CAD/CAM File Extensions

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Help everyone out. If you have a file with an extension not listed here. Tell us about it and we will add it to this list.

File Extension CAD System File Description/Comments
.3dm Rhino Thanks to Adam Peszel
.3dxml 3D XML Thanks to Adam Peszel
.ai Adobe Illustrator Files Thanks to Adam Peszel
.ALA EE DESIGNER III
.art or .ART Gerber RS-274 (D or X) ASCII data file
Thanks to Nick Meeker, Tech Circuits, Inc.
.ART PCB Artwork file Vutrax PCB Design Suite
thanks to John Coneyworth
.ART PCB Wire file Vutrax PCB Design Suite
thanks to John Coneyworth
.ASC OrCAD Capture Netlist files for PADS PCB tools. Thanks Mac
.ASC PADS Design database ASCII file
.asc PROTEL PFW Schematic ASCII File, human readable.
.asc LTSPICE capture file ASCII File, human readable. Thanks to Mike Lindberg of Philips Electronics
.asm Pro-E assembly file Graphic file, thanks Phillip A. Miller
.asm I-DEAS NX assembly fille Seimens/UGS, thanks Mark Landin, TD Williamson, Inc.
.asm Solid Edge Assembly Thanks to Adam Peszel
.asmdot SolidWorks Assembly Template Thanks to Adam Peszel
.ast ProductView 3D Viewer Annotation Redline file from PTC Graphic file, thanks Dwight Eskridge
.atr CAMCAD Attribute File
.bart BobCAD-CAM BobART surface file Thanks to Greg Myers of BobCAD-CAM
.bbcd BobCAD-CAM V22 and newer file Thanks to Greg Myers of BobCAD-CAM
.BBN ALLEGRO-CADENCE Bare Board net list
.bcom BobCAD-CAM Milling CAM Feature Thanks to Greg Myers of BobCAD-CAM
.bcot BobCAD-CAM Turning CAM Feature Thanks to Greg Myers of BobCAD-CAM
.BD1 ORCAD PCB 386 (DOS) Binary database (Board)
Thanks to Mac
.bdf IDF Thanks to Adam Peszel
.bnr Unicad / Unisoft
.BRD Eagle Software PCB board file, See .sch,.lbr, .scr, and .ulp
Thanks to Tally ofHarvard Engineering, LLC . CAD Soft bought out by Autodesk
.BRD CADENCE/VALID ALLEGRO Bare Board net list, Board drawings are .brd
.brd IDF Thanks to Adam Peszel
.BRD Mentor Board Outline (Boardstation) Thanks to Mike Comstock, Northrup Grumman Corporation
.BRD OrCAD PCB II Board file, Thanks to Mac @ EMA Technical Support
.BWB VariCAD 2D/3D CAD Software Graphics file, Thanks to Bojan Ivancic
.bsf Zuken CR3000 Layout Placements, Layers, and Symbols.  Thanks to Patrick Casey
.cad BobCAD-CAM V21 and older file Thanks to Greg Myers of BobCAD-CAM
.CAD GenCAD ASCII File
.catalog CATIA V5 catalog file Thanks to Dave Baldwin, Idex Solutions
.CATDrawing CATIA V5 Drawing file Thanks to Dave Baldwin, Idex Solutions
.CATfct CATIA V5 Feature Dictionary file Thanks to Dave Baldwin, Idex Solutions
.CATMaterial CATIA V5 Material file Thanks to Dave Baldwin, Idex Solutions
.CATNis CATIA V5 Naming Equivalency file Thanks to Dave Baldwin, Idex Solutions
.CatPart CATIA V5 part file Thanks to William Stockton, IDEX Solutions
.CatProduct CATIA V5 product file Thanks to William Stockton, IDEX Solutions
.CATSpecs CATIA V5 Specifications file Thanks to Dave Baldwin, Idex Solutions
.CATSystem CATIA V5 Functional System file Thanks to Dave Baldwin, Idex Solutions
.cc CAMCAD layout File Router Solutions, Inc.  Thanks to Sonic. 
