JetCad3 — Professional CAD/CAM Software

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

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

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

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

Parametric Geometry Generators

Fully parametric profiles for mechanical drive components — live preview as you adjust parameters, expression inputs with unit suffixes, output directly into the active sketch as editable geometry.

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

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 CAM

Complete

Full 2D plasma cutting CAM with a top-down sheet view. Import parts from DXF or directly from your Drafting workspace, nest them manually or with two automatic nesting algorithms, configure machine profiles and cut recipes, generate toolpaths with arc-preserving kerf compensation and lead-in/out, simulate the cut with a live DRO, then post selective parts to G-code your controller will actually run.

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

Part Import

DXF Import

All standard DXF entity types: lines, arcs, circles, polylines, splines
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

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

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
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
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

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

What JetCad3 Does