Chili3D is a browser-based 3D computer-aided design application for creating and editing solid models directly in a web browser. Its modelling engine is based on OpenCascade, compiled to WebAssembly, while Three.js handles the interactive 3D viewport.
The application is designed around a conventional CAD workflow rather than a simplified model viewer. Users can create sketches, build solids from profiles, modify geometry, organise parts hierarchically, and save projects in browser storage. A ribbon-style interface groups modelling and editing commands, with a project tree and property panels for working with model structure and parameters.
This is free and open source software.
Key Features
- Create boxes, cylinders, cones, spheres, pyramids, toruses, and other basic shapes.
- Draw lines, arcs, circles, ellipses, rectangles, polygons, and Bézier curves in sketches.
- Perform Boolean union, difference, and intersection operations.
- Supports extrusion, revolution, sweeping, lofting, offset surfaces, and thick solids.
- Provides chamfer, fillet, trim, break, split, sew, simplify, and feature-removal tools.
- Includes object snapping, workplane snapping, axis tracking, feature-point detection, and visual tracking guides.
- Measure angles and lengths, and calculate aggregate length, area, and volume.
- Import and export STEP, IGES, BREP, and STL files.
- Offers undo and redo with transaction history.
- Supports dynamic workplanes, camera controls, saved camera positions, and hierarchical assembly organisation.
- Runtime plugin system supports dynamically loaded extensions, macros, and node-based visual programming.
- Interface translations include English, Chinese, and Brazilian Portuguese.
Website: github.com/xiangechen/chili3d
Support:
Developer: xiangechen and contributors
License: GNU Affero General Public License v3.0
Chili3D is written mainly in TypeScript, with C++ used for the WebAssembly module. Learn TypeScript with our recommended free books and free tutorials.
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Read our verdict in the software roundup.
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