Full Feature Reference

What JetCad3 Does

Parametric 3D CAD, unlimited free Design layout, plasma and laser sheet CAM, and router, mill, and lathe workspaces on the roadmap. Every workbench, every tool — documented.

Design

Complete

Unlimited for free and hobby use — no account, no sign-in, and no credit card. The Design workspace is a dedicated 2D vector environment for signage, artistic layouts, and machine prep: import artwork, organize shapes on color-driven layers, trace raster references into clean contours, and refine geometry with familiar transforms.

Layout & drawing

Vector-first workflow

  • Built for artistic shape layout and layer-based output prep—not parametric history trees
  • Top-view editing with the same camera habits as Plasma and Laser
  • Full undo and redo on the document stack — every edit is reversible

Selection & transforms

  • Click, shift-add, and marquee selection — window (left-to-right) vs crossing (right-to-left)
  • On-canvas handles for move, rotate, uniform or axis stretch, and mirror
  • HUD strip for precise X/Y, incremental rotation, mirror toggles, and width/height when you want numbers
  • Arrow keys nudge the selection; Shift+arrow for larger steps

Creation tools

  • Draw rectangles, circles, lines, and polylines with live preview tinted to the active draw color
  • Open contours and edges stay easy to grab—pick through dense art without fighting filled regions
Layers & color

Palette-driven layers

  • Bottom color palette assigns shapes to layers—pick a swatch with parts selected to recolor and regroup
  • Layers appear as soon as shapes use them; rename inline or from the context menu
  • Eye toggles for visibility; mesh fill preview respects nested regions when enabled

Browser panel

  • Grid and mesh view toggles mirror the View menu and persist across sessions
  • Fit command frames everything visible on visible layers
Import, raster & trace

Vector import

  • Import DXF and SVG with progress feedback on heavy files
  • Chains become Design shapes with source coordinates preserved; layers inherit sensible names from the file

Raster canvas & trace

  • Drop or paste PNG, JPEG, WebP, BMP, or static GIF as a reference canvas on any layer
  • Non-destructive filters on the canvas until you commit a trace
  • Trace converts bitmaps into editable vector contours with live preview before you bake geometry
Typography

Canvas-native text

  • Drag a box to place text, then type directly on-canvas with a live caret and instant geometry rebuild
  • Pick any installed TTF/OTF font; HUD controls for size and style while a selection is active
  • Optional text-on-arc style control for curved layouts

Drafting

Complete

Full parametric 3D solid modeling. Design parts with 2D sketches on construction planes, then build solids with extrude, revolve, sweep, and boolean operations. Your model history stays editable — go back and change any dimension at any time.

Solid Modeling Tools

Extrude

  • Turn any closed sketch face into a solid prism
  • Optional twist — applies a helical rotation along the extrusion axis
  • Blind, symmetric, or through-all depth modes
  • Join into existing body, cut away material, or keep as new body

Revolve

  • Spin a sketch face around any line axis
  • Full 360° or any partial angle
  • Join, cut, or new body modes
  • Great for shafts, pulleys, knobs, and any turned geometry

Sweep

  • Move a sketch profile along a polyline path
  • Profile stays perpendicular to the path throughout
  • Great for custom extrusions, weldments, and frame profiles
  • Join, cut, or new body modes

Helix

  • Sweep a profile along a helical path
  • Configure pitch, number of turns, and hand (CW or CCW)
  • Great for springs, coils, augers, and worm gears
  • Join, cut, or new body modes

Pipe & Tube

  • Round, square, and rectangular hollow sections
  • Standard mode: select from industry schedule sizes
  • Custom mode: specify OD + wall thickness, OD + ID, or width/height
  • Solid or hollow output, swept along a polyline path

Thread

  • 40+ standard thread series: UNC, UNF, Metric, ACME, and more
  • Auto-matches series and pitch to the cylinder diameter you click
  • Fit classes: 1A, 2A, 3A — right or left hand
  • Cosmetic mode (annotation metadata) or Modeled mode (helical cut geometry)

Fillet

  • Apply a constant-radius fillet to any body edge
  • Tangent-chain selection: one click selects the full connected edge loop
  • Shift+Click to pick individual edges when you need selective control
  • Accumulate edges from multiple faces in one operation

