Autodraft from STEP
Upload a STEP file and get a fully dimensioned 2D engineering drawing. The generated drawing opens in the drawing editor where you can refine every detail.
How It Works
Autodraft reads the geometry from your STEP file and produces a complete engineering drawing with views, dimensions, and a title block.
| Step | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1. Upload your STEP file | Drag and drop a .step or .stp file, or pick one of the built-in examples to try it out. The 3D model previews on the page before generation. |
| 2. AI generates the drawing | Autodraft analyses the geometry, picks orthographic views (front, top, side) that show the part clearly, and adds dimensions, centerlines, and a filled title block. This may take a moment. |
| 3. Edit in the drawing tool | The generated drawing opens in the editor where you can move, resize, or delete elements, add tolerances, and export as PDF, SVG, or PNG. |
Supported Files & Limits
Autodraft accepts STEP files in the standard ISO 10303 formats.
| What | Limit |
|---|---|
| File formats | STEP (.step, .stp). Exported from any modern CAD tool (SolidWorks, Inventor, Fusion, CATIA, NX, Creo, Onshape, FreeCAD). |
| Max file size | 50 MB |
| Geometry scope | Single parts work best. Assemblies are not fully supported yet. |
| Typical generation time | Usually 2-5 minutes per drawing. |
| Very large files | STEP files above roughly 10,000 lines are processed from a compact geometry summary rather than the full file. You will be asked to confirm before generation. Smaller files give the best results. |
| Other CAD formats | IGES, Parasolid (.x_t), STL, and native CAD formats (.SLDPRT, .CATPart, etc.) are not yet supported. Export to STEP from your CAD tool first. |
Built-in Examples
The Autodraft page includes three ready-made example STEP files (a Mounting Bracket, a 4-Pin Plug, and an L-Bracket) that you can try without signing in. Use them to see what Autodraft produces before uploading your own model.
Credits & Limits
Each Autodraft generation from your own STEP file uses one AI credit from your team's subscription. Credits are shared across drawing reviews, Text to Drawing, and Autodraft, so any pool entry covers all three. Repeating the same STEP file is cached and free, and the built-in examples never cost credits.
| Scenario | Credit cost |
|---|---|
| Custom STEP file | 1 credit |
| Same STEP file again (cached) | Free |
| Built-in example | Free (no sign-in required) |
Editing After Generation
Every element in the generated drawing is fully editable. You can move geometry, adjust dimensions, add tolerances, insert surface finish symbols, or delete elements you don't need. The drawing editor works exactly the same as when creating a drawing from scratch.
