- CADCraft 3D modeling starts with a browser-based, command-driven CAD workspace — no desktop install required.
- Core workflow: import a DWG/DXF drawing, edit geometry with commands like L, C, and TR, organize layers, and export a copy.
- Eight apps make up the CADCraft family, covering drafting, BIM-oriented modeling, markup, takeoff, and detailing directions.
- Desktop versions for macOS, Windows, and Linux are planned; browser access is available now.
- File formats: DWG and DXF for CAD exchange, plus PDF and SVG for output workflows.
What CADCraft Modeling Actually Covers
CADCraft is an open-source CAD and BIM toolset available at getcadcraft.com, designed for architects, engineers, drafters, estimators, and detailers. While its current browser application is centered on 2D drafting — the foundation of any 3D modeling workflow — the CADCraft family is positioned as a set of eight apps covering drafting, modeling, documentation, takeoff, civil design, detailing, markup, and parts workflows.
In practical terms, "3D modeling" in the CADCraft ecosystem means starting from precise 2D geometry, structured layers, and clean documentation, then carrying that data into the modeling and BIM-oriented apps as the family develops. If you are coming from AutoCAD-style command-driven CAD, the transition is deliberately familiar.
2D Drafting Core
- Command-line workflow with aliases
- Line, circle, and construction geometry
- Interactive point selection
- Foundation for modeling work
BIM-Oriented Direction
- Part of an 8-app family
- Modeling and documentation apps
- Detailing and takeoff directions
- Browser-first access
File Interoperability
- DWG for native CAD drawings
- DXF for data exchange
- PDF and SVG output
- Browser import/export workflow
The following table maps the CADCraft app family to their primary purposes:
| App Direction | Primary Purpose | Typical Users |
|---|---|---|
| 2D Drafting | Geometry creation, editing, documentation | Drafters, architects |
| Modeling | Building on structured 2D geometry | Designers, engineers |
| Documentation | Annotations, dimensions, sheet output | All documentation roles |
| Takeoff | Measurement and quantity workflows | Estimators |
| Civil Design | Civil-oriented drawing workflows | Civil engineers |
| Detailing | Detailed component drawings | Detail designers |
| Markup | Review and markup workflows | Reviewers, collaborators |
| Parts | Parts-oriented CAD workflows | Fabricators, detailers |
The browser version is the immediate entry point. Open the CADCraft app from the official site, and the drawing workspace and command interface load without installing anything.
Core Commands and Drafting Features
Every modeling workflow in CADCraft begins with the command line. You enter a command or alias, follow the prompts, and supply points, distances, or selections. This is the same interaction pattern experienced CAD users already know.
Here are the commands you will use most in a typical drafting-to-modeling session:
| Command | Alias | Category | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Line | L | Drawing | Straight segments between picked points |
| Circle | C | Drawing | Circular geometry from center and radius |
| Trim | TR | Modify | Remove geometry at selected boundaries |
| Extend | EX | Modify | Extend geometry to a boundary |
| Offset | O | Modify | Parallel or concentric copies at a distance |
| Move | M | Modify | Reposition objects via base point |
| Copy | CO | Modify | Duplicate selected objects |
| Layer | Layer tools | Organization | Separate content into named layers |
| Dimension | Dimension tools | Annotation | Add measurements and documentation |
Beyond commands, the feature set supports the full documentation pipeline:
- Layers for organizing geometry and controlling visibility
- Linetypes and lineweights to distinguish drawing information visually
- Blocks for reusable, consistent repeated content
- Layouts to separate model content from sheet-based presentation
- Scaled printing for output-ready documentation
Before moving a drawing toward modeling or export workflows, run Trim and Extend to clean up intersections and endpoints. Messy 2D geometry is the most common source of problems in downstream modeling and takeoff work.
Step-by-Step: From Blank Canvas to Exported Drawing
This workflow takes you from opening CADCraft in the browser to a saved, exportable result — the same pipeline you will repeat for every modeling project.
Open CADCraft in the Browser
Launch the browser application from the official website. Choose an existing drawing or start a new session, and wait for the drawing workspace and command interface to load. No desktop installation is required.
Understand the Workspace
Identify the main drafting areas: the drawing canvas for viewing and creating geometry, tool controls, and the command line for entering commands and options. Review the active drawing state before starting a new operation.
Use the Command Line
Enter a drawing command such as L for Line. Pick points directly in the canvas or type input at the command line, then press Enter to complete the command or repeat the previous one.
