GrabCAD goes 3D! Experience CAD models in a new dimension… right in your browser
Share your models with anyone in 3 dimensions? Check. Pin annotations right on the surface of a model to share advice and ideas with other engineers? Check. GrabCAD’s new in-browser 3D viewer is a huge step toward seamless collaboration and sharing for mechanical engineers and designers.
Announcing a CAD Game-changer: You can now rotate, translate, zoom in on and annotate all CAD models right in your browser without downloading anything! We’ll show you how it works in this video:
Click the “View in 3D” button directly under the render viewer of any model with an associated STL file to pull up the 3D viewer:
It will take a few seconds to load the file into the 3D viewer, then you’re ready to rock! We’ve included a few controls to make it easier to make the most of models:
holding ‘s’ enables zoom mode
holding ‘r’ enables rotation mode
holding ‘t’ enables translation
Use this new in-browser 3d viewer to:
- Collaborate with engineers on projects you’re working on by annotating pins right on the model
- Share your models securely with clients, manufacturers, or anybody without CAD software
- Check out all public models on GrabCAD without downloading them
The nitty-gritty:
- STL file format is supported (we converted a bunch of models already! Over 15,000 of ‘em…)
- Only WebGL-enabled browsers (Chrome, Firefox, recent versions of Opera, and Safari with customization… view Safari instructions. Internet Explorer is not WebGL-enabled so it will not work)
- 3D viewer load times vary depending on the STL file size and on your internet connection
- Harnessing the power of 3D through your browser takes computer memory- powerful computers will work better
We have automagically converted tens of thousands of CAD models into STL format. Most models should look great, but in some cases we may have converted the wrong file. Feel free to convert the original format into STL yourselves if that is the case (but don’t zip the STL file). As always, we’re coding away to make this feature simpler, faster and more powerful. Offer your feedback by private messaging any staff member or leaving us a wish (at the bottom right of each page). We take feedback very seriously!
Enjoy this great new feature on all of these models!
Cheers,
Gabe
23 comments
I was guessing what is “Grabby The Bot” :) Now its clear. I think we have very usefull function in community now. Especially it could be usefull to share models with clients which doesnt have CAD software. However it may cause provlem about privacy. Is there any way to make it just visible for specified people ? Anyway good idea for community. Thanks
Well done GrabCAD!! Really love this 3D view feature.
A new great feature from Grabcad. I love this site!
Proud to be part of GrabCad community :)
Great new Grabcad feature!
good idea – one file for sharing!
Why then do not want to work – probably missing some settings!?
Great 3D Viewer.It really boosts the GrabCAD Library browsing experience.
This is one wicked new feature
:P
GrabCAD rockes
I tried to use this new feature, but it won’t work.
Clicking on the popup line that shows when mouse passes above the 3D view button acts like a loop and brings you back on the same page, clicking right and picking new window or new frame, opens a new window or new frame with the same address as the frame you started from, thus no 3D viewer.
To me the problem stays in the web page programming that points loop back instead of pointing to the 3D viewer.
Finally new feature is here!
i.m sure it will save a lot of time.
GuyZ if you have problem with the view button try another browser, i.m sure some issues will be solved.
and do not forget to create nice .STL mesh for your models.
Nice for most of us and bad for IE users :)) hehe
nice greeeeeeet job… grab cad bravooooo….
worked – just super!
Notes are very helpful to understand the model … enjoy!
Well done!!! But the models are without colors – it is bad.
@Emil – Make sure your WebGL settings are enabled, and that you have your browser up to date.
I just had a dream this morning about a similar feature being added into Grabcad….wonderful feature… just love it !!
Only three words … Awwweee-esssooo-oome.
khayli khobeeeeeeeeee………
Innovative! I see a beautiful future!
Great ! Great !! Great !!! now only i realize about this great feature. Now i feel much better to make the pis in 3D. Thanks GC.
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Well the standard vew and lighting is not complient to the real world as in aerospace ect …. and the laws of nature… This might seem to be picky … perhaps seems not mean much… Please lets have a one to one conversation about this… I have a lot to share… carl@applied3d.org… its a very serious issue … let me explane why.. also a discussion about a new technology that is now a critical tool for cost effective 3D printing in all major companies that requires vast computational resources.. think sell the computational resourcs.. 503 893 9830.
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