Learn/App & Interface/Files & data
File Formats
Updated v2.3.6At a glance
- One .jc3 project file holds everything — parts, sketches, feature history, sheets, toolpaths, and settings
- Every save writes one complete, self-contained file — no stray companion files, ever
- Machine profiles (.jcm), post processors (.jcpst), shapes (.jshape), and themes (.jc3_theme) each travel as their own file
- Imports 2D artwork (DXF, SVG, SheetCam jobs) and 3D models (STEP, IGES, BREP, STL, OBJ, glTF)
- Exports 2D (DXF, SVG), 3D (STEP, IGES, BREP, STL, OBJ, PLY, glTF, VRML, 3MF), and posted G-code
A JetCad3 project is a single .jc3 file that holds everything — your parts, sketches, feature
history, nested sheets, toolpaths, and workspace settings — in one place. One file to back up, one
file to email, one file to drop on another machine. Large data inside is compressed automatically,
and older project files open transparently and upgrade themselves the next time you save.
Saves are atomic and self-contained: each save writes one complete file, so it either fully lands or leaves your previous file untouched, and nothing else ever appears next to it. Older versions could leave stray temporary files beside projects and machine profiles (especially after a crash) — those are gone; if a file from an earlier version still has one, opening it folds that data back in safely and cleans the stray up.
JetCad3's own files
Everything JetCad3 creates is a single portable file you can back up, email, or move to another machine.
.jc3— Project. Your whole project: parts, sketches, feature history, nested sheets, toolpaths, and settings. Every workspace..jcm— Machine profile. One file per machine: axes and travel, kinematics, work offsets, cut charts, cutting profiles, rules, and G-code subroutines. Plasma, Laser, Router, GcodePilot..jcpst— Post processor. An editable script that formats G-code for your specific controller; it runs sandboxed, with no file or network access, so a downloaded post can only ever format G-code. Plasma, Laser, Router..jshape— Shape script. A parametric shape you can edit and re-run with your own dimensions. Shape Generator (drops geometry into Drafting, Design, and the cutting workspaces)..jc3_theme— Theme. A custom color theme you can share between machines. App-wide — see Themes.
Bringing files in
Import from File → Import, or just drag a file onto the viewport.
2D artwork
- DXF — 2D CAD drawing. Lines, arcs, circles, polylines, splines, and ellipses; follows layers and block inserts, and keeps arcs as true arcs rather than flattening them, so CAM leads and kerf land on real geometry. Plasma / Laser / Router (part import), Drafting & Design (sketch import).
- SVG — vector artwork. Paths and shapes from illustration tools. Drafting & Design (sketch import).
- SheetCam
.job— a nested cutting job. Brings an existing SheetCam layout in so a job library isn't stranded. Plasma, Laser, Router.
3D models
- STEP (
.step/.stp) — exact solid, the cross-CAD standard. Comes in at true size with exact geometry. Drafting. - IGES (
.igs/.iges) — legacy exact CAD. Older surfaces and solids from other packages. Drafting. - BREP — exact solid. A lossless JetCad3-to-JetCad3 hand-off. Drafting.
- STL / OBJ / glTF (
.glb) — mesh models. Scanned parts, downloaded brackets, or 3D-print models, brought in as mesh bodies. Drafting.
Sending files out
2D
- DXF / SVG. Sheets and sketches export back out with coordinates scaled to your preferred units. Plasma / Laser / Router (sheet layout), Drafting (per-sketch), Design (contours).
3D — exact
- STEP / IGES / BREP. Exact solid models for machining or handing off to other CAD. Drafting.
3D — mesh
- STL / OBJ / PLY / glTF (
.glb) / VRML / 3MF. Tessellated mesh for 3D printing, rendering, web viewers, and scan/point-cloud workflows. Drafting.
To the machine
- G-code. Posted toolpath programs as plain text any controller or editor can read. The file extension comes from the post processor, and the machine dialog can override it per machine. Plasma, Laser, Router (via GcodePilot).