The STEP format is quite a strong standard in the mechanical CAD world and thus is a good format for passing data between various packages. In Altium Designer 6.3 we added the ability to export STEP from our 3D system. STEP model import is the next step to providing good MCAD integration. As it:

• allows users to import STEP data and use it to model components on their designs.
• effectively allows a much wider source for component models as almost all MCAD packages can export STEP.
• allows for a much higher accuracy in the 3D representation and subsequent STEP export. Particularly important where this data is used to model enclosures and stands etc.