CAD-CAM Data Exchange:

The interface SET transferred information on wire-frames, surfaces, B-representation and FEM models as well as technical drawings and scientific data. It features a much more general data structure than IGES. The data is stored in a very compressed form thus the neutral file size is much smaller and processing time is much shorter than for IGES.

VDAFS interface was developed by the German automobile industry for transfer of 3-D curves and surfaces for which IGES offers unsatisfactory solutions.

To improve the deficiencies of IGES, SET and VDAFS interfaces, CAD-1 interface was developed which could directly interact with STEP.

STEP community is the process of defining and standardising a number of domain specific applications. Protocols that shall define neutral files readable by any CAD/CAM systems.

UPR provides data unification where different terms are utilized.