Tutorials PartCraft help Reference
File formats
Every file PartCraft reads and writes, with extensions, units, axes and what each one keeps or loses.
Written for PartCraft 0.3. The same help is inside the app: press F1.
| Format | Extension | Open | Save or export | Units | Up axis | Keeps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PartCraft part | .partcraft.json | Yes | Save | mm | Y | The full history: sketches, relations, dimensions, features, suppression, rollback, curves setting, drawing settings and GD&T, imported STEP text |
| PartCraft assembly | .partcraft-asm.json | Yes | Save in an assembly | mm | Y | Every part (embedded), the copies and their positions, the joints |
| STL (binary) | .stl | No | STL, for 3D printing | mm | Z | The solid's triangles only |
| 3MF | .3mf | No | 3MF, for 3D printing | mm (stated in the file) | Z | The solid as one mesh object |
| STEP (AP203, AP214, AP242) | .step, .stp | Yes, as an imported solid (exact kernel) | mm | Z, or Y if you say so | The solids; no colors, names, assembly structure or PMI | |
| STEP AP242, exact | .step | STEP AP242 (exact solid) | mm | Z | The exact solid with true curved surfaces (exact kernel) | |
| STEP AP214, exact | .step | STEP AP214 (exact solid) | mm | Z | The same, as AP214 | |
| STEP AP242, faceted | .step | STEP (faceted, mesh kernel) | mm | Y | A closed solid of flat faces: round surfaces as facets | |
| DXF R12, sketch | .dxf | No | DXF of the sketch or flat face with a sketch selected | mm | Sketch's own x, y | Lines, true arcs and circles, points; layers PROFILE, CONSTRUCTION, POINTS |
| DXF R12, face | .dxf | No | DXF of the sketch or flat face with a flat face picked | mm | Face's own x, y | The face's outlines as closed polylines (round edges as facets) |
| PDF drawing | .pdf | No | Drawing (PDF): views, section, detail, GD&T | mm on an A3 sheet | Front, top, right, isometric, section and detail views, hidden lines, overall sizes, GD&T symbols, title block |
The PartCraft files
Both are plain text (JSON). The solid is never stored: PartCraft rebuilds it from the history, so files stay small and always match the history.
- Each file has a version number. This build writes part files as version 2 and assembly files as version 1, and opens every older version. A file from a newer PartCraft is refused with a message naming both versions.
- Every value is checked when a file opens. Names lose control characters; numbers out of range, references to missing features and unknown feature kinds are refused with a plain reason.
- Do not edit these files by hand unless you know the format. A file that does not pass the checks will not open.
- A part with a large imported STEP solid can pass 50 MB, the most PartCraft opens as a part file. Keep imported STEP files small (see Troubleshooting).
Facets and exactness
STL, 3MF and the face DXF are always made of facets, at the Curves setting. The sketch DXF has true arcs and circles, because it comes straight from the sketch. With the exact kernel, the exact STEP and the drawing's views have true curves; with the mesh kernel only, they are faceted too (and only the faceted STEP is available).
Not supported in this build
| Format | Status |
|---|---|
| glTF, OBJ, IGES, Parasolid, ACIS (in or out) | Not built |
| STL or 3MF import | Not built |
| DWG | Not built. Export DXF; every CAD program opens R12 DXF |
| Assembly export (STL, STEP, drawing of an assembly) | Not built |
| Other programs' native part and assembly files | Not built |