ID 295839 - STL import and export from MODO differ from other 3D packages in xyz axis

Exporting STL files from MODO and importing in to Maya appears to rotate the object where all the axes switch with another (X-Y, Y-Z, Z-X). The problem also occurs the other way, coming form Maya to MODO.

From this I gather it is most likely the way STL files are read and written from MODO. This doesn't happen with OBJ files, they are displayed the same in both programs. If you export the same object as an OBJ as well as an STL from MODO, they will look identical in MODO but different in Maya.

The customer also sees this problem when they view their MODO exported STL file in Geomagic.

I have reproduced this with both 701 SP5 and 801 SP4 and using Maya 2015.

Steps to reproduce

1. Create an object in MODO with differing height, width and depth.
2. export it as an STL (binary, not ASCII) (Preferences, STL I/O, uncheck save as ASCII).
3. import into another 3D package, i.e Maya.
4. see the object is redrawn across the wrong axes.
5. repeat steps with OBJ file, see that the problem doesn't happen.

Workaround