Convert PSM to VDA-FS in your application
3D InterOp is a CAD interoperability SDK that lets your software read PSM files and write VDA-FS, with exact B-Rep geometry carried across and nothing tessellated.
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 Solid Edge sheet metal · Writes VDA-FS
- Exact geometry → exact geometry
- C++ / C# APIs
PSM to VDA-FS at a glance
Both formats store exact geometry, so the model stays exact. The differences are in the product data each one can carry.
| Solid Edge sheet metal (source) | VDA-FS (target) | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Solid Edge Sheet Metal | VDA surface interface |
| Standard / owner | Siemens | VDA (German automotive industry) |
| File extensions | .psm | .vda |
| Geometry | Exact B-Rep | Exact curves and surfaces |
| Assemblies / structure | Part file | No assembly hierarchy |
| 3D InterOp support | Read only | Read and write |
What's preserved, what changes
Here is what your application can expect to carry across from Solid Edge sheet metal to VDA-FS.
-
Preserved
Exact geometrySolids and surfaces stay exact B-Rep. The model is never reduced to a triangle mesh.
Why software vendors add PSM to VDA-FS conversion
Legacy CAD and CAM systems
Many established engineering tools still consume VDA-FS first. Writing it lets your users hand data to them without leaving your application.
Supplier and partner exchange
Some suppliers and manufacturing partners still specify VDA-FS in their exchange requirements. Your software can meet them directly.
Geometry-only workflows
When a downstream process needs exact part geometry and nothing more, VDA-FS is a simple, widely readable target.
Things to check before you ship
- Written VDA-FS versions: VDA-FS 2.0.
- The VDA-FS writer isn’t available in 3D InterOp CGM.
- Supported PSM input: Solid Edge V18 to SE 2026.
- 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
-
Source format
What is a PSM (.psm) file?
A PSM file is a Siemens Solid Edge sheet metal part: a formed part with its bends, flanges and flat pattern.
-
Target format
What is a VDA-FS (.vda) file?
VDA-FS is a neutral surface-exchange format defined by the German automotive association VDA. It stores exact curves and free-form surfaces, and is still found in automotive supply chains.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Both formats store exact B-Rep geometry, so the model is translated without being tessellated into triangles.
No. The VDA-FS writer isn’t available in 3D InterOp CGM.
Yes. If your application uses Parasolid, a Parasolid-based Solid Edge reader is available for sheet metal parts too.
3D InterOp reads Solid Edge V18 to SE 2026.
3D InterOp writes VDA-FS 2.0.
No. 3D InterOp reads PSM but doesn’t write it. To send data back to Solid Edge users, write a neutral format they can import, such as STEP.
-
Building software that needs to convert PSM to VDA-FS?
3D InterOp is an SDK that lets your application read Solid Edge sheet metal and write VDA-FS alongside 30+ CAD and BIM formats.