.cbt Cerec 3D CAD-CAM File Archive of many files. Thanks to LCE Wong
.ccz CAMCAD PCB layout File (Zip Compressed) Mentor Graphics Thanks to Andreas Schaefer, of Fujitsu
.ccf Zuken ASCII file Board specific technology (layer counts, units, etc).  Thanks to Patrick Casey of SWEMCO.
.CDI CADSTAR
.cgr Catia Graphics Thanks to Adam Peszel
.CII SCICARDS
.CKD KEYCREATOR KEYCREATOR is the next generation of CADKEY Thanks to Luca Cariglia, C.E.O. of Kubotek 
.ckd CADKEY Drawing Thanks to Adam Peszel
.CMP MENTOR ASCII files
.cor Veribest EIF Layout Requires a number of files:
cel, clr, cor, des, pad, pin, tec, & trn
.cvg 258X (IPC-2581) CAM file 258X is an XML-based CAM file format specified by IPC-2581 (http://web.ipc.org). It contains complete information for fabrication of high complexity PCBs and may be used for exchanging information between ECAD and CAM systems (including board fabrication, board test, assembly and assembly test).
Thanks to Brian F. G. Bidulock
.D Accumark Thanks to Brandon Kiely, P.Eng
.DAT OrCAD Capture Netlist files to Cadence Allegro
(Capture 9.2.1 and newer). Thanks Mac.
.DAT SCICARDS
.db Ansys file Thanks Phillip A. Miller
.dbb Ansys back-up file Thanks Phillip A. Miller
.dc DeltaCAD file http://www.dcad.com/
Thanks Dennis Stickley (Woods)
.DDB PROTEL PCB Native PCB Database File.
.DDB ORCAD386 Native PCB Database File.
Thanks to Plamen Paneleev
.DES Pro/DESKTOP Thanks to Scott Beatty, Ricardo, Inc.
.DFT Solid Edge Drawing File Thanks to Ryan Gudorf.
.DGN MicroStaion Drawing File Bentley's flagship enginneering design platform
Thanks to Al Lakomyj
.DGN PCB Schematic file Vutrax PCB Design Suite
thanks to John Coneyworth
.dms DMIS V3 ANSI CAM
.dpf Barco Dynamic Plot Format
Thanks Nick Meeker
.dll Add-Ins Thanks to Adam Peszel
.drl Excellon Drill and Route ASCII File
.drw SolidWorks drawing file Thanks to Adam Peszel
.DRW Teradyne/Case Vanguard Drawing file, thanks Howard Fischer
.drwdot SolidWorks Drawing Template Thanks to Adam Peszel
.DSN OrCAD Capture Binary Schematic database. Thanks Mac
.DSN SPECCTRA Autorouter design file format Thanks Morrie Lewin, Analog Devices
.DTS OrCAD Layout Drill Tape Summary Report. Thanks Tim Ewell, Technical Support Engineer, OrCAD/Cadence Products.
.DWB VeriCAD 2D/3D CAD Software Graphics File, Thanks to Bojan Ivancic
.dwf Design Web File DWF - Design Web Format, the industry standard for sharing data-rich design files electronically. Small, fast, and secure, the DWF format preserves the fidelity and integrity of designs. Access complex design data without the originating design application.
Thanks to Darren Jenkins.
.dwg CirCad by Holophase Inc. Drawing File. See .sch and .pcb
Thanks to Dick Zimmer.
.dwg Pro-E drawing file Graphic file, thanks Phillip A. Miller
.DWG Native AutoCAD® file format Graphic file, thanks to Nick Meeker, Tech Circuits, Inc.
.dxf AutoCAD ASCII Graphics File Drawing File.
Thanks to David Lui.
.dxk OrCAD Schematic File Binary File
Thanks to Svetla Minkova
.e2 Thinkdesign Drawing Binary File
Thanks to John Chlebus
.e3 Thinkdesign Model Binary File
Thanks to John Chlebus
.ed ProductView 3D Viewer Product Structure File from PTC Binary File
Thanks to Dwight Eskridge
.eda InterComm Expert ECAD View & Markup File from PTC (formerly Ohio Design) Binary File
Thanks to Dwight Eskridge
.edz ProductView 3D Viewer Compressed Package 3D/2D File from PTC Binary File
Thanks to Dwight Eskridge
.edf EDIF V200...V400 ASCII File
.egs HP EGS Archive
.emn IDF V3.0 Board Intermediate Data Format (IDF) Verision 3.0 Board file. IDF is an vendor-neutral format for exchanging ECAD and MCAD information between pcb layout systems and mechanical CAD systems. This extension is for the Board file.
