CAD and Modeling

CAD and Modeling

The Design workspace is where Cindr3D behaves like a browser-based CAD tool. It is aimed at practical printable parts, fixture design, workshop utilities, and quick iteration.

Viewport Basics

Use the 3D viewport to inspect and manipulate parts.

Common actions:

• Orbit, pan, and zoom around the model
• Use the view cube for standard orientations
• Toggle visibility from the component tree
• Inspect the feature timeline to understand how the model was built
• Use selection filters when a dense model has overlapping bodies, sketches, or features

Sketching

Sketches can be created on the XY, XZ, or YZ plane. Sketch geometry is dimensioned in millimeters by default.

For the full sketch tool and constraint reference, see Sketching and Dimensions.

Common sketch entities:

• Line
• Circle
• Rectangle
• Arc
• Text
• Polygon or closed profile

Best practice:

• Start with simple, closed profiles.
• Add dimensions early so the design stays intentional.
• Keep construction geometry separate from printable profiles when possible.
• Resolve over-constrained sketches before adding features.

Solid Features

Solid features turn sketches and bodies into printable geometry.

For the feature/timeline reference, see CAD Features and Timeline.

Available feature families include:

• Extrude
• Revolve
• Sweep
• Loft
• Shell
• Rib
• Split
• Draft
• Hole
• Thread
• Chamfer
• Fillet

For parts that need later edits, prefer feature-driven geometry over one-off mesh operations. That keeps the timeline useful and makes variants easier to maintain.

Parametric Models

The parametric model library is intended for reusable printable parts and hardware-ready starter geometry.

Examples:

• Gridfinity bins
• Threaded insert bosses
• Brackets
• Project boxes
• Cable clips
• Gear blanks

Use these as starting points, then adjust dimensions and downstream features to match the final print.

Design Configurations

Configurations let one design carry multiple named variants.

Use configurations for:

• Size variants
• Left/right versions
• Different hole patterns
• Material-specific wall thicknesses
• Feature suppression per variant
• Variant export

Keep configuration names descriptive so exported files and future edits stay understandable.

Drawing Workspace

The drawing workspace can generate orthographic views from the model.

For exports and drawing handoff, see Drawing and Export Workflows.

Supported output targets include:

• SVG
• DXF
• PDF

Use drawings when you need a shop-facing reference, a dimensioned review artifact, or a 2D export for another tool.

Mesh Repair

Mesh repair tools help prepare imported geometry for printing.

For a deeper repair checklist, see Mesh Repair and Imports.

Common checks and fixes:

• Manifold report
• Duplicate-vertex weld
• Normal repair
• Normal flip
• Auto-fix
• STL import healing

If an imported STL slices strangely, run mesh checks before tuning slicer settings.

Imports and Exports

Common import targets include:

• .f3d
• .step
• .stp
• .stl
• .obj

Common export targets include:

• Cindr3D project/session bundles
• STL
• STEP
• G-code through the active slicing flow

For printable sharing, STL is the broadest target. For editable downstream CAD, prefer STEP when available.