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CADViewer by Orua
What CADViewer by Orua is
CADViewer by Orua is a free, open-source browser viewer for previewing engineering drawings, including large AutoCAD files. It opens DWG, DXF, STL, STEP/STP, IGES/IGS, and BREP/BRP through one file entry and toolbar. DWG and DXF parsing runs in a Web Worker with LibreDWG WebAssembly, then renders entities progressively using Canvas 2D and Path2D. Three-dimensional formats are processed locally with OpenCascade WebAssembly and displayed using WebGL, with selectable metal surface-finish previews. Controls include pan, wheel zoom, fit-to-view, zoom window, drawing-list visibility, and light or dark backgrounds. Font loading for SHX, TTF, OTF, and WOFF is deferred, and Simplified Chinese and English are available through deployment configuration. It can run on a static web server without an application server or database, with documented offline and private-network setups. Locally selected files are parsed in the browser; no account or drawing-upload API is required. It is read-only, with no editing, entity-property panels, selection workflows, or plugin system. External raster images, proxy objects, uncommon custom entities, or text with missing fonts may not display as expected.
Who it suits
It suits people who need browser-based previews of engineering drawings, including through self-hosted deployment. It is not intended for editing CAD files.
What it does well
- Free and open source
- Opens DWG, DXF, and several 3D formats
- Locally selected files are parsed in the browser
- Static hosting needs no application server or database
- Documents offline and private-network configuration
What to know first
- Read-only; no CAD editing
- No entity-property panels, selection workflows, or plugins
- External images and uncommon entities may not render
- Missing fonts can change text appearance
Limits
CADViewer is read-only and has no CAD editing, entity-property panels, selection workflows, or plugin system. Rendering capacity depends on the drawing, browser, device memory, entity complexity, nested blocks, hatches, and fonts; external raster images, proxy objects, and uncommon custom entities may not render, and missing fonts can alter text appearance.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| CADViewer | Open-source browser viewer · read-only · self-hosted static deployment | Free |
As github.com lists them, read 4 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Open the Orua CADViewer project website.
- Deploy CADViewer on a static web server, or configure it for offline or private-network use.
- Choose the deployment language configuration for Simplified Chinese or English if needed.
- Open a local drawing through the file entry and toolbar.
Verdict
CADViewer provides browser previews with local file processing and self-hosting options. Its read-only scope and possible rendering gaps matter if you need to edit drawings or rely on every file element appearing.
Questions
How much does CADViewer cost?
The listed plan is free. It is open source.
Which file formats does it open?
It supports DWG, DXF, STL, STEP/STP, IGES/IGS, and BREP/BRP.
Can it edit CAD drawings?
No. CADViewer is read-only and does not include CAD editing, entity-property panels, or selection workflows.
Which platforms does it support?
It is listed for web and self-hosted use. It can be deployed on a static web server.
Does CADViewer upload files to an application backend?
Locally selected files are parsed in the browser, and the viewer does not require an account, application backend, or drawing-upload API. A hosting site may retain ordinary web-server access logs.
What license does it use?
The project is open source. LibreDWG WebAssembly components are distributed under GPL-3.0-or-later, while other components retain their respective licenses.
Facts from CADViewer by Orua's own pages
- 3D previews
- Three-dimensional formats are processed locally with OpenCascade WebAssembly and displayed with WebGL, with selectable metal surface-finish previews. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Capacity limits
- The project says supported drawing size depends on the drawing, browser, device memory, entity complexity, nested blocks, hatches, and fonts. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Deployment
- CADViewer can be deployed on a static web server without an application server or database, and it documents offline or private-network configuration. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
- File fidelity limits
- External raster images, proxy objects, and uncommon custom entities may not render, while missing fonts can change text appearance. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
- File formats
- It opens DWG, DXF, STL, STEP/STP, IGES/IGS, and BREP/BRP through one file entry and toolbar. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Fonts and languages
- It defers SHX, TTF, OTF, and WOFF font loading and supports Simplified Chinese and English through deployment configuration. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Intended audience
- The project is aimed at users who need to preview large AutoCAD drawings in a browser, including through self-hosted deployment. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Large drawing rendering
- DWG/DXF parsing runs in a Web Worker with LibreDWG WebAssembly and progressively renders entities using Canvas 2D and Path2D. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Licensing
- The repository says LibreDWG WebAssembly components are distributed under GPL-3.0-or-later and other components retain their respective licenses. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Navigation
- The viewer supports pan, wheel zoom, fit-to-view, zoom window, drawing-list visibility, and light or dark backgrounds. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Privacy
- Locally selected files are parsed in the browser, and the viewer does not require an account, application backend, or drawing-upload API. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- CADViewer is an open-source browser CAD viewer designed for large engineering drawings and read-only previews. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Read-only limits
- It does not provide CAD editing, entity-property panels, selection workflows, or a plugin system. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Security caveat
- The project notes that a hosting site may retain ordinary web-server access logs. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
Where CADViewer by Orua stands on Freedom251
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