Use cases
Each use case is a job someone does, with the steps for every front end that can do it. Pick your front end in any tab and the others follow.
| Use cases | For |
|---|---|
| Vector art to a sketch | Logos into CAD, laser kerf, messy DXFs, stamps, cut and engrave layers, one icon from a sheet, line art |
| Vector art to a solid | Raised logos, two-height signs, multi-color prints, plates with real holes, overlapping lettering |
| Text to sketch or solid | Name plates, engraved labels, stamps, brand fonts (CLI and app) |
| Mesh to solid | Editing downloaded parts, broken meshes, game assets, scans, one object of many, noisy faces, wrong units |
| Split, section and silhouette | Multi-part print projects, model kits, stacked laser models, fit checks, foam inserts, drilling templates |
| Inspect, check and preview | Pre-flight checks, CI validation, thumbnails |
| Batch and automation | Folders, profiles, Finder Quick Actions, Shortcuts, scripts, reproducible files |
Recipes for the tool you already use: Shapr3D, laser software, slicers, Fusion, Onshape, FreeCAD, SolidWorks, Blender and game engines, Git and CI.
By what you do
Section titled “By what you do”| You are | Trying to | Start with |
|---|---|---|
| A CAD hobbyist (Shapr3D, Onshape) | Get logos and downloaded models into a CAD tool that won’t import them | Logo as a sketch, logo as a solid, edit a printable part, name plate |
| A 3D-printing maker (Bambu, Prusa) | Remix downloads, print in several colors, fix broken files | Split a print project, multi-color badge, repair a mesh, one object, a whole folder |
| A laser or CNC owner | Clean cut files, kerf, layers, stacked models, inserts | Kerf, stamps, cut and engrave layers, line art, stacked layers, foam inserts, labels |
| A product or industrial designer | Bring brand art and type into concept models | Logo as a solid, script lettering, one element, brand fonts, thumbnails |
| A mechanical engineer | Clean supplier files, make reference meshes editable, check fits | Messy DXF, plate with holes, edit a part, noisy faces, wrong units, fit check, pre-flight |
| A small seller (Etsy, craft fairs) | Repeat personalized name plates, signs and stamps | Name plate, labels, stamps, two-height sign, profiles, thumbnails |
| A cosplay or prop maker | Turn game and Blender assets into parts with mounting features | Game assets, kit pieces, repair |
| A developer or print farm | Automate conversion and validation | A whole folder, chaining, dry runs, CI validation |
| An educator or makerspace lead | Simple, repeatable jobs for students on shared machines | Labels, logo as a sketch, pre-flight, profiles, Finder Quick Action |
| An open-hardware maintainer | Keep printable parts valid and reproducible in a repository | CI validation, files in Git, thumbnails, split a project |
Which front end can do what
Section titled “Which front end can do what”| Web app | App | Shortcuts | CLI | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vector art to a sketch or solid | ✓ | ✓ | With a profile | ✓ |
| Text | — | ✓ | — | ✓ |
| Mesh to solid, split, sections, silhouettes | ✓ | ✓ | With a profile | ✓ |
| Analyze | ✓ | ✓ | — | ✓ |
| Validate in scripts and CI | — | — | — | ✓ |
| Pictures | On screen | On screen | — | SVG and PNG files |
| Folders | Desktop browsers | ✓ | Files passed in | -r |
| Finder right-click | — | Through Shortcuts | ✓ (Mac) | install-quick-action (Mac) |
The web app can’t set text because browsers don’t let pages use your fonts (what the web app can’t do).