Chamfer

  • Apply a constant-distance chamfer to any body edge
  • Tangent-chain selection: one click selects the full connected edge loop
  • Shift+Click to pick individual edges for selective control
  • Accumulate edges from multiple faces in one operation

Boolean Operations

  • Combine: fuse two bodies into one (union)
  • Cut: subtract one body from another (difference)
  • Available inline on every profile tool — no separate step required
  • Multi-body components: keep independent solids in the same file

Move & Align

  • Translate any solid body by offset or absolute position
  • Rotate about any axis
  • Face-to-face snap: align a body face flush with any other face
  • Point-to-point snap: align geometry origins precisely
Construction Planes

Six Creation Methods

  • Offset — parallel to any flat face or existing plane at a set distance
  • Face — coincident with a sketch face or flat body face
  • 3-Point — through any three picked edge or vertex points
  • Tangent to Cylinder — tangent to a curved face at a defined angle
  • Midplane — exactly halfway between two parallel planes or faces
  • Edge + Angle — through a body edge, rotated to any angle
2D Sketch Editor

Entity Types

  • Line — straight segment defined by start and end points
  • Arc — circular arc by center, radius, start angle, and end angle
  • Circle — full circle by center and radius
  • Polyline — multi-vertex entity with straight or bulge-encoded arc segments; native DXF format
  • Spline — B-spline (degree 1–5) with control points and knot vector; supports interpolation through points

Draw Tools

  • Line — continuous connected segments
  • Arc — 3-point definition (start, mid, end)
  • Circle — center + radius
  • Rectangle — axis-aligned, two-corner definition
  • Parallel Line — offset from an existing line at a fixed distance

Modify Tools

  • Trim — cut lines and arcs at intersections
  • Extend — stretch a line or arc to meet another entity
  • Offset — offset an entire chain or polyline by a signed distance
  • Fillet — insert a fillet arc between two entities, or fillet all corners at once
  • Chamfer — insert a chamfer line between two lines or arcs
  • Mirror — mirror selection about a two-point axis
  • Move, Rotate, Scale — standard transforms on any selection
  • Pattern — circular or rectangular array of selected entities

Selection Modes

  • Click to select — or select the whole group if the entity is grouped
  • Drag left-to-right: window selection (fully enclosed only)
  • Drag right-to-left: crossing selection (anything the box touches)
  • Space: chain-select — flood fill all connected lines and arcs
  • Cmd/Ctrl+A: select everything in the sketch
  • Shift+Click: deselect individual entities

Snapping

  • Endpoint — start or end of any line or arc
  • Midpoint — center of any line or arc
  • Centerpoint — center of any circle or arc
  • Intersection — any two-geometry crossing
  • Perpendicular — foot of perpendicular from cursor to a line
  • Tangent — tangent point from cursor to a circle or arc
  • Origin — sketch plane origin
  • Visual red indicator locks cursor before you click

Construction Geometry

  • Press X on selected entities to toggle construction mode
  • Press X with nothing selected to draw all new entities as construction
  • Renders dashed grey — excluded from solid generation entirely
  • Use freely for layout lines, center marks, and reference geometry

Entity Styling

  • Per-entity color — any hex value
  • Line style: Solid, Dashed, Dotted, Dash-dot, Center, Phantom
  • Right-click any entity → Properties to adjust
  • Useful for differentiating cut, score, and reference geometry

Grouping System

  • Click any member of a group to select the entire group
  • Hover any member to highlight all group members simultaneously
  • Nested groups supported — groups can contain sub-groups at arbitrary depth
  • Deleting group members cascades: empty parent groups are auto-removed
  • Text and Generator output is always auto-committed as a named group
  • Context menu: Group (2+ selected), Ungroup (one level), Ungroup All (flatten)

Bounding-Box Manipulate

  • Right-click any polyline, spline, or group → Manipulate to open the bounding-box editor
  • Corner handles: scale from corner; edge midpoint handles: scale along one axis
  • Center handle: translate the entire selection
  • Rotation ticks outside each corner: rotate about center
  • Bend handles (splines only): warp all control points along an arc curve
  • Shift to aspect-lock scale on splines; polylines always scale uniformly

