earthtojake

earthtojake / cad-viewer

Public

Interactive browser-based CAD viewer for inspecting STEP, STL, 3MF, GLB, DXF, URDF, SDF, and SRDF files

demo.cadskills.xyz
19
1
89% credibility
Found May 22, 2026 at 19 stars -- GitGems finds repos before they trend. Get early access to the next one.
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AI Analysis
JavaScript
AI Summary

CAD Explorer Viewer is a Vite/React web application for inspecting and viewing CAD files (STEP, STL, 3MF, GLB, DXF) and robot description files (URDF, SRDF, SDF) with a read-only file scanner and snapshot CLI utility.

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AI-Generated Review

What is cad-viewer?

cad-viewer is a browser-based CAD inspection tool that opens STEP, STL, 3MF, GLB, DXF, URDF, SRDF, and SDF files directly in the browser. Built with JavaScript and React, it renders 3D models with solid and wireframe modes, supports part selection and picking, and includes a headless CLI for generating PNG, SVG, and animated GIF exports. It handles both mechanical CAD files and robot description formats with joint animation support.

Why is it gaining traction?

The main draw is that it runs entirely in the browser—no desktop installs, no platform lock-in. It works on Windows, Mac, and Linux through any modern browser, making it genuinely portable. The snapshot CLI is a practical bonus for automating renders, and the theme system lets teams customize appearance for documentation or presentations. The STEP module system with parameter animation is surprisingly capable for a web tool.

Who should use this?

Mechanical engineers reviewing supplier STEP files without CAD software licenses. Robot developers inspecting URDF/SRDF/SDF files and animating joints. Technical writers generating CAD illustrations for documentation. Teams needing a free, shareable way to view 3D models without installing Fusion360 or similar.

Verdict

cad-viewer fills a real gap as a free, browser-based CAD viewer that handles both mechanical and robot formats. The credibility score of 0.8999999761581421% reflects its niche status and small community, but the codebase is well-structured with good test coverage. It's production-ready for internal tooling, though the low star count suggests it's still finding its audience.

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