Work with the 3D canvas

Navigate, inspect, and annotate 3D models in the CADchat 3D Canvas using mouse controls, the ViewCube, and toolbar tools.

Open the 3D Canvas

Open a space and click the 3D Canvas tab. If no model is loaded yet, click Upload 3D models or drag and drop a file into the upload zone. See Upload a 3D model file to a space for supported formats and upload steps.


ViewCube, and View Controls

The ViewCube in the top right corner shows orientation labels (FRONT, BACK, etc.). Click a face to snap to that standard view. Use the Roll -90 / Roll +90 buttons next to the ViewCube to rotate the view, or click the Home icon to reset to the default view.


Mouse Navigation

  • Rotate: Click and drag.
  • Pan: Right-click and drag.
  • Zoom: Scroll wheel.

First-person navigation

Click the Walk controls icon (fan shape) in the toolbar to enter first-person navigation mode. This is useful for large assemblies or architectural models.


Context menus

Right-click on the canvas background to open the canvas context menu with view and rendering options. See Use the 3D canvas context menu for details.

Right-click directly on a model part to access part-specific options including zoom, hide, isolate, recolor, and apply materials. See Interact with 3D model parts.


Tips and edge cases

  • You can upload multiple files to the same space. They appear in the Files panel on the left.
  • Double-clicking a part triggers an action based on your User Preferences setting. The default is Add Pin.
  • If the model appears very small, right-click the canvas and choose Fit To Screen.
  • If navigation feels sluggish, try enabling Limit Resolution in User Preferences.
  • If the model doesn't appear after uploading, wait for processing to complete and refresh the page.

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