Context Menu Operations

  • Copy / Paste — clipboard with small offset at cursor position
  • Join — merge collinear lines or concentric arcs into one entity
  • Chain Select — flood-fill all connected line/arc entities
  • Convert to Polyline / Convert to Spline / Explode to Lines & Arcs
  • Group, Ungroup, Ungroup All
  • Text on Arc — curve a text group along any arc or circle
  • Properties — set color, line style, and construction flag per entity
Dimensions, Text & Annotation
D

Dimensions

  • Linear — click a line or two points; drag to set offset from geometry
  • Diameter — click a circle; shows diameter with prefix
  • Radius — click an arc; shows radius with R prefix
  • Angular — click two lines; measures included angle in degrees
  • Point — click any snap point; places X/Y coordinate callout with leader line
  • Drag any dimension text to reposition along its line, arc, or leader
D

Tolerancing

  • Right-click any dimension → Tolerance to assign per-dimension tolerances
  • Bilateral symmetric: same + and − value (e.g., ±0.005")
  • Bilateral asymmetric: different + and − values (e.g., +0.002" / −0.001")
  • Unilateral: leave one field blank (e.g., +0.005" / −0.000")
  • Tolerance annotation renders below the dimension value at reduced size
  • Dimension precision auto-elevates to match tolerance precision
  • Prints with tolerance annotation — title block shows drawing default tolerance table by decimal place
  • Reset button clears a custom tolerance back to the drawing defaults
D

Lathe Mode

  • Toggle per-sketch in the sketch edit dialog
  • X-axis relabeled Z (axial), Y-axis relabeled R or D (radial)
  • Point dimensions display in D/Z or R/Z format — diameter mode doubles the radial value
  • Sketch a lathe profile, add point dimensions, enable Lathe Mode, then print
  • Printed output is ready for direct use with conversational lathe programming
  • Lathe mode settings persist per sketch across sessions

Text & Fonts

  • Any TTF or OTF font installed on your system
  • Spline mode: exact Bezier curves — zero approximation error
  • Polyline mode: adaptively tessellated with configurable chord tolerance
  • Output committed as a named group — move, scale, and rotate as one unit

Text on Arc

  • Right-click any text group → Text on Arc…
  • Curves text along any arc or circle already in the sketch
  • Controls: radius, center, start angle, inside or outside baseline
  • Each character is individually repositioned — glyph geometry is never distorted
  • Perfect for curved part labels, ring engravings, and logo work
Shape Generator

Shape Generator

  • Opens from the sketch toolbar — the same dialog as Design, Laser, and Plasma
  • Live preview with typed parameters and unit suffixes; inserts into the active sketch as editable geometry
  • Generated output is auto-committed as a named group alongside sketch text
  • See the Shape Generator section below for the built-in profile library and .jshape authoring
Import & Export

Sketch Import / Export

  • DXF import — all standard entity types (lines, arcs, circles, polylines, splines)
  • DXF export — full sketch geometry as a standard DXF file
  • SVG import — paths and shapes into the active sketch
  • SVG export — clean vector output for laser setup and sign work

Print

  • True vector output — all geometry and dimensions render as vector primitives, not a screenshot
  • Fit mode: zoom freely with a paper boundary overlay showing the framed area
  • 1:1 scale mode: locks to true physical scale (1 unit = 1 inch on paper) for dimensionally accurate shop prints
  • Title block: sketch name, component, file, and tolerance table — toggle on/off
  • Paper sizes: Letter, Letter Landscape, Half-Letter, A4, A4 Landscape, A5, Index Card 4×6", 5×7"
  • Lathe Mode integration: point dimensions print with D/Z or R/Z labels for conversational lathe use
  • All settings remembered between sessions

Solid Body Export

  • STEP AP214 — exact B-Rep geometry, mm or inches. Opens in any CAD tool.
  • STL — tessellated mesh for 3D printing. Binary or ASCII, mm or inches.
  • 3MF — compressed mesh archive for modern slicers.
  • Right-click any body in the browser panel → Export

