Question 1

Do I need an account to generate drawings?

Accepted Answer

Yes. A free account gives you 3 drawings per month, keeps your projects saved, and lets you re-download every output later. No credit card is required to sign up.

Question 2

I signed up but can't log in — why?

Accepted Answer

Your account must be activated first. We send an activation link to your e-mail when you sign up; it's valid for 24 hours. Until you click it, login is blocked.

Question 3

What happens on my very first upload?

Accepted Answer

For STEP files you'll first see a 3D preview of each part where you set the orientation and names, then click Generate. For DXF files the drawing generates immediately. The result is saved to My Projects automatically.

Question 4

Which file formats are supported?

Accepted Answer

3D: STEP (.step / .stp — AP203, AP214, AP242) from any CAD system. 2D: DXF (.dxf) and DWG (.dwg — converted to DXF automatically on the server, AutoCAD R13–2018 formats). Mesh formats (STL, OBJ, 3MF) cannot be used as input — they carry no exact geometry to dimension.

Question 5

What is the maximum file size?

Accepted Answer

25 MB per upload. If your STEP is bigger, export with a coarser assembly structure or remove decorative parts — cosmetic details rarely belong on a technical drawing anyway.

Question 6

Does Drawlytic handle assemblies with multiple parts?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Each solid body in the STEP file becomes its own part with a complete drawing package (views, dimensions, exports). Up to 12 bodies are processed, largest first, and each can be oriented and named individually.

Question 7

Can I upload DWG files directly?

Accepted Answer

Yes — DWG uploads are converted to DXF automatically on the server (AutoCAD R13 through 2018 formats) and processed like any DXF. If a particular file can't be converted, export it as DXF (AutoCAD: SAVEAS → choose DXF) and upload that — the result is identical.

Question 8

My STEP file uploads but says 'no solid bodies were found'.

Accepted Answer

The file contains only surfaces or wireframe geometry. Drawings need closed solids. Re-export from CAD ensuring the body is a solid (in SolidWorks check it appears under 'Solid Bodies'; in Fusion 360 make sure the component has a Body, not just sketches).

Question 9

Which views does the drawing contain?

Accepted Answer

Front, top and right orthographic views in third-angle projection plus an isometric view. Visible edges are solid, hidden edges dashed — projected with true hidden-line removal (HLR) on the OpenCascade kernel, not a screenshot.

Question 10

Which dimensions are added automatically?

Accepted Answer

Hole diameters grouped by size (e.g. 4×Ø8), fillet/corner radii (e.g. 2×R5), chamfer and taper angles, and the overall width, height and depth. Center marks are drawn on every circle. You can add anything that's missing with Measure & adjust.

Question 11

How do I choose what 'front view' means for my part?

Accepted Answer

During the orientation stage after upload: rotate the 3D preview until the part faces the way you want it drawn, or use the quick-orientation buttons. The drawing follows exactly the pose you set.

Question 12

How long does generation take?

Accepted Answer

Typical single parts: a few seconds once the engine is warm. Complex assemblies: a minute or two. The first job after a quiet period adds up to a minute of engine start-up — the status text says 'Starting the engine' while that happens.

Question 13

What units are used?

Accepted Answer

Millimetres, everywhere — it says so on every sheet ('All dimensions in mm'). STEP files are unit-aware, so a part modelled in inches is converted to mm automatically by the CAD kernel.

Question 14

How do I create a Cross Section Drawing?

Accepted Answer

Open a finished drawing and use the violet button. Cross sections are free — they never consume your monthly quota.

Question 15

Why can't I draw a diagonal cutting line?

Accepted Answer

Cutting lines snap to perfectly horizontal or vertical on purpose — 90° section planes are the drafting standard and keep the resulting section view aligned and readable. Your second click simply snaps to the nearest axis.

Question 16

It says my drawing was 'generated before cross sections existed'. What do I do?

Accepted Answer

Older drawings aren't linked to their original STEP file, which the cutting operation needs. Upload the STEP file once more and generate — every drawing from then on supports cross sections.

Question 17

Why is the Cross Section button missing on my drawing?

Accepted Answer

Two possibilities: the drawing came from a 2D DXF upload (there is no 3D material to cut), or the job predates the measure tool and has no stored geometry — regenerate it once from the STEP file.

Question 18

What exactly do I get in the cross section output?

Accepted Answer

A separate drawing labelled SECTION A-A: the part cut along your line, cut faces hatched at 45°, hidden lines omitted per drafting convention, with dimensions — as an SVG preview plus its own PDF sheet in every paper size.

Question 19

How do I add my own measurements?

Accepted Answer

Open the drawing and click '📐 Measure & adjust'. Three modes are available; applying re-renders the drawing and all PDF sheets and is always free.

Question 20

What are the amber dimensions in the measure panel?

