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Format Category

CAD & 3D Modeling

Architectural blueprints, mechanical STEP models, 3D printing STL meshes, and animation scenes.

Popular CAD & 3D Modeling Extensions

.DWGCAD & 3D

AutoCAD Drawing Database

Industry standard binary CAD file format storing 2D and 3D architectural and engineering designs.

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.STEPCAD & 3D

ISO 10303 STEP CAD Model

Universal 3D CAD exchange format for solid model geometry and assembly structure.

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.STLCAD & 3D

Stereolithography 3D Mesh

Raw 3D surface mesh format composed of triangular facets used universally in 3D printing.

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.BLENDCAD & 3D

Blender 3D Scene File

Complete 3D animation scene file containing meshes, rigs, shaders, and keyframes from Blender.

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.DXFCAD & 3D

DXF File Format

DXF (Drawing Exchange Format) is an open vector data standard created by Autodesk to enable CAD data interoperability between AutoCAD and third-party engineering programs.

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.STPCAD & 3D

STP File Format

STP is the shorthand file extension for ISO 10303 STEP files, preserving high-precision parametric B-Rep solid geometry and assembly hierarchies for 3D engineering.

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.3MFCAD & 3D

3MF File Format

3MF (3D Manufacturing Format) is an open XML-based compressed archive standard designed specifically for additive manufacturing, storing complete 3D models with materials, colors, build plate items, and slicer metadata.

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.DSTCAD & 3D

DST File Format

DST is an industry-standard commercial embroidery machine file format developed by Tajima, containing stitch coordinates, needle jumps, and color change stop codes for automated embroidery sewing machines.

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.OBJCAD & 3D

OBJ File Format

OBJ is an open 3D geometry file format originally developed by Wavefront Technologies, containing 3D mesh vertex coordinates, UV texture maps, normals, and face surfaces.

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.FBXCAD & 3D

FBX File Format

FBX (Filmbox) is a 3D asset interchange format owned by Autodesk, storing 3D meshes, skeleton armatures, skeletal animations, cameras, lighting, and materials for video games.

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.IGESCAD & 3D

IGES File Format

IGES (Initial Graphics Exchange Specification) is an ANSI neutral exchange standard for sharing wireframe models, freeform NURBS surfaces, and CAD engineering drawings.

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.IGSCAD & 3D

IGS File Format

IGS is the three-letter file extension shorthand for IGES, storing vector wireframes and NURBS surface definitions for CAD model exchange.

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.IFCCAD & 3D

IFC File Format

IFC (Industry Foundation Classes) is an open neutral ISO 16739 standard specification for Building Information Modeling (BIM) data exchange across architectural software.

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.DGNCAD & 3D

DGN File Format

DGN (Design) is the CAD file format used by Bentley Systems MicroStation for infrastructure engineering, highway design, utilities, and plant modeling.

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.SKPCAD & 3D

SKP File Format

SKP is the native 3D design file format created by Trimble SketchUp for architectural concept modeling, interior design, and urban planning.

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.SLDPRTCAD & 3D

SLDPRT File Format

SLDPRT is the native 3D part design file created by Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks, containing parametric features, sketch dimensions, material physics, and solid bodies.

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.SLDASMCAD & 3D

SLDASM File Format

SLDASM is the 3D assembly file format created by SolidWorks, referencing individual .SLDPRT component files, mechanical mates, explosion views, and motion constraints.

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.IPTCAD & 3D

IPT File Format

IPT is the native 3D part file format created by Autodesk Inventor for mechanical design, sheet metal fabrication, and parametric surface modeling.

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.IAMCAD & 3D

IAM File Format

IAM is the 3D assembly file format created by Autodesk Inventor, linking multiple .IPT component parts with dynamic positional joints and assembly constraints.

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.CATPARTCAD & 3D

CATPART File Format

CATPART is the native 3D part design format created by Dassault Systèmes CATIA V5/V6, utilized globally in aerospace, automotive, and naval manufacturing.

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.CATPRODUCTCAD & 3D

CATPRODUCT File Format

CATPRODUCT is the 3D assembly structure document used in Dassault Systèmes CATIA V5 to manage product assemblies, kinematics, and digital mockups.

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.3DSCAD & 3D

3DS File Format

3DS is a legacy 3D graphics mesh format created for Autodesk 3D Studio DOS, storing geometric meshes, material textures, and keyframe camera data.

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.GLTFCAD & 3D

GLTF File Format

glTF (Graphics Language Transmission Format) is the open-standard "JPEG of 3D" defined by the Khronos Group for efficient runtime loading of 3D scenes in WebGL and AR/VR.

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.GLBCAD & 3D

GLB File Format

GLB is the self-contained binary version of the glTF format, bundling JSON scene descriptions, binary geometry buffers, and textures into a single compact file.

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.PLYCAD & 3D

PLY File Format

PLY (Stanford Triangle Format) is a 3D file format designed to store 3D data from optical laser scanners and photogrammetry point clouds.

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.DAECAD & 3D

DAE File Format

DAE (COLLADA) is an XML-based schema standard developed by Sony and managed by Khronos Group for exchanging 3D graphics assets across interactive applications.

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.GRNCAD & 3D

GRN File Format

GRN is primarily the compiled Granny 3D model format from RAD Game Tools. A GRN file can package meshes, surfaces, texture references, skeletal animation, blend graphs, and events for a game. Older or unrelated applications may use .GRN for Masterpoint bridge data or other text-based records.