Create a Simple Drawing
Start the Line command, pick a first point, add additional points, and finish the sequence. Add a second element with C for Circle. This produces the base geometry every later operation depends on.
Edit and Organize
Use M (Move) or CO (Copy) to reposition or duplicate geometry. Use TR (Trim) and EX (Extend) to clean up intersections. Assign geometry to appropriate layers when organization matters.
Review and Export
Inspect the drawing at a useful zoom level, confirm edits and layer assignments, then save or export the drawing in the required supported format — DWG, DXF, PDF, or SVG depending on the next stage.
Treat the export as a separate deliverable. Download or export the result from the browser workflow rather than treating the original upload as the final file — this keeps your source drawing and your distributed copy cleanly separated.
File Formats: DWG, DXF, PDF, and SVG
File compatibility is the most common question for anyone migrating existing drawings into CADCraft. The supported formats map cleanly onto workflow stages:
| Format | Type | Workflow Stage | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| DWG | CAD drawing format | Open, edit, save, export | Existing CAD drawings, structured 2D content |
| DXF | CAD exchange format | Open, edit, save, export | Interoperability between CAD applications |
| Document format | Export for viewing/printing | Review, delivery, printed output | |
| SVG | Vector graphic format | Export where available | Scalable vector use in design tools |
When migrating an existing drawing into a CADCraft workflow:
- Open the DWG or DXF source drawing in the browser.
- Inspect geometry, layers, linetypes, lineweights, and blocks.
- Check layout and scale-related output settings.
- Continue editing or prepare a new export.
Use DWG when your surrounding workflow expects a standard CAD drawing format. Use DXF when exchanging data with other applications is the priority. Use PDF for human-readable delivery and SVG when scalable vector output is more useful than a CAD-native file.
Coming from AutoCAD: Migration Notes
CADCraft is designed to feel approachable to anyone who already knows command-driven CAD. Familiar patterns — command-line interaction, aliases, layer organization, and layout-based workflows — reduce the learning curve significantly. That said, CADCraft is an independent application, not an Autodesk product, and should be evaluated on its own merits.
| AutoCAD Habit | CADCraft Equivalent | Migration Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Command-line entry | Same command-driven workflow | Start with L, C, TR, EX — the habits transfer directly |
| Command aliases | Short alias inputs | Reuse your existing muscle memory |
| Layer management | Named layers with visibility control | Set up layers before drawing, not after |
| Layouts / paper space | Layout-based sheet organization | Check scale settings when opening old files |
| Local file workflow | Browser workflow today, desktop planned | Export a copy; desktop versions will add local-file focus |
Familiarity with AutoCAD helps you get started faster, but CADCraft is not an AutoCAD replacement made by Autodesk. Learn it as its own product — the differences matter for advanced workflows.
Development-wise, the browser version is available now, the desktop edition is in active development, early-access opportunities may apply, and planned releases target macOS, Windows, and Linux. You can follow development, file feature requests, and find help through the official support page and the GitHub repository.
First-Session Checklist and FAQ
Before you close your first CADCraft session, confirm each of these:
First-Session Goals:
- Open CADCraft in the browser and load the workspace
- Draw a shape using L and C commands
- Edit geometry with TR, EX, O, M, and CO
- Assign geometry to named layers
- Export a copy as DWG, DXF, PDF, or SVG
Q: Is CADCraft 3D modeling available today?
The current browser application focuses on 2D drafting and documentation. The wider CADCraft family includes modeling and BIM-oriented app directions among its eight applications, with the browser version serving as the immediate starting point for all workflows.
Q: Do I need to install anything to use CADCraft?
No. The browser version runs directly from the official website. Desktop applications for macOS, Windows, and Linux are planned as the project develops.
Q: Can CADCraft open my existing DWG and DXF files?
Yes. CADCraft supports an open, edit, save, and export workflow for DWG and DXF files. After opening an existing drawing, check layers, linetypes, lineweights, blocks, layouts, and scale settings before continuing.
Q: Will my AutoCAD experience help?
Yes. CADCraft uses a command-driven workflow with aliases like L, C, TR, and EX, plus familiar layer and layout concepts. However, CADCraft is an independent application, not an Autodesk product.
Q: Is CADCraft open source?
The project is presented as open source, with the code available on GitHub at github.com/cadcraft-app/cadcraft, alongside ongoing discussions about open-source development direction.