What the STL keeps
- The outer shape of every solid
- Every part in its assembled position
- Coordinates in millimetres, with inch files scaled
- Trimmed surfaces, meshed as they are
Upload an .iges or .igs file and download a binary STL in millimetres, ready for your slicer or a print service. First 2 files free, any size up to 300 MB. After that, 1 credit per file.
Sign in with Google or an emailed code to upload your own file. The sample file works without signing in.
First 2 conversions free — any size up to 300 MB. Then $2.99 or 1 credit per file, charged at download. Prices include tax.
Have an STL? You can also turn an STL back into IGES.
How to convert IGES to STL
To convert IGES or IGS to STL, sign in, upload your .iges or .igs file above and download the .stl. You get one binary STL in millimetres. We mesh each solid, weld its edges and close small gaps, and the quality report checks whether the solids came out watertight. IGS to STL works the same way.
Sign in, then drop a .iges or .igs file up to 300 MB onto the converter.
Each solid is meshed at a 1.0 mm chord tolerance and about 29°, then small gaps are closed.
We email you when the STL is ready. Download one binary .stl.
Most slicers read STL as millimetres, so it comes in at the right size.
IGES vs STL
IGES stores exact curves and surfaces. STL stores triangles.
Need finer curves? Large curved surfaces are where our 1.0 mm setting shows. Export the STL from your CAD program at a smaller deviation, or convert IGES to STEP and then STEP to STL, which meshes at 0.15 mm.
Mesh quality
STL stores flat triangles, so every curve becomes a chain of short straight edges.
We mesh each solid at a 1.0 mm chord tolerance and about 29° between neighbouring triangles. The angle sets small holes, which get about 26 flat sides. The tolerance shows on large curves. On files under 20,000 faces and 200 solids, a part that doesn't come out closed is meshed again finer, down to 0.1 mm. Meshes over 100,000 triangles are reduced to about 100,000, unless that would open the mesh or change its size.
Choose the right format
Pick by what the next program needs.
| IGES | STL | 3MF | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geometry | Exact curves and surfaces | Triangles only | Triangle meshes |
| Units | Stored | Not stored (ours is mm) | Stored |
| Multiple parts | Subfigures and groups | One mesh (ours) | One object per solid (ours) |
| Best for | CAM and older CAD | Any slicer or print service | Modern slicers |
The part is going to any slicer or a print service.
You're in the right placeYour slicer reads 3MF and you want one object per part, in millimetres.
IGES to 3MF for slicers STEPChoose STEP whenThe model still needs editing, or your slicer imports STEP and can mesh it itself.
IGES to STEP for CADOpen it anywhere
STL opens in every slicer and most 3D tools.
Our STL is binary and in millimetres. STL has no unit field, so pick millimetres if a program asks.
FAQ
Watertight meshes, settings, units, slicers, pricing and your files.
Contact usLast updated 6 November 2026Upload your .iges or .igs file to the converter at the top of this page and download one binary STL in millimetres. FreeCAD, which is free, can also open an IGES and export STL. Marathon OS is the paid route if you don't have CAD at hand: first 2 files free, then 1 credit per file.
First 2 files free, any size up to 300 MB. After that, 1 credit per file. Credit packs bring it down to $1.80 per file. Prices include tax, you pay only when you click Download and credits never expire.
Yes. .igs is the short extension for IGES; both convert the same way.
We work to make it watertight: we weld the edges, close small gaps and, on smaller files, mesh a part again finer when it stays open. The quality report says whether each solid came out watertight. An IGES of loose surfaces can leave gaps we can't close.
Binary. It's smaller than ASCII, and every slicer reads it.
Millimetres. STL has no unit field, and most slicers read STL as millimetres, so the part comes in at the right size. We read the unit stored in the IGES, so an inch file comes out at the right size.
Every IGES is meshed at a 1.0 mm chord tolerance and about 29° between neighbouring triangles. On files under 20,000 faces and 200 solids, a part that doesn't come out closed is meshed again finer, down to 0.1 mm. Meshes over 100,000 triangles are reduced to about 100,000, unless that would open the mesh or change its size. There are no quality presets.
Yes, two ways. Export the mesh from your CAD program at a smaller deviation; FreeCAD, which is free, opens IGES files. Or convert IGES to STEP first: our STEP to STL converter meshes at a 0.15 mm chord tolerance. That's two conversions.
It still converts. Trimmed surfaces are meshed and their edges welded, but gaps between surfaces can leave the mesh open. For surface-only files, the quality report marks the solid and watertight checks as not applicable, so check the mesh before you print it.
Every part keeps its assembled position, merged into one mesh without part names.
Yes. Every conversion comes with a free quality report with 12 checks, including whether the mesh is watertight, degenerate triangles, mesh uniformity, a bounding-box match with the IGES and how much of the surface the mesh covers. For a surface-only IGES, the solid and watertight checks are marked not applicable.
Yes. Our STL to IGES conversion rebuilds an IGES file from the mesh. Curved areas may stay faceted, and there's no feature tree. Keep your original IGES if you will need the exact geometry.
IGES files from any CAD program, as .iges or .igs, up to 300 MB. We read both solids (type 186) and trimmed surfaces (type 144). Files that use commas as decimal points, which some SolidWorks setups write, are fixed before reading.
To upload your own file, sign in with Google or an emailed code. The sample file works without signing in.
It depends on the file. Large assemblies can take several minutes, and we email you when the file is ready.
Uploads and downloads use HTTPS. Uploaded and converted files are deleted automatically after 7 days, and converted files aren't added to the public CAD library unless you publish them. You keep ownership of your design. See the Privacy Policy.
One binary STL in millimetres, ready for your slicer. First 2 files free, any size up to 300 MB. After that, 1 credit per file.
Pricing
Your first 2 CAD file conversions are free, any size up to 300 MB, including the download. From conversion 3 on, each file costs 1 credit or a one-time payment, charged only when you click Download. 1 credit downloads any file up to 300 MB, and credits never expire.
Starter
3credits
$7.99
$2.66 each
3 downloads of any size. Good for a one-off project.
Pro
5credits
$12.99
$2.60 each
5 downloads of any size. The everyday choice.
Team
10credits
$19.99
$2.00 each
10 downloads of any size. Best balance of price and volume.
Studio
15credits
$26.99
$1.80 each
15 downloads of any size. Lowest price per file.
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