Thanks to Brian F. G. Bidulock
.emp IDF V3.0 Library Intermediate Data Format (IDF) Version 3.0 Library file. IDF is a vendor-neutral format for exchanging ECAD and MCAD information between pcb layout systems and mechanical CAD systems. This extension is for the Library file.
Thanks to Brian F. G. Bidulock
.eprt eDrawings Thanks to Adam Peszel
.eps Encapsulated Postscript Like .ps but contains additional data for making more transportable to different printing environments.  Thanks to David Inman
.ex Excellon Drill and Route ASCII File
.FAB Fabmaster File Thanks to Jeremy Williamson, Electronic Source Company
.feat CATIA V5 Feature Dictionary Application file Thanks to Dave Baldwin, IDEX Solutions
.FFS HyperLynx BoardSim Free Form Schematic file for signal integrity Thanks to Max Pillie, Mentor Graphics Corp.
.fmz FormZ program by AutoDesSys Thanks to Shane Brown.
.fr Excellon Drill and Route ASCII File
.ftf FABMASTER FATF
.g Micromark Thanks to Brandon Kiely, P.Eng.
.gbr Gerber (RS-274-X) ASCII File with D Codes,
aperture table included.
.gbx/.GBX Gerber (RS-274-X) ASCII File with D Codes,
aperture table included.
.gcm GenCAM (IPC-2511A) GenCAM is an ASCII CAM file format specified by IPC-2511A (http;//web.ipc.org). It contains complete information for fabrication of now rather simple PCBs.
Thanks to Brian F. G. Bidulock
.gcx GenCAM-XML, GenX (IPC-2511B) GenCAM-XML (or simply GenX) is an XML-based CAM file format specified by IPC-2511B (http://web.ipc.org). It contains complete information for fabrication of medium complexity PCBs.
Thanks to Brian F. G. Bidulock
.gds GDSii Data Conveys integrated circuit layout data.  Thanks to David Inman
.ger Gerber (RS-274-X) ASCII File with D Codes,
aperture table included.
.GTD Wise GerbTool Project File. Thanks Mac.
.gwk GC Cam Binary Data File
.gz Gzipped File Compression routine usually used in combination with tar.
.hcg HCG Thanks to Adam Peszel
.hpg Hewlett Packard Graphic Language/HPGL2 ASCII graphic files
.hpgl Hewlett Packard Graphic Language/HPGL2 ASCII graphic files
.hsf HOOPS HSF Thanks to Adam Peszel
.HYP HyperLynx BoardSim design file for signal integrity Thanks to Max Pillie, Mentor Graphics Corp.
.iam AutoDesk Inventor assembly line file Thanks to Rick Becker, TetraTek Products, Inc.
.ibd IDF Thanks to Adam Peszel Maybe a misprint, could be .idb according to Jack Strandquist
.icd IronCAD File 2D Drawing File.
Thanks to Tom Lehnhaeser, Magnacad Designs Inc.
.ics IronCAD or Inovate 3D Files Since IronCAD and Inovate are Single Scene Design environments, Parts, Assemblies, Sheetmetal parts, etc., they have the same extentsion.
Thanks to Tom Lehnhaeser, Magnacad Designs Inc.
.ide Autodesk Inventor iFeature Thanks to Ton de Graaf or NedTrain
.idf Intermediate Data Format A neutral format for exchanging PCA (Printed Circuit Assemblies) information between PCB layout (ECAD) systems and Mechanical CAD sytems
Thanks to Yak
.idw AutoDesk Inventor drawing file Thanks to Rick Becker, TetraTek Products, Inc.
.ifc IFC 2x3 Thanks to Adam Peszel
.igs Initial Graphics Exchange Specification(IGES) ASCII File, may contain electrical data
.imd I-DEAS NX TDM Master fille Seimens/UGS, thanks Mark Landin, TD Williamson, Inc.
