Native CAD interfaces
Direct support for the CAD formats listed here.
DWG-DXF-DWF Viewer
Open AutoCAD 3D and 2D files
intuitive & practical 3D without CAD expertise
affordable & universal many 3D/2D interfaces
Modern, easy-to-use CAD viewer
Cost-effective CAD converter for all formats
The 3D-Tool Viewer opens DWG, DXF, and DWF files in 2D and 3D without any additional CAD software.
The 3D-NativeCAD Converter converts models to a wide range of formats such as JT, STEP, Parasolid X_T, SAT, STL, OBJ, and PLY.
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Windows support
Compatible with current Windows versions.
What are DWG, DXF, and DWF files?
- DWG and DXF are native file formats of Autodesk AutoCAD CAD/CAM software or ›› Autodesk Inventor. Both formats are used mostly for 2D drawings, but they can also contain 3D solids. Files may be purely 2D, purely 3D, or mixed 2D/3D.
- DWG is the primary native Autodesk AutoCAD format. DXF was originally developed by Autodesk for exchanging data between operating systems. Compared with DWG, DXF offers fewer functions but can be loaded by more CAD applications.
- DWF is a web-based, highly compressed vector format developed by AutoCAD. It was designed for presenting and sharing designs without specialized CAD software, so all project stakeholders can access the data.
DWG, DXF, and DWF versions
- DWG and DXF versions follow AutoCAD development. However, the version numbering is not very intuitive. File version AC1027 applies to AutoCAD 2013 through 2017. The current file version is AC1032 and applies to AutoCAD 2018 through today. The first six bytes (characters) of a DWG file indicate the version. In a DXF file, the version is specified in the header. The DXF variable is $ACADVER. (05/2026)
- There are mainly two versions of DWF: the older DWF (Design Web Format) version and the newer XML-based DWFx format. DWFx is the latest version and is often used to exchange design data with people who do not have AutoCAD installed.
DWG, DXF, and DWF characteristics
Due to the close relationship, DWG files can be used in Autodesk AutoCAD and Autodesk Inventor. However, a DWG file created with Inventor can only be modified in Inventor. A DWG file created with AutoCAD can only be modified in AutoCAD.
The DXF format is suitable for exchange between Autodesk programs and with third-party software, but does not offer any special Autodesk functions, e.g. from Autodesk Civil 3D, Revit and Inventor. DXF files are ASCII-coded and significantly larger than binary DWG files
DWF files contain vector-based data and, for 3D models, triangulated data (MESH). DWF and DWFx are intended for publication only and not for further editing in CAD software.
How do I open DXF, DWG, and DWF files?
All three formats can be opened with Autodesk programs such as AutoCAD and Inventor. DXF and the newer DWF/DWFx files are also supported by numerous other applications. For example, DWFx files can also be viewed in the Microsoft XPS Viewer.
Autodesk offers various viewing solutions with DWG TrueView, AutoCAD Web, and the Autodesk Viewer, ranging from free without registration to registration and paid.
The 3D-Tool CAD Viewer opens DWG, DXF, DWF, and DWFx files in 3D and 2D and, in addition to being easy to use, offers numerous measurement and analysis tools. 3D-Tool can be tested free of charge for 14 days.
How do I convert DWG, DXF, and DWF files?
Converting DWG to DXF is possible with DWG TrueView from Autodesk.
Converting 3D DWG to STEP or 3D DXF to STEP with converter software only works for exact geometries (BREP). Triangulated models (MESH) cannot be converted to STEP, IGES, CATIA, SolidWorks, or other CAD formats. This means that converting 3D DWF or 3D DWFx to CAD formats is impossible.
The 3D-NativeCAD Converter in 3D-Tool Premium converts DXF and DWG models and models from many other CAD systems reliably into the standard 3D exchange formats STEP, IGES, SAT, and Parasolid X_T. DWF models can be converted to other visualization formats such as 3MF, FBX, 3D PDF, or 3D HTML.
Test the DXF-DWG-DWF viewer and converter for free
3D-Tool is a CAD Viewer with many native CAD interfaces, including Inventor, as well as professional measurement functions, draft analysis, and wall thickness analysis.
- Open, dimension, annotate, and publish DWG, DXF, and DWF files (3D and 2D) for the 3D-Tool Free Viewer or as 3D-PDF
- Open DWG, DXF, and DWF files (3D) and save them as STL, 3DS, PLY, WRL, or OBJ
- Convert DWG and DXF data (3D-BREP) to STEP, IGES, SAT, X_T, and JT
- Convert DWG, DXF, and DWF models (3D-MESH) to 3D product visualizations such as 3D-HTML, FBX, Collada, 3MF, and glTF
Free, no-obligation 14-day trial with all features, the AutoCAD interfaces, and the 3D-NativeCAD Converter. The trial key activates all 3D interfaces, such as CATIA, Siemens NX, SolidWorks, Creo, STEP, and SAT.
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