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Better Step

PyPI version

Open‑source CAD Data Conversion & Sampling

Better Step is designed to unlock CAD data for research and industry. By converting proprietary STEP files into an open HDF5-based format, Better Step enables efficient processing on large-scale computing clusters, eliminating the need for expensive proprietary licenses.

Key Features

  • Open Format: Proprietary CAD files are converted into a widely accessible HDF5 format.
  • Comprehensive Representation: Captures both the geometry (curves, surfaces) and topology (solids, shells, faces, loops) of CAD models.
  • Robust Sampling Methods: Provides reliable methods to compute surface normals, detect sharp features, and generate point clouds for machine learning applications.
  • Extensible API: Easily integrate the library into Python workflows.
  • Command-Line Interface (CLI): Supports batch processing for streamlined integration in automated pipelines.

Getting Started

  • Visit the Installation page for setup instructions.
  • Check out the Usage page for practical examples and workflows.

Research and dataset

If you use Better Step in academic work, please cite the paper.

Learn More

  • API Documentation: Detailed overviews of modules like Geometry, Topology, Sampling, and Visualization.
  • Examples: Interactive notebooks and sample code are provided to demonstrate advanced use cases.

Welcome to Better Step – your gateway to democratizing CAD data for research and industry!