Expression Evaluator

  • Every dimension input accepts math expressions
  • Unit suffixes: in, mm, cm, m, ft, yd, deg, rad
  • Examples: 10mm, (1/2)in, 5+3, 1.5708rad
  • Converts and displays in your current document units automatically

Plasma

Complete

Full 2D plasma cutting CAM with a top-down sheet view. Import parts from DXF, SVG, SheetCAM `.job` files, or directly from your Drafting workspace, nest them manually or with two automatic nesting algorithms, use Common Grid for qualifying rectangular parts to cut a grid with shared separator lines, configure machine profiles and cut recipes, define geometry-based contour rules that adjust feed, THC, leads, and pierce behavior before toolpath generation, generate toolpaths with arc-preserving kerf compensation and lead-in/out, simulate the cut with a live DRO, then post selective parts for production.

Machine & Setup

Machine Profiles

  • Save and load machine profiles as portable .jcm files — easy to share between installations
  • Parameters: X/Y/Z travel, max feedrate, units (in or mm)
  • Controller type: LinuxCNC, Mach3, and others
  • AVTHC (Automatic Voltage Torch Height Control) — enable/disable and default voltage
  • MCS origin corner — sets machine home position (lower-left, lower-right, upper-left, upper-right)
  • Torch offset (X/Y) for tool center compensation
  • Spline simplify tolerance — controls arc approximation fidelity in post output
  • Auto-nesting defaults: part spacing, sheet margin, rotation step

Cut Recipes

  • Per-machine recipes for each material and thickness combination
  • Built-in Hypertherm Powermax45 XP data: mild steel, stainless, aluminum — 16 gauge through 1"
  • Two cut speed modes: Best Quality and Production (fast)
  • Full parameters: kerf width, pierce height, pierce delay, torch-to-work distance
  • Lead-in/out types: arc, line, or overcut — radius, angle, and length all configurable
  • Cut direction: Conventional or Climb — controls kerf offset winding direction
  • THC target voltage, edge start flag for material that cannot be pierced in the field
  • Consumable set reference: nozzle, electrode, shield, retaining cap, swirl ring
Rules Engine

Contour Rules

  • Rules on the machine profile and on individual cut charts — machine rules run before chart rules
  • Conditions: material thickness, contour type (outer / hole / open), arc-aware perimeter, hole diameter (true circular arc holes only — not rounded rects or polygons)
  • Stackable actions: feedrate override, arc voltage (THC), pierce delay, custom G-code before/after, disable THC (full cut or before end), Skip (no toolpath/post), Center Spot Pierce (pierce-only on circular holes; hole-diameter-only condition), Lead Override
  • Multiple rules and multiple actions can match one contour; percent overrides multiply, absolute overrides win later
  • Transient — not permanent contour edits; disable or delete a rule and regenerate to restore cut-chart defaults
  • Bold rule-colored edge overlay after generation, including skipped contours; toolpath colors stay theme-controlled; no stale highlights on dirty toolpaths
Part Import

DXF & SVG Import

  • All standard DXF entity types: lines, arcs, circles, polylines, splines
  • SVG paths imported as chained polylines with arc-preserving simplification
  • Automatic chaining of entities into continuous cut contours
  • Quantity import — set copy count per part before importing; duplicates link to their master
  • Spline-to-polyline conversion at configurable simplify tolerance
  • Automatic winding-order detection (CW vs CCW) for correct kerf side
  • Containment depth analysis: classifies contours as outer profile, hole, or open path

SheetCAM Job Import

  • Open existing SheetCAM `.job` files directly in Plasma — no DXF export step
  • Preserve placed and nested layouts from the SheetCAM job, or import parts unplaced for JetCad3 auto-nesting
  • Inherit `[Work]` sheet dimensions from the job when importing
  • Part transforms match SheetCAM behavior — rotation, mirror, and placement stay consistent
  • Drag-and-drop `.job` files onto the viewport or use File → Import like DXF and SVG

Import from Drafting Workspace

  • Import any sketch or flat solid face directly from your Drafting workspace
  • Maintains live association — re-import after design changes with one click
  • No need to export DXF manually when working entirely within JetCad3

