FIELD MANUAL / IGES / IGS

How to open an IGES file on iPhone, iPad or Mac

IGES is a long-standing neutral CAD exchange format used for curves, surfaces, wireframes and product geometry. Most IGES files contain analytic or NURBS data rather than ready-to-draw triangles, so a lightweight mesh viewer may identify the file without rendering its curved geometry.

PROCEDURE / 03

Open. Verify. Inspect.

A short workflow that preserves the original engineering file and makes the format limits visible before you rely on the result.

  1. 01

    Keep the original IGES file

    Save the .iges or .igs file in Files, iCloud Drive or a location available through the Apple document picker. Keep an untouched copy for reference.

  2. 02

    Import it into CadRoam

    Select the file in CadRoam. Detection and inspection happen on the device; the engineering file is not sent to a developer-operated conversion service.

  3. 03

    Check the reported result

    Review the identified format and any available structure or metadata. If no visible mesh appears, request a tessellated STL or indexed OBJ export from the source CAD system.

FORMAT CHECK / HONEST SCOPE
RecognisedIGES and IGS engineering files
Likely resultFile information or metadata
Not guaranteedVisible curved IGES geometry
Best fallbackTessellated STL or indexed OBJ

Why IGES often needs tessellation

IGES can describe trimmed surfaces, NURBS curves, wireframes and other precise geometric entities. A real-time 3D renderer needs those entities converted into triangles before it can draw them.

That conversion is called tessellation. Its result depends on tolerances and topology, so it is better performed by a compatible CAD engine or by the system that created the model than guessed by a basic file viewer.

Choose a practical fallback

Ask for STL when you need a straightforward triangle mesh for visual review. Ask for indexed OBJ when object or group divisions matter. Keep the original IGES file alongside the review copy so engineering data is not lost.

If exact surfaces, tolerances or manufacturing features must be checked, use the source CAD application or a validated engineering workflow instead of relying on a tessellated preview.

Keep sensitive geometry local

Uploading an IGES model to a browser converter can disclose customer geometry or unreleased product details. CadRoam performs its supported inspection locally and does not upload model contents to Eutopix Labs.

A sender should still remove confidential or irrelevant components before distributing any derivative mesh to another person.

QUESTIONS / SCOPE

Before you rely on the view.

Why does my IGES file show no model?

It probably contains curves or B-Rep surfaces without a triangle mesh. CadRoam can recognise the file but may not have renderable geometry.

Should I convert IGES to STL?

For visual mesh review, an STL export from the source CAD system is a practical fallback. Retain the IGES original because STL does not preserve precise surfaces or design structure.

Is an online IGES converter required?

No. Ask the sender or source CAD system for a review export when possible, especially for confidential engineering data.