ISO 10303

ISO 10303 (Automation systems and integration — Product data representation and exchange) is a family of <a href="/facts/International_Organization_for_Standardization/IacYR7Yg">ISO</a> standards for <a href="/facts/Computer/SQe1aK05">computer</a>-interpretable representation (description) and exchange of <a href="/facts/Product_Manufacturing_Information/lgbyw1To">product manufacturing information</a> (PMI). It aims to provide interoperability between various <a href="/facts/Computer-aided_design/5gSXrmmN">computer-aided design</a> (CAD) software, assist with automation in <a href="/facts/Computer-aided_manufacturing/gqYHXcK9">computer-aided manufacturing</a> (CAM), and allows long-term archival of <a href="/facts/3D_geometry/tHH3JFoq">3D</a>, CAD and <a href="/facts/Product_data_management/9ATPbmAz">PDM</a> data. It is known informally as "STEP", which stands for "Standard for the Exchange of Product model data". Due to a large scope ISO 10303 is subdivided into approximately 700 underlying standards total. 
The standard includes Parts 11-18 and Part 21 that describe <a href="/facts/EXPRESS_(data_modeling_language)/lAmytNRX">EXPRESS</a> data schema definition language and <a href="/facts/STEP-file/WlGoNt7m">STEP-file</a> (also <a href="/facts/STEP-XML/zz4QEH70">STEP-XML</a>) used for textual representation of PMI data codified by the standard.: 59  These Parts serve as basis for the ISO 10303 and also used by some others standards, such as <a href="/facts/Industry_Foundation_Classes/7fGMA75q">IFC</a>. Application Protocols (AP) provided by the standard give information for its practical implementation in specific contexts. These describe scope, functional requirements, definitions requirements, and levels of conformance. Notable APs include:

<ul><li>AP238 (<a href="/facts/STEP-NC/37QYUxga">STEP-NC)</a> an underlying standard for CAD-model based <a href="/facts/Computer-aided_manufacturing/gqYHXcK9">CAM</a> and automated <a href="/facts/CNC/B2c7UbaX">CNC</a> machining.</li></ul>
<ul><li>AP242, a standard for CAD related data models for <a href="/facts/CAD_data_exchange/E2rphx4p">CAD data exchange</a>.</li></ul>
Excepting few underlying standards ISO10303 is not free and should be acquired via purchasing an individually issued license.
<a href="/facts/National_Institute_of_Standards_and_Technology/gr9Fnh85">NIST</a> (US) has provided various tools to view and analyze (<a href="/facts/Geometric_dimensioning_and_tolerancing/xlfqadu6">GD&T</a> conformance) STEP files, and work with EXPRESS schema language in <a href="/facts/Visual_Studio_Code/YsBDgKlK">VSCode</a> editor.

ISO 10303 open-in-new

ISO 10303