Question:

Which ONE or MORE among the options given is/are well established format(s) of data transfer used in geometrical modelling related to computer aided design (CAD)?

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Ask whether each option is something you can export a 3D model as; NDC is a screen coordinate concept, not a file format.
Updated On: Aug 3, 2026
  • IGES
  • STEP
  • NDC
  • STL
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The Correct Option is A, B, D

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Understand what the question is asking:
The question wants us to pick out standard, industry recognised file formats that let one CAD system pass a 3D geometric model to another CAD system.
Not every abbreviation that sounds technical is actually a CAD data exchange format, so each option needs to be checked on its own.

Step 2: Check option (A), IGES:
IGES stands for Initial Graphics Exchange Specification.
It is one of the oldest neutral file formats, created specifically to transfer wireframe, surface and solid model data between different CAD/CAM systems.
So option (A) is a genuine CAD data transfer format.

Step 3: Check option (B), STEP:
STEP stands for Standard for the Exchange of Product model data, and it is an ISO standard, ISO 10303.
It was developed to carry a richer set of information than IGES, including not just geometry but also product manufacturing data.
So option (B) is also a genuine CAD data transfer format.

Step 4: Check option (C), NDC:
NDC stands for Normalized Device Coordinates, and it belongs to computer graphics, not CAD data exchange.
It is simply a coordinate system, usually scaled between -1 and 1 or 0 and 1, used internally to map a scene onto a display window.
It has nothing to do with saving or transferring a CAD model, so option (C) is not correct.

Step 5: Check option (D), STL:
STL stands for Stereolithography, and it represents a 3D surface as a mesh of small triangles.
It is the standard format almost every CAD package uses to send a model to a 3D printer, and it is also used for general geometry transfer.
So option (D) is a genuine CAD data transfer format too.

Final Answer:
IGES, STEP and STL are all recognised CAD data exchange formats, while NDC is a graphics coordinate concept, not a file format. \[ \boxed{\text{(A), (B) and (D)}} \]
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