CAD File Format

Computer Aided Design is a computer technology that used for the creation of 2-dimensional or 3-dimensional models.

• CAD is also known as Computer Aided Design and Drafting(CADD).
• To produce detailed engineering designs through 3-D and 2-D drawings of the physical components of manufactured products.
• 2D CAD files are often referred to as drawings, 3D files are called models, parts or assemblies. 
• Common CAD file extensions include .DWG, .DXF, .DGN, .STl, .DWF.

CAD file formats are supported by AutoCAD. All drawings are saved in .dwg file format by default.

• Today there are various software available in the market using all other different file formats.
• Different modules of software support different CAD file formats.
• Some of the CAD file formats that are supported by AutoCAD.
• .DWF
• .DXF
• .ACIS
• .BMP

.DWF :

• DWF stands for Drawing Web Format.
• DWF file format is suitable for web publishing of drawing.

.DXF :

• DXF file is a text file that contains all the information of the drawing.
• It is readable in most of the other CAD system or software.

CAD file formats supported by Solidedge and Pro Engineer.

• IGES(Intial Graphics Exchange specification)
• STEP(Standard for Exchange of Product model Data)

Some of the CAD file viewer software :

• AutoCAD viewer.
• AnyCAD viewer.
• Bentley view.
• MiniCAD viewer.