Sheet & Part Layout

  • Machine bed visualization with 12"/300mm grid overlay
  • Sheet sized to configured stock dimensions, positioned by origin corner and work offsets
  • Click + drag to position parts; multi-select moves all selected parts together
  • Box select: left-to-right window, right-to-left crossing — Shift for additive selection
  • Drag rotation handle on a single selected part to rotate freely
  • Context menu: Lock/Unlock, Rotate 90° CW/CCW, Move to Origin, Duplicate, Delete
  • Per-contour right-click: Reverse Cut Direction, Delete Contour, Reset Overrides
Auto-Nesting

Skyline Packing (Quick)

  • Fast rectangular packing for instant layout preview on import
  • Tessellates part outlines and places using a walking-skyline approach
  • 8 rotation candidates at 45° steps
  • Best for quick estimates before running a full NFP nest

NFP Nesting (Medium / Max)

  • No-Fit Polygon (NFP) orbiting — computes the exact feasible region where each part can be placed without overlapping
  • Genetic Algorithm optimizer — evolves part ordering and rotation angles across generations
  • Concave part support — handles non-convex outlines accurately
  • Medium: 4 rotation candidates, ~5 second time limit
  • Max: 12 rotation candidates, hole filling (places smaller parts inside larger part holes), ~30 second limit
  • Gravity heuristic packs toward the origin, minimizing sheet usage
  • Runs in a background thread — UI stays responsive during nesting

Nesting Controls

  • Three effort levels: Quick, Medium, Max — selectable per nest run
  • Part spacing — clearance between nested parts (default: 0.125")
  • Sheet margin — inset from sheet edges
  • Rotation step — initial rotation granularity in degrees
  • Lock parts to pin them in place; locked parts act as fixed obstacles for the algorithm
  • Rip Up button to clear all nested positions and start over
  • Auto-nest on import option — nest incoming parts immediately
Common Grid

Common Grid

  • Right-click a qualifying part on the sheet or in the Parts browser → Common Grid… — set X Qty, Y Qty, and Lead Padding to build a rectangular array with shared common-line separator cuts between finished cells
  • Qualifies when the part has one sharp-cornered rectangular or square closed outside contour, any number of closed holes, and no open contours; unsupported shapes leave the command disabled
  • The grid stays one nestable part for move, rotate, mirror, lock, nesting, and posting; dashed previews show where separators will cut (visual only — not pickable contours)
  • Toolpaths run duplicated holes first, then the aggregate outside profile, then open centerline separator cuts extended by Lead Padding — separators use pierce and feed from the active recipe but skip kerf offset and lead-in/out
  • Cell spacing follows active kerf from your cut chart and recipe; change material, thickness, or cut parameters and the gridded geometry rebuilds
  • Parts browser shows a finished-cell badge; sheet totals and quotes count delivered cells while pierce count, cut length, and time reflect the actual toolpath
Toolpath Generation & Post-Processing

Toolpath Generation

  • Inside-out ordering: holes are always cut before outer profiles — eliminates part shift
  • Nearest-neighbor rapid travel optimization to minimize cycle time
  • Arc-preserving kerf offset: exact arcs throughout — linearization only at the post stage if required
  • Kerf direction: outward for outer contours, inward for holes, centerline for open paths
  • Lead-in/out generation: arc or line with configurable radius, angle, and length
  • Overcut support to eliminate pierce marks on lead-out
  • Rules evaluate after cut chart and manual contour overrides, before kerf and leads; skipped contours excluded from pierce count, cut time, quotes, and post
  • Collision detection: warns when parts overlap before generating
  • Estimated cut time: includes rapid traverse, pierce dwell, and cutting segments

G-Code Post-Processor

  • Outputs LinuxCNC / Mach3 compatible NGC format
  • G90 absolute positioning, G20/G21 unit selection
  • M3 torch on, M5 torch off, G4 pierce delay
  • G0 rapid moves, G1 feed moves
  • Native G2/G3 arc moves — arcs are not unnecessarily linearized
  • Z-axis retract between each cut contour
  • Bundled QtPlasmaC / LinuxCNC post supports center-spot pierce and skip semantics via [spot] markers
  • Fusion 360 post-processor also available for workflow flexibility

