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DAE FBX glTF Viewer
open Collada, FBX and glTF/B files

CATIA Siemens-NX CREO SolidWorks Solid Edge Autodesk Rhino JT STEP X_T DWG-DXF-DWF DGN-IFC PDF-PRC-U3D IGES-SAT-VDA DAE-FBX-glTF 3MF-STL PLY-3DS-WRL-OBJ

What are DAE, FBX, and glTF files?

  • DAE (Digital Asset Exchange) This format was developed by Sony and is based on the COLLADA XML schema. The format is supported by numerous 3D visualization programs, including Blender and Maya, as well as game engines such as Unity and Unreal.
  • FBX (Filmbox) Proprietary 3D file format from Autodesk for exchanging 3D scenes—that is, 3D models including animations, materials, cameras, and lighting—primarily with Autodesk 3ds Max and Maya.
  • glTF (Graphics Language Transmission Format) An open, royalty-free file format for the efficient transmission and display of 3D scenes and models, developed by the Khronos Group. glTF is designed for modern web and mobile technologies. The format has been optimized for fast loading and compact storage of 3D models.

DAE-FBX-glTF-File-Viewer

DAE, FBX, glTF - Versions

  • DAE (Collada) has been in version 1.5 since October 2008. Version 1.4 is still widely used and supported by current software. Versions prior to 1.4 are considered obsolete and are generally no longer supported. (09/2025)
  • FBX stands for Filmbox, an open framework for transferring 3D data developed by Kaydara and adopted by Autodesk in version 6 in 2006. There is no specific current FBX version, as FBX is supported by various applications and SDKs. The most recent SDK version is from 2024, which supports versions 6.1 and 7.0 through 7.5. (09/2025)
  • glTF is the text-based version of the GL format and uses JSON to describe the 3D scene in the form of "nodes." 3D geometries, textures, graphics, and other binary assets are often stored in separate files. GLB is the binary version of the format, but can also reference external binary data.

DAE, FBX, glTF - Special Features

All of these formats aim at the efficient transmission of complex 3D scenes. They serve as interfaces within and for game and film production, for realistic product visualization, and for virtual and augmented reality.

For this purpose, the formats contain not only the model's geometries but also textures, animations, lighting, and camera positions. glTF supports PBR (Physically Based Rendering), which realistically simulates the behavior of light on surfaces.

In contrast to the free, open formats DAE/Collada (XML) and glTF (JSON), FBX is a proprietary format from Autodesk. However, Autodesk allows developers to implement FBX support through the FBX SDK without charging licensing fees.(09/2025)

How do I open DAE, FBX, and glTF files?

These modern 3D scene formats are typically opened with 3D rendering software such as Blender, Maya, and 3DS Max. Google SketchUp and some online viewers also support these formats.

The 3D-Tool CAD Viewer opens DAE, FBX, and glTF files and provides extensive measurement, markup, and analysis tools.

Perhaps more important is the ability to bridge 3D CAD data from product development to realistic product visualizations in 3D rendering software. The 3D-NativeCAD Converter in 3D-Tool Premium converts 3D models from common CAD systems such as CATIA, Siemens NX, CREO, and SolidWorks into these modern visualization formats.

How can I convert a DAE, FBX, or glTF file?

If you don't have CAD/CAM software with a suitable interface, the model must be exported from the original 3D program to another 3D exchange format or 3D visualization format.

Converting DAE, FBX, and glTF is also possible with a 3D converter or CAD converter.

3D-Tool Premium includes the 3D NativeCAD Converter. This converts many 3D formats, including native formats from common CAD systems, into 3D exchange formats or 3D product visualizations. However, in the case of DAE, FBX, and glTF, please note that visualization data (MESH) can only be converted to formats that support this.

Test DAE, FBX, glTF viewers and converters

3D-Tool is a CAD viewer with interfaces for common native CAD formats, 3D exchange formats, and many 3D visualization formats. 3D-Tool offers professional measurement functions, draft analysis, wall thickness analysis, and the 3D-NativeCAD Converter.

  • Open, dimension, comment, and publish DAE, FBX, and glTF files for the 3D-Tool Free Viewer or as 3D PDFs.
  • Open and save DAE, FBX, and glTF files as STL, 3DS, PLY, WRL, OBJ, or PLY.
  • Convert DAE, FBX, and glTF files to JT and STEP AP242.
  • Create 3D HTML pages and 3D PDF files from FBX, Collada/DAE, and glTF.

Simply download 3D-Tool, launch it, and request a demo key. Test it for 14 days with all features, all interfaces, and the 3D Native CAD Converter. Open and convert DAE, FBX, glTF, STEP, JT, as well as CATIA, Siemens NX, Inventor, SolidWorks, and other formats.

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