IGES to IFC Conversion
Check out this easy guide to turn IGES into IFC with our powerful converter:
Install Autoconverter
Download and install Autoconverter or Autoshaper on your system. Launch the software to convert IGES files to IFC format.
Import IGES File
Click Open... to load your IGES (.igs, .iges) file, or drag and drop it into the application window.
Export to IFC Format
Use Save As... to export your file to the IFC file format (.ifc).
Is IGES to IFC conversion still giving you headaches? Our professional guides make IGES files conversion painless:
- Batch Convert 3D Mesh Files with Autoconverter (STEP, STL, OBJ & More)
- Automesher Desktop Application for Windows to Convert 3D File Formats
- Convert IFC File to Different Schema Version (IFC2x3, IFC4, IFC4x3, etc.)
- Convert SketchUp SKP Models with Component Instances to STEP
IGES File Format - Initial Graphics Exchange Explained
The IGES (Initial Graphics Exchange Specification) file format is widely used across CAD (Computer-Aided Design), CAM (Computer-Aided Manufacturing), and CAE (Computer-Aided Engineering) industries for transferring 3D models and complex designs between different software platforms. Developed in the 1980s and standardized by ANSI and ISO, IGES remains a crucial, legacy-neutral format for 3D data exchange, ensuring long-term interoperability.
What is an IGES (.IGS) File?
IGES files store detailed 3D CAD data using a text-based format that can represent wireframes, surfaces, and solid models. It enables seamless sharing of geometric information without dependency on proprietary software, making it ideal for collaborative projects across engineering, manufacturing, and design fields.
Key Features of the IGES/IGS Format
- Text-Based Geometry Storage: All geometric and structural data is saved in human-readable ASCII text, allowing easy manual editing but often resulting in larger file sizes for complex designs.
- Color Information: IGES supports color at the assembly level, preserving important visual distinctions between different components and parts in a model.
- Transparency Limitations: Unlike newer 3D file formats, IGES does not support transparency (alpha channels), meaning that opacity settings in original designs are not retained after export.
IGES/IGS File Conversion and Processing
Autoconverter offers complete read and write support for IGES files using the Open Cascade technology stack, ensuring full compatibility with the latest IGES specifications. It processes IGES data as triangulated mesh geometry for maximum compatibility. For workflows requiring preservation of native NURBS surfaces and smooth 3D definitions, we recommend using Autoshaper, which maintains original surface accuracy throughout the conversion process.
Industrial Foundation Classes (IFC) File Format
The IFC file format is an open, ISO-certified standard (ISO 16739) designed for the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry. As a vendor-neutral format, IFC facilitates seamless data exchange and interoperability between different software applications, eliminating proprietary barriers in collaborative building projects.
Key Capabilities of the IFC Format
The IFC format can store a comprehensive range of project data for AEC workflows, including:
- Detailed Geometry: The IFC format captures 3D representations through various entity types, such as solids, surfaces, curves, and point clouds, to accurately depict structures.
- Measurement Units: IFC supports diverse measurement systems (meters, inches, degrees, etc.), ensuring precise and consistent data interpretation across different software.
- Materials and Visual Properties: Control visual properties such as color and transparency using RGBA values for accurate representation of materials in the model.
- Optimized Storage: IFC's mapping system allows identical geometries to be referenced multiple times, improving storage efficiency and performance.
- Hierarchical Structure: Organize complex projects with named components and unique identifiers, making it easier to manage large-scale construction designs.
- Building Information Modeling (BIM): As a BIM-native format, IFC integrates building information such as properties, constraints, and relationships alongside geometry for comprehensive project data.
IFC File Conversion: BIM Interoperability Made Simple
Convert between IFC formats (including IFC2x3, IFC4 and IFC4.3) while preserving BIM properties and geometry data using Autoconverter or Automesher Application. Our tools maintain maximum compatibility when exporting to DWG, SKP, STL and OBJ formats, though some IFC-specific metadata may require manual mapping for optimal results in non-IFC conversions.
Easily import, export, and convert IFC files to various 3D formats with full support for custom properties. Try it now and optimize your AEC workflows!
IGES vs IFC Comparison
| Property | IGES | IFC |
|---|---|---|
| Extensions | .igs, .iges | .ifc |
| Name | Initial Graphics Exchange Specification | Industry Foundation Classes |
| Versions |
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| Textures | ||
| Colors | ||
| Geometry components | ||
| Readers | ||
| Writers |