About Exporting Parts and Assemblies to STEP
You can export part and assembly models to the STEP format. The following STEP application protocols are supported:
ap202_is
ap203_is (the default)
ap203_is_ext
ap203_e2
ap209_dis
ap214_is
ap242
The ap214_is, ap203_e2, and ap242 STEP application protocols export annotations such as GD&T, notes, and symbols. Datum entities such as datum points, curves, planes, axes, and datum coordinate systems are required for the export of annotations and are exported by default when annotations are exported. Quilts and hidden entities are also automatically exported when you export annotations.
Other items that are exported to the STEP format are as follows:
Facets
Cross-sections
Parameters that include the designated parameters
Planar and zonal cross-sections are exported only to the ap242 STEP application protocol. The offset cross-sections are converted to a set of zones for export. When you export a part with zonal cross-sections, multiple cross-sections are created and added to the model views. The cross-sections may be associated with the combined states of part and assembly models in Creo. You cannot export the cross-sections of assembly models to the STEP format.
Parameters, especially those designated for export, are automatically exported to the ap214_is, ap203_e2, and ap242 STEP protocols when annotations are exported. You can set the model representations for export. Part models are exported as is by default. If you select annotations for export, especially as display data, to the ap242 protocol, part models are exported as tessellated representations. You can export solids and quilts as is by default or as wireframes. Assemblies are exported to the STEP format as single files that include all the geometry of the assemblies by default. However, when you export assemblies to the ap214_is, ap203_e2, and ap242 protocols, you can export assembly structures as single files with part components as individual files or export assemblies, sub-assembly components, and part components as individual files. You can, additionally, export the components of assemblies as mapped objects.
You can export non-geometric data such as the display details of color, layers, and groups, material definition, name, and density, and geometric and assembly validation properties. You can specify the maximum surface deviation and the accuracy needed for surface approximation when converting surfaces to free-form surfaces. The graphical representations of Product Manufacturing Information (PMI) are exported in accordance with the AP242 format. The outlines of the true-type text fonts are extracted as closed-loop polylines.
You can create and use profiles for the export of part and assembly models to STEP. The STEP Export Profile Settings profile editor includes all options that control the export of 3D models to the STEP format and the various protocols of STEP. You must select STEP as the format and click Setup Export Profiles on the Creo Parametric Options dialog box to access the STEP Export Profile Settings export profile editor and create a default export profile for the STEP format before you begin exporting the part and assembly models to STEP. You can alternatively access the STEP Export Profile Settings export profile editor from the Save a Copy dialog box after you have started the export task. To access STEP Export Profile Settings at runtime, click Options on the Save a Copy dialog box after you select STEP as the format for export.