Best practices for CAD Data Translation:

• Avoid using IGES files whenever possible. Think of IGES as a last resort.
  
  
• Whenever possible, always use the original native CAD file.
  
  
• Understand the usefulness of robust file formats, such as Parasolid and ACIS, which "natively" support a vast number of applications.
  
• "Roundtrip then zip." Avoid sending corrupt files to customers or vendors. Test files before sending them. Re-open files in the originating CAD system to make sure they are good and then zip files before attaching them to an email to avoid file corruption.
  
  
• Avoid translating files multiple times. Instead, go back to the original file and translate it to a different file format.
  
  
• Invest in CAD data exchange products from companies that specialize in CAD file translation. An important realization is to understand that data exchange is neither the specialty nor the objective of the major CAD software developers. To make matters worse some old school CAD developers attempt to hold customers captive to their product line by routinely encrypting their file formats in an attempt to prevent interoperability.