Toolpath Visualization

  • Color-coded preview directly on the sheet view
  • Green: lead-in segments
  • Red: cutting path
  • Orange: lead-out segments
  • Direction arrows showing cut direction on each contour
  • Rule-colored contour-edge highlights for matched and skipped contours

Cut Simulation

  • Play / Pause / Stop transport controls on the Sim Toolbar at the bottom of the viewport
  • DRO (Digital Readout) — live X, Y, Z position and feed rate in monospace format
  • Auto-detects units: 4 decimal places for inches, 3 for mm
  • Smooth feed rate display using exponential moving average — no jumpy readout during acceleration
  • 30 Hz position polling for fluid animation

Selective Post-Processing

  • Choose which parts to include before posting — no need to post the entire sheet
  • Estimated cut time displayed after generation, before you commit to posting
  • NGC format compatible with LinuxCNC and Mach3
  • Per-operation G-code comments: part ID, contour type, pierce parameters, THC voltage

Laser

Complete

2D laser cutting and engraving CAM on a familiar sheet canvas. Import vector art, SheetCAM `.job` files, or pull flat geometry from Drafting, assign palette colors to drive cut vs engrave operations, use Common Grid for qualifying rectangular parts with common-line separator cuts, tune power and speed per layer, preview fills and toolpaths, then post controller-ready output—including G-code and Ruida-friendly formats for CO₂ workflows.

Machine & setup

Machine profiles

  • Laser-specific profiles with travel limits, units, simplify tolerance, and feed timebase (per minute or per second in the UI)
  • Profile type drives which post processors appear—keep machines centralized across workspaces
  • Bed dimensions update live when you edit travel from the shared machine manager

Operation parameters

  • Per-layer tabs for every visible operation—reorder with drag handles or compact up/down controls
  • Cut mode: kerf offset, lead-in/out styles, overcut, multi-pass count, climb vs conventional behavior
  • Engrave mode: scan angle, line spacing or lines-per-inch, bi-directional fill, optional cross-hatch, overscan for acceleration headroom
  • Shared fields include laser power, feedrate, air assist, and enable/disable per operation
Import & sheet layout

Vector import

  • DXF and SVG with automatic contour chaining tuned for laser part extraction
  • SheetCAM `.job` import — migrate existing laser or plasma layouts without re-exporting geometry
  • Preserve SheetCAM placement or import parts for JetCad3 nesting; inherit `[Work]` sheet size from the job
  • Import flat sketches or faces from Drafting with live refresh when the source model changes

Sheet & parts

  • Drag, rotate, and box-select parts on the machine sheet with the same affordances as Plasma
  • Contour-centric selection mode highlights individual loops for overrides and layer reassignment
  • Keep-placement imports warn when stock is too small—oversized parts land in staging instead of disappearing

Auto nesting

  • Nest cuttable parts with configurable padding; engrave-only parts stay out of the nest solver
  • Multiple effort presets with clear time hints—background solving keeps the UI responsive
Common grid

Common grid

  • Part-level Common Grid… from the canvas part menu or the Parts browser row menu — set X Qty, Y Qty, and Lead Padding; dialog defaults persist locally for the next grid
  • One sharp-cornered rectangular or square closed outside contour, closed interior contours allowed, no open contours; unsupported shapes show the action disabled
  • Stays one selectable, movable, nestable, lockable, postable part; dashed separator previews are visual only and stay non-pickable as you move or nest the grid
  • Cell spacing comes from the Cut operation kerf assigned to the outside contour’s layer — zero kerf is valid for shared edges; changing kerf, layer assignment, or operation order rebuilds the grid before refresh
  • Interior contours duplicate into every cell with their layers, cut vs engrave behavior, palette colors, and per-operation overrides; the aggregate outside contour stays on the original outside layer
  • Toolpaths run interior operations in sheet order, then the aggregate outside cut, then open centerline separator cuts last — separators use the owning Cut operation’s power, speed, air assist, and passes, skip kerf offset and lead-in/out, and extend past the outside by Lead Padding at both ends
Layers, palette & operations

Palette workflow

  • Fixed color swatches map to layer names—assign parts by picking a palette entry
  • Operation presets cache per swatch in local storage so re-used colors remember power and speed
  • Right-click menus for quick layer moves, contour overrides, and lead tweaks

