Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

3D-Tool Basic, Advanced and Premium differ in the supported file formats. Otherwise, the three editions offer the same features for viewing, measuring and analyzing 3D models and 2D drawings.

3D-Tool Premium additionally includes the 3D-NativeCAD Converter. The converter converts native CAD models from the major CAD systems into 3D exchange formats such as JT, STEP, IGES, SAT and Parasolid. It also creates numerous visualization formats such as 3MF, STL, 3D-PDF and HTML.

The free 3D-Tool Free Viewer supports 3D-Tool files (EXE/DDD), STL and 3MF files. It offers many 3D-Tool features such as cross-section, measure/markup and explosion. With the Free Viewer, you cannot export 3D models to other file formats or publish them.

For each license purchased, you will receive a license certificate. Using the authorization key on the certificate, you can activate 3D-Tool directly online.

• Start 3D-Tool.
• Enter your authorization key in the licensing dialog.
• Wait until 3D-Tool confirms the activation.

If you experience problems with activation, for example because there is no internet connection, you can also request a license key for manual activation by email. To do so, send the authorization key and the program's registration ID to team@3d-tool.de. Enter the license key you receive in the licensing dialog. Alternatively, copy the license file (license.dat) included in the email into the 3D-Tool installation directory.

You are probably using a license key that was requested for a different or earlier 3D-Tool installation. If you change the computer or have to set it up again, you need a new License Key.

With the Authorization-Key on the 3D-Tool license certificate, you can request the new License Key online, directly in 3D-Tool.

Request the free trial key directly in 3D-Tool. The trial key is valid for 14 days. The period starts on the day you receive the trial key.

• Start 3D-Tool, click "Get Trial Key" in the licensing dialog and complete the form.
• We will send the trial key to your email address within 60 minutes.
• Enter the trial key in the licensing dialog. This activates 3D-Tool.

During the trial period, select a license for the current session in the licensing dialog when starting 3D-Tool: Basic, Advanced or Premium. 3D-Tool then activates only the corresponding program features and interfaces. This lets you test the exact edition of 3D-Tool that interests you. The 3D-NativeCAD Converter is activated until the trial key expires, even though it is only included with 3D-Tool Premium.

When you order a 3D-Tool license, you will receive a License Certificate. This certificate contains the Authorization Key to activate the software online. Please keep the License Certificate safe. Without Authorization Key an online activation is not possible.

The License Certificate is sent to the email address that you provided when you ordered. If you did not order yourself, contact the person who ordered. If you do not have a License Certificate, you can request it by email: Team@3D-Tool.de. We will check if you own a 3D-Tool license and send you the License Certificate. If you happen to know the Serial Number of the license, please, provide it in the email.

No. 3D-Tool licenses are single-user licenses and may only be used on one computer. If you need 3D-Tool on multiple computers, you must purchase the corresponding number of licenses. We will be happy to provide you with a suitable quote.

Volume licensing is available for quantities of 50 licenses or more. We also offer server licenses on request. A server license allows 3D-Tool to be activated on a server (application server, terminal server) and accessed by multiple users.

No, network licenses are not supported by 3D-Tool. If you want to use 3D-Tool on more than one computer, contact us, so we can make you an individual offer.

For license quantities of 50 seats or more we offer volume licensing. On request, we also offer server licenses which allow to activate 3D-Tool on a server and to be accessed by multiple user.

3D-Tool is continually updated, and the updates are available for download on our website.

Updates within a major release are free of charge. Simply download the current version from our website and install it over your version. You do not need a new License Key. You can also check for updates by going to the Options tab in 3D-Tool and selecting Check for updates.

Updates to a higher version of 3D-Tool are subject to charge, and you need a new Authorization Key.

3D-Tool licenses have no expiry date. With the payment of the license price, the license is valid indefinitely, without further maintenance costs.

The license applies to the major version purchased and all service updates published for this version. Updates to new major versions are always chargeable, but inexpensive. Please ask for an offer.

No, there are no maintenance or service costs.

All service updates released for the major version you purchased are free. Updates to new major versions are chargeable. Please ask for an offer.

3D-Tool converts CAD data into visualization data when opening it so that the viewer can display the models. For large assemblies, this conversion requires more computing power and system memory.

In 3D-Tool Premium, you can noticeably accelerate the opening of large assemblies in the original (native) file formats. This applies to files from CATIA, Creo, Designcenter (Siemens NX), SolidWorks, Designcenter Solid Edge and Inventor. When opening these file formats, select the import setting "CAD Graphical Data". 3D-Tool then reads the visualization data from the CAD system already contained in the files.

No. In the viewer, models are available only as visualization data (MESH). Therefore, the 3D-Tool Viewer cannot export CAD formats such as STEP, IGES, SAT or Parasolid.

Yes. You can publish models loaded in 3D-Tool in 3D-Tool format (EXE/DDD) and as 3D-PDF. You can also save loaded models as STL, VRML, PLY, 3DS, OBJ and U3D files.

3D-Tool Premium additionally includes the 3D-NativeCAD Converter. The converter converts native CAD models and 3D exchange formats to JT, STEP, IGES, SAT and Parasolid.

Creating a 2D CAD drawing from a 3D model is not possible with 3D-Tool. 3D-Tool only offers the option of exporting the cutting line of a 3D cross-section as a 2D DXF file.

Activate hardware acceleration under Options > Preferences > Hardware. There you should also activate the fast OpenGL 3.3 for 3D-Tool.

In 3D-Tool Advanced and Premium, you can also accelerate the display of large and complex 3D models through the import settings. To do so, select "Low Quality" when opening the models.

3D-Tool is a Windows desktop application. There is no native version for macOS or Linux. Some customers use 3D-Tool with Wine or in a virtualized Windows environment.

The 64-bit version is intended for current 64-bit Windows systems and contains 3D-Tool Basic, Advanced and Premium as well as the 3D-NativeCAD Converter.

The 32-bit version is available for older 32-bit Windows systems and contains 3D-Tool Basic and Advanced.