Convert IGES to CGR in your application
3D InterOp is a CAD interoperability SDK that lets your software read IGES files and write CGR, generating the CGR mesh from the geometry it reads, with tessellation settings your application controls.
Spatial does not offer an online converter or a desktop conversion app. 3D InterOp is a component that software vendors embed in their own products.
- Reads IGES · Writes CGR
- Exact geometry → triangle mesh
- C++ / C# APIs
IGES to CGR at a glance
IGES stores exact geometry; CGR stores triangles. The translation is a tessellation, and the settings you choose decide how close the mesh stays to the original.
| IGES (source) | CGR (target) | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Initial Graphics Exchange Specification | CATIA Graphical Representation |
| Standard / owner | ANSI | Dassault Systèmes |
| File extensions | .igs, .iges | .cgr |
| Geometry | Exact B-Rep and surfaces | Tessellated geometry |
| Assemblies / structure | No native assembly hierarchy | Single part |
| 3D InterOp support | Read and write | Read and write |
What's preserved, what changes
Here is what your application can expect to carry across from IGES to CGR.
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Improved
Healed geometry3D InterOp heals IGES data automatically on import.
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Improved
Analytic shapesShapes the IGES file stores as splines are restored to their exact analytic form.
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Changes
Geometry is tessellatedThe exact IGES B-Rep is replaced by a triangle mesh, generated by 3D InterOp from the exact geometry it reads. Accuracy depends on the tessellation settings your application uses.
Why software vendors add IGES to CGR conversion
Lightweight review
CGR carries tessellated geometry that opens much faster than the full CAD model, so design reviews and digital mockups stay responsive.
Sharing outside engineering
Marketing, training and sales teams rarely have CAD software. A CGR file gives them the shape in a format their tools can open.
Easier handling of large assemblies
Without exact surfaces and feature data, CGR files are easier to transfer and display, even for large assemblies.
Things to check before you ship
- Written CGR versions: CATIA V5 R15 to V5-6 R2026, with the CATIA V5 writer.
- Supported IGES input: IGES files up to version 5.3.
- Test tessellation settings on your heaviest parts: finer meshes mean larger files.
- Validate a sample of translated files in the target system your users actually work with.
Working with Spatial was a real milestone for us: Thanks to the powerful 3DInterOp library, we were able to successfully bring our complex CAD-based solutions to the cloud while remaining flexible to meet individual customer requirements. For us, Spatial is not just a technology partner, but a true enabler of our product strategy.
Dr. Arno Michelis, Founder, Simus Systems
Read the Case StudyAbout the formats
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Source format
What is an IGES (.igs) file?
IGES is one of the earliest neutral CAD formats, an ANSI standard for exchanging 2D and 3D geometry. It stores exact curves, surfaces and solids, but not the product structure and manufacturing data STEP can carry.
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Target format
What is a CGR (.cgr) file?
CGR is CATIA’s lightweight graphical representation format. It stores a tessellated version of a part for fast display in large assemblies.
Frequently asked questions
3D InterOp tessellates the geometry it reads from IGES when it writes CGR. Your application sets the tolerances, so it controls the trade-off between accuracy and file size.
Yes. Healing runs automatically on IGES import, and shapes stored as splines are restored to their exact analytic form.
3D InterOp reads IGES files up to version 5.3.
3D InterOp writes CGR files with its CATIA V5 writer, for CATIA V5 R15 to V5-6 R2026.
Yes. 3D InterOp reads and writes both formats, so CGR to IGES is supported too.
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Building software that needs to convert IGES to CGR?
3D InterOp is an SDK that lets your application read IGES and write CGR alongside 30+ CAD and BIM formats.