.imw Imageware surface rendering file Binary File
Thanks to Bruce Kniebbe, Delphi Saginaw Steering Systems
.imx InterComm Expert Bookmark Redline File from PTC (formerly Ohio Design) Binary File
Thanks to Dwight Eskridge
.in ODB++
.ipc IPC 350/356/356A ASCII File, board database
.ipt Inventor Part File Thanks to Adam Peszel
.idj Autodesk Inventor Project File Thanks to Ton de Graaf or NedTrain
.IPL DanskData DDE Thanks to Howard Fischer
.ipn AutoDesk Inventor presentation file Thanks to Rick Becker, TetraTek Products, Inc.
.ipt AutoDesk Inventor part file Thanks to Rick Becker, TetraTek Products, Inc.
.jof SmartCAM Job Operations File Thanks to Mike Merrifieldat SmartCAM
.jpg JPEG Graphic File Thanks to Adam Peszel
.jsf SmartCAM Job Operations File Thanks to Mike Merrifieldat SmartCAM
.jt 3D Visualization fille Seimens/UGS, thanks Mark Landin, TD Williamson, Inc.
.kyn Veribest EIF Layout Requires a number of files:
cel, clr, cor, des, pad, pin, tec, & trn
.LBR Eagle Software Eagle library file, See .sch,.lbr, .scr, and .ulp
Thanks to Tally ofHarvard Engineering, LLC
.lfp SolidWorks Library Feature Part Thanks to Adam Peszel
.lib MENTOR placement data used in 3D modeling (Boardstation) Thanks to Mike Comstock, Northrup Grumman Corporation
.LLB ORCAD Layout Binary Library Database. Thanks to Mac
.mac Ansys macro file text file, thanks Phillip A. Miller
.MAX ORCAD Layout Binary Board Database. Thanks to Mac
.MCC and .MCD Monu-CAD Pro CAD Binary database
.MCM Cadence IC Package Design File Same format as an allegro.brd file,
but intended for IC packages
Thanks to Raymond Anderson, Xilinx, Inc.
.mdt ZUKEN ASCII file footprints and packages.  Thanks to Patrick Casey of SWEMCO
.mdf I-DEAS NX drawing fille Seimens/UGS, thanks Mark Landin, TD Williamson, Inc.
.MDL Formaris (Lectra) Thanks to Brandon Kiely, P.Eng.
.mf1/mf2 I-DEAS NX model fille Seimens/UGS, thanks Mark Landin, TD Williamson, Inc.
.MI CoCreate ME10 file Binary, Thanks Rob Emery, L3/KDI Precision Products, Inc.
.MIN ORCAD WIN95 Binary database
.MIN ORCAD Layout ASCII Database Format
Thanks to Mac
.MLD OrCAD PCB 386+ Library file, Thanks to Mac @ EMA Technical Support
.MNL ORCAD Capture Netlist file to OrCAD Layout, Thanks to Mac
.MOD OrCAD PCB II Library file, Thanks to Mac @ EMA Technical Support
.model CATIA Model File Thanks to MONROEMACH @ aol.com
.NC Accumark Thanks to Brandon Kiely, P.Eng.
.NET CADNETIX
.NET OrCAD Capture Netlist files for most 3rd party PCB Tools. Thanks Mac
.NET MENTOR old: FABLINK Neutral file, ASCII File
Now: Boardstation Netlist. Thanks to Mike Comstock, ngc.com
.NET NTD file (IPC-D-356) Net Trace Description (NTD) file is an ASCII file format specified by IPC-D-356 that provides net descriptions for traces in a Gerber, DPF or IPC-350 (IEC 61182-1) file for use by flying probe testers.
Thanks to Brian F. G. Bidulock
.NPT OrCAD Layout Unplated Thru-hole Drill Tape Files. Thanks Tim Ewell, Technical Support Engineer, OrCAD/Cadence Products.
.neu "Neutral" file created by Pro/E for CAD exchange. unknown
Thanks to Dan Aurit, Caterpiller Inc.
.odb Mentor odb++ database Binary File
Thanks to Ross Amans of Intel Corporation
.ol ProductView 3D Viewer Part File from PTC Binary File
Thanks to Dwight Eskridge
.OLB OrCAD Capture Binary Library Database, Thanks Mac.
