How OwlCAD works

• Getting started — The whole workflow — place a shape, refine it, and export a printable file.
• Combine shapes (booleans) — Union, subtract, or intersect selected solids.
• Arrange overview — Align, mirror, pattern, and orient objects.
• Modify overview — Reshape a single solid with rounds and shells.
• Export for printing — Save print-ready files from the File menu.
• Adding shapes — Drop parametric primitives onto the build plate.
• Parts library — Reuse saved and built-in parts.
• Move, rotate, and scale — Position objects with the gizmo and snapping.
• Transform space (world / local) — Switch the gizmo between world and object axes.
• Pivot point — Choose what the gizmo rotates and scales around.
• Union — Fuse selected shapes into one solid.
• Difference (subtract) — Cut later shapes out of the first.
• Intersection — Keep only the overlapping volume.
• Ungroup — Break a boolean or group back into parts.
• Split into bodies — Separate disconnected lumps into objects.
• Round edges — Fillet a solid’s edges with a radius.
• Hollow — Shell a solid to a wall thickness.
• Align — Line objects up on an axis.
• Mirror — Reflect a selection across a plane.
• Pattern (array) — Repeat a selection in a line or circle.
• Drop to plate — Seat a part down onto the build surface.
• Auto-orient — Rotate a part to a good print orientation.
• Duplicate and delete — Copy objects and remove them.
• Sketch, extrude, and revolve — Draw a 2D profile and turn it into a solid.
• Push / pull faces — Move a face to resize a solid.
• Fillet / chamfer edges — Round or bevel individual edges.
• Work plane — Build on the face of another object.
• Lay flat — Rotate a part to rest on a chosen face.
• Measure — Check distances between two points.
• Surface drag (cruise) — Slide objects along the surface beneath them.
• Components — Make reusable parts and place instances.
• Fit view — Frame everything in the viewport.
• X-ray view — See through solids to inner geometry.
• Snap, angle, and units — Set grid snap, angle snap, and display units.
• Printer & build volume — Pick a printer or set a custom volume.
• Print check — Validate the model prints cleanly.
• AI generate — Create a model from a text prompt.
• New project — Start a fresh model and pick a printer.
• Open a project — Switch to another saved project.
• Saving — How saving and autosave work.
• Import a model — Bring in STL, 3MF, OBJ, GLB, STEP, or SVG.
• Version history — Browse and restore earlier versions.
• Share a project — Make a project public and share a link.
• STL — Universal mesh format for any slicer.
• 3MF — Modern format with units and color.
• OBJ — Mesh format for 3D modelling apps.
• GLB — glTF binary for AR and web viewers.
• STEP (experimental) — Solid B-rep for CAD interchange.
• SVG — Outline or cross-section for 2D / laser.