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Learn/Drafting/Import & Export

McMaster-Carr Catalog

Updated v2.3.6

At a glance

  • Browse the real McMaster-Carr catalog in a themed window inside JetCad3
  • Download a part's CAD file and it drops straight into your model — no Downloads-folder detour
  • Choose STEP for the best result; IGES, BREP, and mesh formats work too
  • Pick which component it joins, then place it by hand with the move-and-rotate manipulator

The McMaster-Carr button in the Drafting toolbar's Utility group opens the live catalog in a themed window right inside JetCad3 — search, pick a part, and open its CAD download just like you would in a browser. Your McMaster login and cart stick around between visits.

The part drops into your model

When you download a part's 3D file, JetCad3 catches it instead of sending it to your Downloads folder — the part comes straight into the open document. On McMaster's CAD menu, choose STEP for the smoothest result; IGES, BREP, and mesh files (STL / OBJ / glTF) work too. If you pick a format JetCad3 can't read, you get a clear heads-up to choose STEP instead.

You decide where it goes

After the download, a quick prompt asks which component the part should join — an existing one, or a brand-new component named after the part. Then the part appears with the same move-and-rotate manipulator as the Move tool: drag it into place, spin it around any axis, or type exact coordinates and angles.

Offline-aware

On a shop machine with no internet, the catalog window shows a friendly offline note instead of a browser error — and the rest of JetCad3 keeps working exactly as always.

Once imported, a McMaster part behaves like any other imported body. See 3D Model Import for how imported bodies work, and Solid Body Export for sending them back out.