.OPJ OrCAD Capture Project File (ASCII), Thanks Mac.
.PAD CADENCE/VALID ALLEGRO Bare Board net list, Board drawings are .brd
.PAF VISULA (Zuken/Redac) CADIF OUT
.par Solid Edge Part Thanks to Adam Peszel
.pcb Accel EDA
.pcb gEDA/PCB Schematic File Format
Thanks to Stuart Brorson, MKS Instruments
.PCB CALAY
.PCB CAM 350 ASCII Data File (per Luud Teeling)
.PCB CirCad by Holophase Inc.
Thanks to Dick Zimmer.
Printed Circuit Board. See .sch and .dwg
.PCB ExpressPCB Available at www.expresspcb.com
Thanks to Carl VanWormer
.PCB Mentor Boardstation RE layout data Thanks to Mike Comstock, Northrup Grumman Corporation
.PCB PADs PowerPCB PCB Design File
Thanks to Alan Young
.PCB PROTEL Version 2.8 through 4.0 Thanks to Mac @ EMA Technical Support
.PCB TANGO
.PCB TraxMaker PC Board File. Par of the CircuitMaker 2000 Schematic/Cam package
Thanks Ron Rossy of KK1l
.PCB VISULA PCB Layout database
Thanks to Roger M. Stoops, CID+
.PDB Pantheon Thanks to Shahed Safavi-Bayat, C.I.D.
.PDF PCAD PDIF Layout Database interchange format
.PDF Portable Document Format, Adobe Systems binary file, read by a free readily available reader
Thanks to Nick Meeker, Tech Circuits, Inc.
.phd Zuken Gerber (RS-274-X) Zuken ASCII File with D Codes,
aperture table included. Thanks, C Novak
.pho Gerber (RS-274-X) ASCII File with D Codes,
aperture table included.
.PIN ALLEGRO
.plt AutoCAD ADI Graphic file
.plt CASE Plot Dumb graphics only, like Gerber
.plt Pro/E Drawing Plot File (hpgl) from PTC Ascii File
Thanks to Dwight Eskridge
.plx Formaris (Lectra) Plain text, thanks to Michael Lietz
.pm4 and .pm5 SmartCAM Shape (Geometry) File Thanks to Mike Merrifieldat SmartCAM
.pmd I-DEAS NX TDM Project fille Seimens/UGS, thanks Mark Landin, TD Williamson, Inc.
.prn AutoCAD ADI Graphic file
.PRT MENTOR Expedition tool ASCII files
.PRT CADKEY Graphic file
.PRT Pro-E part files Graphic file, thanks Phillip A. Miller
.PRT All Unigraphics files Graphic file, thanks Phillip A. Miller
.prt SolidWorks part file Thanks to Adam Peszel
.prtdot SolidWorks Part Template Thanks to Adam Peszel
.psd Adobe Photoshop Files Thanks to Adam Peszel
.psm Solid Edge Sheet Metal Part Thanks to Adam Peszel.  Sheet Metal identified by Ryan Gudorf.
.ps PostScript Files Commonly used as precursor to pdf files. Use Ghostview to view
Thanks to Nick Meeker, Tech Circuits, Inc.
.pwd UNICAM
.pzo Pro2CAD  Thanks to Federico Giovannini of Pro2Dev.it, CTO Chief Technical Officer (Development Team)
.rar or .RAR WinRAR Archive file binary compressed file that may contain one or more files
Thanks to Nick Meeker, Tech Circuits, Inc.
.raw LTSPICE plot file Thanks to Mike Lindberg of Philips Electronics
.rep ASCII file Contains aperture size and shape associated with a .pho file.
Thanks to Nick Meeker, Tech Circuits, Inc.
.RTE CADENCE/VALID ALLEGRO Bare Board net list, Board drawings are .brd
.sat ACIS CAD Systems File Thanks to Robert I. Hickey, Robert Bosch LLC.
