Exporting STEP from Onshape

Overview

Onshape is a fully cloud-native CAD platform — there are no local files to manage. All design data lives in Onshape's cloud, and you access it entirely through a web browser. This makes STEP export straightforward: Onshape generates the file on demand and downloads it directly to your machine.

Because Onshape is browser-based, the export steps are the same on Windows, Mac, and Linux. There is no installer, no file format to worry about on your local drive, and no broken file references — all components are always available in the cloud.

Exporting a Part Studio

A Part Studio in Onshape can contain one or more solid bodies. You can export all parts together or individual bodies selectively.

Export All Parts from a Part Studio

Open your Onshape document in a browser.
In the tab bar at the bottom, locate the Part Studio tab you want to export.
Right-click the Part Studio tab and select Export.
In the Export dialog, set Format to STEP.
Set STEP version to AP214 (recommended — see Recommended Export Settings).
Click Export. The file will download to your browser's default download folder.

Export a Single Part Body

In the Part Studio, locate the part in the Parts list on the left panel.
Right-click the specific part name and select Export.
Set Format to STEP and version to AP214.
Click Export.

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Exporting from the Part Studio tab exports geometry only. To export with full assembly structure and positioning, export from an Assembly tab instead.

Exporting a Full Assembly

Onshape Assemblies define how parts are positioned and constrained relative to each other. Exporting from an Assembly tab captures the full positional layout — this is what SysHub needs to display your design correctly.

Open your Onshape document and click the Assembly tab at the bottom.
Right-click the Assembly tab and select Export.
In the Export dialog, set Format to STEP.
Set STEP version to AP214.
Ensure Export as single file is selected (not one file per part).
Click Export. The assembled STEP file will download automatically.

⚠️ Important: If your assembly references parts from other Onshape documents (externally linked), those parts must be accessible (not deleted or moved) for the export to include them. Check for any broken external references before exporting.

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Onshape resolves all component positions at export time, so what you see on screen is exactly what will appear in SysHub's viewer.

Recommended Export Settings

Setting	Recommended Value
Format	STEP — not STL, OBJ, Parasolid, or IGES
STEP version	AP214 — preserves appearance (colors/materials) and assembly hierarchy. AP203 exports geometry only.
Export as	Single file — exports the entire assembly or Part Studio into one `.step` file for easy SysHub upload
Units	Onshape embeds the document units in the STEP file automatically — no change needed
Flatten assemblies	Disabled — keep hierarchy intact so SysHub can read the component tree

Versions & Branches

Onshape has built-in version control with Versions, Branches, and history. You can export from any point in the design history without needing to manually manage file versions.

Export from a Named Version

In the document, click the version icon (clock/branch icon) in the top-left of the document header, or go to the document list and right-click the document.
Select Version History.
Find the version you want and click the three-dot menu next to it.
Select Open Version — this opens a read-only snapshot of the design at that point.
Right-click the Part Studio or Assembly tab and export as normal.

Export from a Branch

Switch to the desired branch using the branch selector at the top of the document.
Navigate to the Part Studio or Assembly tab you want to export.
Right-click the tab and select Export.

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Onshape's version system means you never need to add _v1, _v2 suffixes to your STEP filenames to track history — the version is stored in Onshape. However, for SysHub uploads it is still good practice to include a version in the filename so engineers can identify files at a glance.

Configurations

If your Onshape document uses Configurations (variable parameters that produce design variants), the export will capture whichever configuration is currently active.

In the Part Studio or Assembly, open the Configuration panel on the left.
Set all configuration variables to the desired values.
Right-click the tab and export as described above.
The exported STEP will reflect the currently active configuration values.

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If you need to export multiple configurations, repeat the process for each — set the configuration, export, rename the downloaded file to reflect the config (e.g. bracket_short_v2.step, bracket_long_v2.step), then upload each to SysHub separately.

Exporting Without Opening

You can trigger a STEP export directly from the Onshape document list, without opening the document first:

From the Onshape home screen or Documents page, find your document.
Right-click the document thumbnail or name.
Select Export from the context menu.
Choose the workspace, Part Studio or Assembly, format (STEP), and version (AP214).
Click Export to download.

File Naming Conventions

Use lowercase with underscores: motor_housing_v3.step
Include a version or date for clarity: gearbox_assy_2024_06.step
For assemblies, prefix with assy_: assy_drive_unit_v2.step
Match the Onshape document name and Part Studio/Assembly tab where possible
Avoid spaces and special characters — Onshape may include the document name in the download filename; rename before uploading if needed

Uploading to SysHub

Log in to SysHub at sys-hub.com.
Open or create the relevant project.
Click Upload STEP File and select your downloaded .step file.
SysHub processes the geometry and renders it in the 3D viewer — typically seconds for parts, up to a minute for large assemblies.
Assign the part to your project hierarchy and add metadata such as material, mass, part number, and revision notes.

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Onshape exports files as .step by default. SysHub accepts both .step and .stp extensions.

Troubleshooting

Issue	Solution
Export option not visible	You may have view-only access to the document. Ask the document owner to grant you export permissions in the Share settings.
Missing parts in exported file	External references (linked parts from other documents) may be broken or inaccessible. Check for red warning icons in the assembly tree.
Colors missing in SysHub	Re-export using AP214 instead of AP203. Also verify that appearances are applied in Onshape — unapplied parts export without color data.
Assembly appears flat / no hierarchy	Ensure Flatten assemblies is not checked in the export dialog. Re-export with hierarchy enabled.
Downloaded file has a long auto-generated name	Onshape appends the document and tab name to the download. Rename the file manually before uploading to SysHub.
Wrong configuration exported	Verify the correct configuration is active in the Configuration panel before exporting. Configuration state is captured at export time.
File too large	Export sub-assemblies individually. In large assemblies, suppress non-essential components before exporting to reduce file size.

Quick Reference

Part export: Right-click Part Studio tab → Export → Format: STEP → AP214
Assembly export: Right-click Assembly tab → Export → Format: STEP → AP214 → Single file
Version export: Version History → Open Version → right-click tab → Export
Upload at: sys-hub.com → Your Project → Upload STEP File
Supported extensions: .step / .stp

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