Guides & explainers
Plain-English guides to 3D printing and browser-based parametric CAD: the file formats, the concepts, the tool comparisons, and hands-on help to start building.
Guides & explainers
- What is parametric CAD? — How editable parameters and a recorded history drive a model, and why it matters for 3D printing.
- STL vs 3MF — What each format stores, when to use each, and how to convert between them free in your browser.
- File formats — Every format OwlCAD opens and exports, from STL and 3MF to STEP, DXF, OpenSCAD and images, and what each is for.
- How OwlCAD compares — OwlCAD side by side with TinkerCAD, Onshape, Fusion 360, FreeCAD, SelfCAD and OpenSCAD: browser, free tier, parametric, privacy, export.
- Convert STL to 3MF — How to convert STL files to 3MF free in your browser, eliminate scale errors, and shrink model size.
- Convert SVG to STL — Turn SVG artwork into editable 3D extrudes with holes kept, at real sizes, and export STL.
- Convert DXF to STL — Extrude laser, CNC and CAD drawings into printable parts at the drawing’s own units.
- Convert STEP to STL — Open a STEP or STP CAD file at its true size, check it prints, and export STL or 3MF.
- Convert an image to STL — Trace a PNG or JPG logo into solid shapes, or turn a photo into a relief or lithophane.
- Convert OBJ to STL — Set the real size of a unitless OBJ, repair holes, and export a print-ready STL.
- Convert 3MF to STL — Open a 3MF plate as named, coloured parts at its true size, then export STL.
- Repair STL online — Detect non-manifold geometry, unclosed holes, and inverted normals, and apply one-click mesh repair.
- Text to CAD vs Text to Mesh — Why an editable parametric feature history beats a finished, un-editable triangle mesh.
- Best AI model for CAD — Twelve LLMs on one parametric parts benchmark: fidelity, watertight solids, cost, and which ones Pro runs.
Free browser tools
- STL editor — Open an STL, resize it to exact millimetres, cut and combine it with shapes, and export it print-ready.
- 3MF editor — Edit 3MF files in the browser, keeping the units, colours and part names a 3MF carries, then re-export.
- STL viewer — Open and inspect an STL without installing anything: measure it, check it is watertight, then edit it.
- 3MF viewer — View a 3MF with its colours and materials intact, and see what the file actually contains before printing.
Learn by doing
- Getting started — Place your first shape, combine with booleans, and export a print-ready file, in a five-minute tour.
- Video tutorials — Follow along and build real 3D-printable projects, from a name keychain to a numbered die.
- Help center — Task-by-task docs for every tool: adding shapes, sketching, modifying, print prep, and exporting.