CAD software packages can be incredibly expensive, which can cause issues when you want to view/open CAD files supplied by a designer. A CAD viewer may be a good option if you want to view a 3D model without making design edits.
In some cases, you’ll need to choose a CAD viewer that’s compatible with proprietary files. Unfortunately, you may need to download a different viewer software to open different types of CAD software files. The best option on the market for viewing various types of CAD files is the Autodesk Viewer tool. The viewer is free and runs in your web browser (no installation required).
See files supported by the Autodesk viewer coverage below.
Note: To make viewing files easier, you can ask designers to send a neutral CAD file format along with the proprietary files. Neutral CAD file formats may exclude some data, but you’ll be able to open and view the CAD files with a basic viewer. Some neutral file formats include STEP, IGES, Parasolid, STL, VRML, X3D, COLLADA, and DXF.