Cut vs engrave

  • Each layer operation is either cut or engrave—dashed previews and cross-hatch overlays show engrave regions
  • Mixed parts render cut solids with engrave overlays; engrave-only parts skip solid fill for clarity
  • Operation order on the sheet is authoritative for generation and posting
Toolpaths, preview & simulation

Toolpath generation

  • Cut paths preserve kerf-aware offsets with automatic lead placement, pierce sequencing, and collision checks
  • Engrave paths emit scanline motion with intelligent row linking, overscan gaps, and optional cross-hatch passes
  • Nearest-neighbor ordering inside each layer keeps rapids short; disabled operations are skipped automatically

Visualization

  • Shader-driven engrave preview tracks scan spacing and angle in real time
  • Toolpath overlays summarize linking strategies so you know what will run before posting
  • Collision and out-of-sheet states mirror Plasma styling for instant feedback
Post-processing & output

Posts & controllers

  • G-code posts for common motion controllers—arc-aware output when your machine supports it
  • Ruida-oriented posts emit controller-ready binaries plus optional network send workflows
  • Dedicated output path memory for Laser—Post, Post As, and editor launch stay isolated from Plasma jobs

Transforms & HUD

  • Shared transform HUD with Plasma for mirror toggles, numeric moves, and rotations on selected parts
  • Locks and collision cues keep sheet preparation predictable before you generate toolpaths

Router

Coming Soon

Planned 2.5D CNC router CAM for sheet goods, signs, panels, and nested routing jobs. Router follows a Plasma-style, nesting-first workflow: import or create 2D geometry, arrange parts on sheets, apply router operations, simulate, quote, and post machine-ready code.

Planned Capabilities

  • Profile cuts, pockets, and drilling
  • Engraving and V-carve style operations
  • Tabs, ramping, and spoilboard-aware sheet setup
  • Tool libraries with feeds and speeds per material
  • Nesting-first production layout like Plasma — import, arrange, and optimize sheets
  • Simulation, quoting, and post output for shop-floor routing

Mill

Coming Soon

Planned 3D setup-based CNC milling — Fusion/HSM-style setups and operations with stock, work offsets, tool libraries, and setup-driven 2D/3D toolpaths rather than a nesting-first sheet workflow.

Planned Capabilities

  • Setup-based machining with stock and work coordinate systems
  • 2D and 3D toolpath operations per setup
  • Tool libraries with standard end mill, ball nose, and drill geometries
  • Step-down, step-over, and ramping strategies
  • Fusion/HSM-style workflow — not a nesting-first sheet CAM model
  • Toolpath simulation and collision detection

Lathe

Coming Soon

Planned setup-based CNC turning and lathe CAM — facing, roughing, finishing, grooving, threading, drilling, boring, and lathe post output.

Planned Capabilities

  • Facing, roughing, and finishing operations
  • Threading — single-point and multi-start
  • Grooving and parting
  • Drilling and boring operations on center
  • Tool library with standard insert geometries

Shape Generator

Complete

Parametric geometry as portable .jshape files—JavaScript modules that declare parameters in setup() and emit 2D geometry in generate(). Bundled mechanical, fabrication, and tool profiles ship with the app and grow over time; add unlimited custom .jshape files anytime. The Shape Generator dialog lists every installed shape for quick insertion into Drafting Sketch, Design, Laser, and Plasma. Output flows through the same DXF import path as ordinary artwork, so results stay editable in the host workspace.

What is a .jshape?

Portable parametric shapes

  • Each file exports setup() for name, description, category, units, and typed parameters (length, number, angle, boolean, select, text, sections)
  • generate() uses a small geometry API—lines, arcs, circles, polylines, rectangles, rounded rectangles, slots, bolt circles, and more
  • Ideal for shop-specific brackets, adapters, and repeated patterns driven by a few dimensions

Where it appears

  • One dialog surfaces the same catalog in Drafting sketch, Design, Laser, and Plasma
  • Refresh rebuilds the list after you add or edit files—no separate installers per shape
Authoring & distribution

Create & share

  • Author new shapes in JetCad3’s built-in editor, save as .jshape, and hand them to teammates or customers
  • Import and export from the dialog so custom libraries travel as easily as a DXF—except the recipient gets live parameters, not frozen lines
  • User shapes live alongside bundled defaults; JetCad3 copies updated stock definitions forward when the app ships newer built-ins

Editing workflow

  • Open the shapes folder, edit the selected file, save, then hit Refresh to re-run setup()
  • Rename, describe, and categorize entirely from code—no parallel metadata files to keep in sync
Built-in profiles

Built-in profiles below; parameters and standards may change as shapes are updated in the app.