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.ELFCAD & 3D

ELF File Format

Learn everything about .ELF (CAD & 3D) file extension. Discover software tools to open .ELF files on Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS, convert online, and check file header security.

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Top Software for CAD & 3D Modeling

Autodesk AutoCAD

Autodesk Inc. • $245 / month

Computer-aided design (CAD) software for precise 2D drafting and 3D architectural modeling.

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Blender 3D Suite

Blender Foundation • 100% Free Open Source

Free open source 3D creation suite supporting modeling, rigging, animation, simulation, and rendering.

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SolidWorks 3D CAD

Dassault Systèmes • $4,195 upfront + subscription

Parametric 3D mechanical design software for engineering, simulation, and product data management.

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Autodesk Fusion 360

Autodesk Inc. • $545 / year (Free Personal Use)

Cloud-based 3D CAD, CAM, CAE, and PCB design software platform for product development.

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Trimble SketchUp

Trimble Inc. • Free Web App / $119 / year Pro

Intuitive 3D modeling software for architecture, interior design, civil engineering, and woodworking.

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FreeCAD 3D Modeler

FreeCAD Community • Free Open Source

Free open source parametric 3D CAD modeler made primarily to design real-life objects of any size.

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LibreCAD 2D

LibreCAD Team • Free Open Source

Free open source 2D CAD drafting application for Windows, Mac, and Linux.

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Rhinoceros 3D (Rhino)

Robert McNeel & Associates • $995 one-time license

NURBS-based 3D modeling software for industrial design, architecture, and naval engineering.

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Autodesk Revit

Autodesk Inc. • $355 / month

Building Information Modeling (BIM) software for architects, structural engineers, and contractors.

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Graphisoft Archicad

Graphisoft • $240 / month

Architectural BIM design software with native macOS and Windows multi-platform support.

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MeshLab 3D System

ISTI - CNR • Free Open Source

Open source system for processing and editing unstructured 3D triangular meshes.

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CloudCompare 3D

CloudCompare Project • Free Open Source

Free open-source 3D point cloud and triangular mesh processing software for LiDAR and photogrammetry.

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Dassault DraftSight

Dassault Systèmes • $249 / year

2D drafting and 3D CAD design solution with familiar DWG file compatibility.

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IMSIDesign TurboCAD

IMSIDesign • $199.99 one-time

2D drafting and 3D CAD modeling software for desktop PCs.

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Chief Architect Premier

Chief Architect, Inc. • $1,995 one-time or $199 / mo

3D architectural design software for residential home design and remodeling.

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Sweet Home 3D

eTeks • Free Open Source

Free interior design application that helps draw home floor plans and arrange furniture in 3D.

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Bentley MicroStation

Bentley Systems • Commercial Enterprise

Infrastructure CAD software for 2D drafting, 3D modeling, and engineering design.

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Autodesk Navisworks

Autodesk Inc. • $1,140 / year

3D design review software for architecture, engineering, and construction clash detection.

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Tekla Structures

Trimble Inc. • Commercial Enterprise

BIM software for structural steel and concrete engineering modeling.

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Siemens Solid Edge

Siemens Digital Industries • $85 / month

3D CAD parametric modeling and synchronous technology design tool.

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Siemens NX (Unigraphics)

Siemens Digital Industries • Enterprise Commercial

Advanced high-end CAD/CAM/CAE PLM software for aerospace and automotive design.

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Alibre Design

Alibre, LLC • $350 one-time

3D parametric mechanical CAD modeling software for Windows.

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DesignBuilder Energy

DesignBuilder Software • Commercial License

Advanced building energy simulation software tool.

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RoomSketcher Floor Plans

RoomSketcher AS • Free / $2 / mo

Easy 2D and 3D floor plan drawer for home interior design.

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HomeByMe 3D Planner

Dassault Systèmes • Free Web App

Online 3D space planning and home interior decorating software.

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Autodesk Tinkercad

Autodesk Inc. • Free Web App

Free easy web-based 3D design and 3D printing modeling app.

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OpenSCAD 3D Compiler

Clifford Wolf • Free Open Source

Programmer-oriented 3D CAD modeler that builds 3D solids from script code.

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PTC Onshape

PTC Inc. • Free Personal / $1,500 / year

Cloud-native 3D CAD and product data management software.

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Vectorworks Architect

Vectorworks, Inc. • $153 / month

Cross-platform CAD and BIM design software for architecture and landscape.

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BricsCAD 2D/3D

Bricsys / Hexagon • $680 / year

High-compatibility 2D drafting and 3D CAD modeling software with full DWG support.

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QCAD 2D Drafting

RibbonSoft • Free Open Source

Free open source 2D computer-aided drafting application.

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Autodesk Inventor

Autodesk Inc. • $2,300 / year

Professional 3D mechanical CAD software for product design and tooling.

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PTC Creo Parametric

PTC Inc. • $2,780 / year

3D CAD software suite for product design and manufacturing.

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Dassault CATIA

Dassault Systèmes • Enterprise Commercial

Engineering and 3D CAD design software suite used in aerospace and automotive industries.

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Preguntas frecuentes

Respuestas claras a las preguntas más habituales.

Download free DWG TrueView for Windows or view online via Autodesk Web Viewer.

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