Free online DAE to IGES converter

A CAD, CAM, inspection, or legacy manufacturing system may require an IGES file even when the available model is a COLLADA .dae scene. This conversion is practical only when the receiving software can use the exported geometry; textures, animation, and most scene data do not transfer.

DAE format

DAE is the XML-based COLLADA interchange format. It is used by 3D visualization, game-asset, architectural, and modeling workflows; Blender and SketchUp are common sources of .dae files.

A DAE file can contain polygon meshes, object transforms, materials, texture references, cameras, lights, animation, and scene hierarchy. Its geometry is usually tessellated triangles or polygons rather than dimensionally precise CAD curves and surfaces. Texture images are often separate files referenced by the DAE document.

IGES format

IGES (Initial Graphics Exchange Specification) is a legacy neutral CAD exchange format, normally using .igs or .iges. It can represent curves, NURBS surfaces, trimmed surfaces, annotations, layers, colors, and certain boundary-representation solid entities.

IGES remains necessary for older CAD, CAM, tooling, and inspection applications. Its main advantage is broad support in established engineering software, but IGES solid and assembly interpretation varies between applications. Use STEP instead when the target system accepts it and reliable solid or assembly exchange is required.

Convert the file

To convert without installing software, upload the .dae file to 101convert.com, choose IGES or IGS as the output format, run the conversion, and download the resulting file. Keep a copy of the source DAE and any referenced texture files, although texture files are not embedded in a useful CAD form in the IGES output.

For files intended for manufacturing, use a desktop CAD or conversion application that explicitly supports COLLADA import and IGES export, such as CAD Exchanger. Import the DAE, confirm the model orientation and units, repair defective mesh regions, then export the selected geometry through File → Export as IGES (*.igs; *.iges).

Check scale before export. COLLADA commonly uses meters, while many engineering systems expect millimeters; a units mismatch can make the output 1,000 times too large or too small. Measure a known feature after opening the IGES file in the destination application.

Geometry and compatibility limits

A mesh-to-IGES export does not create an editable parametric CAD model. Depending on the converter, it may export faceted geometry, individual planar faces, or fitted NURBS surfaces. Converting every triangle to a separate face can produce a large, slow, difficult-to-edit IGES file.

For a mechanical part, rebuild critical features in CAD as planes, cylinders, cones, fillets, and controlled NURBS surfaces before export. Validate joined edges, surface gaps, normals, and closure in the receiving CAD system; a visually correct model may still import as disconnected surfaces rather than a watertight solid.

IGES does not preserve COLLADA animation, skeletal rigs, cameras, lights, shaders, UV-based texture mapping, or scene behavior. Some applications may transfer simple colors or layers, but downstream engineering workflows should not depend on them. Before CAM or inspection use, run the target application's geometry check and verify the surfaces used for toolpaths or measurement.