.SCH CirCAD by Holophase, Inc. Electronic Schematic. See .pcb and .dwg
.SCH ExpressPCB Available at www.expresspcb.com
Thanks to Carl VanWormer
.SCH Eagle Software Eagle schematic file, See .brd,.lbr, .scr, and .ulp
Thanks to Tally ofHarvard Engineering, LLC
.sch gEDA/gschem Schematic File Format
Thanks to Stuart Brorson, MKS Instruments
.SCH Orcad Schematic File
Thanks to Alan Young
.SCH Orcad SDT (DOS) Schematic File
Thanks to Mac
.SCH PowerLogic Schematic File
Thanks to Alan Young
.SCI CADNETIX
.SCR Eagle Software Eagle user file, See .brd,.lbr, .sch, and .ulp
Thanks to Tally ofHarvard Engineering, LLC
.sf GDSii Data Conveys integrated circuit layout data.  Thanks to David Inman
.sh2 and .sh3 SmartCAM Shape (Geometry) File Thanks to Mike Merrifieldat SmartCAM
.sldasm SolidWorks Assembly File Thanks to H. Flora  
.slddrw SolidWorks Drawing File Thanks to H. Flora  
.sldftp SolidWorks Form Tool Thanks to Adam Peszel
.sldprt SolidWorks Part File Thanks to H. Flora  
.spl Gerber Layout file Software by ABACOM Ingenieur (German Layout Software)
Thanks to M. Swift
.STEP Standard for the Exchange of Product Model Data Comprehensive ISO Standard (ISO 10303) that describes how to represent and exchange digital production information
Thanks to Allan Wicklund of EXCEL TOOL & DIE CO. INC.
.st NURBS Modeler SolidThinking Thanks to Matthew Perkins
.stl 3D Design software file format for data transfer Thanks to Dave Thompson, Venture Mfg. Co.
.stp AP203 Thanks to Adam Peszel
.stp STEP AP214 Thanks to Adam Peszel
.SYM CADENCE/VALID ALLEGRO Bare Board net list, Board drawings are .brd
.TCW IMSI TurboCaD Drewing file www.turbocad.com, Thanks to George Irish, BNT Marine Electroncs.
.TAP OrCAD Layout Drill Tape File. Thanks Mac.
.tar Tape Archive File Binary collection of files.
.tgz Compressed Tape Archive File Binary collection of files. Use gunzip or equivalent
to uncompress, then untar the file.
.tgz May be used as ODB++ data file Binary collection of files.
Thanks to Nick Meeker, Tech Circuits, Inc.
.tif TIFF Graphic File Thanks to Adam Peszel
.tl THEDA Layout ASCII File
.TLN HyperLynx LineSim cell based schematic file for signal integrity analysis Thanks to Max Pillie, Mentor Graphics Corp.
.TPT CADNETIX
.TXF SPEA topCAD, Mentor Integra Thanks to Howard Fischer
.txt Veribest EIF Layout Requires a number of files:
cel, clr, cor, des, pad, pin, tec, & trn
.u3d Universal 3D Thanks to Adam Peszel
.udf ZUKEN ASCII file Netlist.  Thanks to Patrick Casey of SWEMCO
.ULP Eagle Software Eagle system user file, See .brd,.lbr, .sch, and .scr
Thanks to Tally ofHarvard Engineering, LLC
.vda VDAFS Thanks to Adam Peszel
.VSS Mentor CAD File Thanks to K.N. Lakshmi Pathi, Advanced Electronics Company
.WIR MENTOR Expedition Tool ASCII files, Thanks to Mike Comstock, ngc.com
.WIRE Autodesk Alias(Design / Surface / Automotive) Thanks to Matthew Perkins
.wrl VRML Thanks to Adam Peszel
.x_b Parasolid Binary Thanks to Adam Peszel
.x_t Parasolid file Thanks Phillip A. Miller
.xaml Microsoft XAML Thanks to Adam Peszel
.xas ProE Assembly File Thanks to Adam Peszel
.xmt_bin Parasolid Thanks to Adam Peszel
.xmt_txt Parasolid Thanks to Adam Peszel
.xpr ProE Part File Thanks to Adam Peszel

Got a file you do not know what it is? Send it to us and we will identify it.

Help everyone out. If you have a file with an extension not listed here. Tell us about it and we will add it to this list.

Other resources for file extensions are www.file-extensions.org and www.fileinfo.net. They list every posible file extension.

CAD 2 CAM Homepage

This file last modified 11/10/2015