Standards

Standards related to CAD/CAM/CAE

STEP (ISO 10303)

 * STandard for Exchange of Product model data
 * A very complex standard for everything from simple drafting to NC machining. Widely used.

Official references

 * http://www.tc184-sc4.org/SC4_Open/SC4%20Legacy%20Products%20(2001-08)/STEP_(10303)/

Other references

 * Wikipedia article
 * List of STEP (ISO 10303) parts
 * STEP-NC

Software

 * Open
 * STEP Class Library (There are patches to make the code more up-to-date.)
 * Step Toybox
 * STEP-NC Toolkit
 * Part 21 Parser Generator
 * Proprietary
 * ST-Developer by STEP Tools, Inc.

G-code (RS-274)

 * The last official version of the standard, RS-274D, was published in 1980. The many variations of G-code in use today have diverged significantly from that standard.

IGES

 * Initial Graphics Export Specification

STL

 * STereo Lithography format, originally for rapid prototyping machines
 * Defines a mesh of triangles approximating the surface of a model. Widely used despite its lossy nature.