Sprocket

  • ANSI roller chain: #25, #35, #40, #41, #50, #60, #80, #100, #120, #140, #160
  • Motorcycle/Powersports: 420, 428, 520, 525, 530, 630
  • ISO B-series: 06B, 08B, 10B, 12B, 16B
  • Custom pitch and roller diameter
  • Set tooth count and bore diameter; displays computed pitch diameter and OD

Timing Pulley

  • Imperial trapezoidal: MXL, XL, L, H, XH, XXH
  • Metric T-series: T2.5, T5, T10, T20
  • AT-series: AT3, AT5, AT10, AT20
  • HTD: 3M, 5M, 8M, 14M, 20M
  • Gates GT: GT2, GT3, GT5
  • Set tooth count and bore; displays pitch diameter and OD

Involute Gear

  • External (spur), Internal (ring), and Rack types
  • Module (mm) or Diametral Pitch (1/in) — automatic conversion displayed
  • Pressure angle: freely settable to any value
  • Profile shift coefficient (external gears)
  • Bore option for external; wall thickness for internal; rack height for rack
  • Warns on undercut potential

Spline Profile

  • SAE J499 straight-sided: series selector (4N, 6N, 10N, 16N) with auto-computed minor diameter
  • ANSI B92.1 involute: pressure angle 30/37.5/45°, root form fillet or flat
  • ISO 4156 involute metric: same parameters as ANSI B92.1
  • External (shaft) and internal (hub) profiles
  • Validates geometry and warns on tooth overlap with max tooth count recommendation

Trigger Wheel

  • Hall Effect (square teeth) and VR / Variable Reluctance (angled converging flanks)
  • Set total positions, outer diameter, tooth height, and duty cycle %
  • Missing-tooth sync gap: configurable count — supports any pattern (e.g., 60-2, 36-1)
  • Bore diameter option

Base Plate

  • Rectangular plate with corner fillets
  • Bolt patterns and center holes
  • Edge treatments and hole sizing driven by parameters

Gusset

  • Angled triangular gussets for weld-in-place reinforcement
  • Fillet or chamfer corner styles
  • Sized for common frame and bracket layouts

Exhaust Flange

  • Round and oval exhaust flanges
  • Tangent outside profiles with bolt holes
  • Parametric port and flange dimensions

Pipe Flange

  • ASME Class 150, tube, and custom round flanges
  • Bolt circle and bore parameters
  • Flat-pattern friendly output for plasma and laser

Trapezoid Fire Pit

  • Flat-pattern welded fire pit panels
  • Pit plate, feet, ground clearance, and vertical louvers
  • Panel sizing for common backyard fire pit builds

Tool & bit profiles

  • End Wrench — SAE, Metric, Custom, corner clearances, and Full Set mode
  • Hex head, hex socket, Allen/hex key, Torx, external Torx, triple square / XZN
  • 12-point / double hex, spline drive, Phillips, Pozidriv, JIS cross, slotted, spanner, snake-eye
  • Clutch / bow tie, tri-wing / tri-point, bit blank / adapter profiles
  • Practical 2D helpers for custom tools and sockets — not strength certifications
Preview

Live preview

  • SVG preview above the parameter panel
  • Mouse-wheel zoom to cursor and middle-mouse pan
  • Fit button and automatic refit after parameter changes
  • Red/green XY direction indicator; arc, circle, polyline, and bulge support
Safety & runtime

Sandboxed execution

  • Shapes run in a hardened sandbox—no filesystem access, no network calls, and no Node require()
  • If something is wrong, generate() can call api.error() with a clear message for the user

Ready to try it?

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