the Catpart File Extension?

CAD

CAD Associativity

Geometric Modeling Kernel

Semantic PMI Import

SOLIDWORKS Model Based Definition (MBD)

Solid Modeling

Surface Modeling

What is Hybrid Modeling?

What is the 3D XML file format used for?

CAE

Finite Element Method (FEM)

Simulation Modeling Process

Parasolid

3d toolkit

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