Chili3D: A Powerful Web-Based 3D CAD Application for Online Design

Introduction

Chili3D is an open-source, browser-based 3D CAD (Computer-Aided Design) application. Built with TypeScript, it achieves near-native performance by compiling OpenCascade (OCCT) to WebAssembly and integrating with Three.js. This allows for powerful online modeling, editing, and rendering capabilities, all without requiring any local installation. It's designed for online model design and editing, making advanced CAD accessible directly through a web browser.

Installation

To get started with Chili3D for development, follow these steps:

Prerequisites

Node.js
npm

Installation Steps

Clone the repository:

git clone https://github.com/xiangechen/chili3d.git
cd chili3d

Install dependencies:
```
npm install
```

Start the development server:

npm run dev # Launches at http://localhost:8080

Examples

Chili3D offers a comprehensive suite of tools for 3D design. Users can create basic shapes, perform 2D sketching, and execute advanced operations like Boolean operations, extrusion, and revolution. It also includes precise snapping and tracking features, extensive editing tools for modification and transformation, and measurement capabilities to calculate angles, lengths, areas, and volumes. For a live demonstration, visit the official Chili3D website.

Why Use Chili3D?

Chili3D stands out as a powerful solution for 3D CAD due to several key advantages. Being entirely browser-based, it eliminates the need for complex software installations, making it accessible from anywhere with an internet connection. Its use of WebAssembly for OpenCascade ensures near-native performance, providing a smooth and responsive user experience typically found in desktop applications. As an open-source project, it fosters community contributions and transparency. Furthermore, its rich feature set, including advanced modeling, precise snapping, and robust editing tools, makes it suitable for a wide range of design tasks.

Chili3D: A Powerful Web-Based 3D CAD Application for Online Design

Summary

Repository Info