Accepted Answer

Those are the dimensions the drawing already shows automatically (holes, radii, angles, overall sizes) — shown so you don't add duplicates. You can drag their labels to move them and resize their text with the amber A− / A+ chips; ↺ resets one to automatic placement.

Question 21

A dimension is missing from my drawing — how do I add it?

Accepted Answer

Use Measure & adjust: Edge mode covers most cases (click the edge or circle). For distances between features use Point → point; for angles use ∠ Angle mode. Your additions render in the same engineering style as the automatic ones.

Question 22

Why does the measure panel say 'no stored geometry'?

Accepted Answer

The drawing was generated before the measure tool existed. Re-upload the file once — all newer drawings store their view geometry and can be measured indefinitely.

Question 23

How does paper scale work?

Accepted Answer

In Measure & adjust choose 'Fit page' (not-to-scale, the default) or a true scale: 1:1, 1:2, 1:4 or 1:8. With a true scale, 1 mm on paper equals exactly N mm on the part — ideal for workshop prints. The chosen scale is printed in the title block.

Question 24

Can I change the paper size?

Accepted Answer

Yes — every drawing gets PDF sheets in A4, A3, A2, A1 and US Letter. Pick the size in the dropdown next to the PDF download button. Dimension text is re-laid-out per size so it prints readably (~3 mm tall) on every format.

Question 25

Can I get the drawing in inches?

Accepted Answer

Not yet — all output is in millimetres (the standard for most manufacturing). Inch dimensioning is on the roadmap; tell us at support@drawlytic.com if you need it, it helps us prioritise.

Question 26

What export formats do I get?

Accepted Answer

Per part: technical drawing SVG, PDF sheets (A4–A1 + Letter) with frame and title block, 2D projection DXF (views on VISIBLE/HIDDEN layers), top-view DXF at 1:1 for laser/CNC, an STL mesh reference, and — after a cross section — the section SVG and its PDF sheets. Paid drawings also get a one-click ZIP of everything.

Question 27

Why are DXF downloads and A3 sheets locked on my drawing?

Accepted Answer

Free-plan drawings include the watermarked A4 PDF and SVG/STL. DXF exports and A3/A2/A1/Letter sheets are part of Pro (or credit-paid drawings). Upgrading unlocks them on your existing drawings too — no regeneration needed.

Question 28

My download opens in the browser instead of saving.

Accepted Answer

Use the download buttons/links in the results panel — they send the file with a download header. If your browser still previews it, right-click the button and choose 'Save link as…'.

Question 29

Can I re-download old drawings?

Accepted Answer

Yes — everything is stored in My Projects. Open the project and every output remains downloadable, including after plan changes (upgrading retroactively unlocks locked files).

Question 30

What does the free plan include?

Accepted Answer

3 drawings per month (resets on the 1st), watermarked A4 PDF sheets, SVG and STL downloads, unlimited Measure & adjust and Cross Section Drawings on your generated drawings. No credit card needed.

Question 31

What does Pro include and cost?

Accepted Answer

$19/month: 100 drawings per month, all paper sizes, no watermark, DXF exports, ZIP downloads — and it unlocks your previously generated drawings as well. Cancel anytime from Account → Manage billing; access continues to the end of the paid period.

Question 32

How do credit packs work?

Accepted Answer

Credit packs are pay-as-you-go drawings available on every plan, from $0.28 per drawing. On the free plan each credit buys one full Pro-tier drawing (no watermark, DXF, all sheet sizes); on Pro they extend your monthly 100. Unlike the monthly quota, credits carry over month to month until used.

Question 33

Do cross sections or measurement updates cost a drawing?

Accepted Answer

No. Only generating a new drawing (from a STEP or DXF upload) consumes quota or a credit. Measure & adjust re-renders and Cross Section Drawings are free, on any drawing you've already generated.

Question 34

If I delete a project, do I get the drawing use back?

Accepted Answer

No — deleting archives the project and never refunds a use. But restoring an archived project is free: you get the same drawing back without being charged again.

Question 35

Who processes my payment? Is my card stored?

Accepted Answer

Payments are handled by Polar, our merchant of record. Your card data goes directly to them — Drawlytic never sees or stores card numbers. Invoices/receipts are e-mailed automatically, and refunds follow the policy on the Refunds page.

Question 36

The progress bar sits at 'Starting the engine…' — is it stuck?

Accepted Answer

Almost certainly not. The drawing engine shuts down when idle (that keeps the service affordable) and boots on demand — the first job after a pause can take up to a minute before real progress starts. The panel pre-warms the engine as soon as you open it, so this is rare. If nothing changes for several minutes, refresh the page: jobs run server-side and finished results are saved to My Projects regardless.

Question 37

Which browsers are supported?

Accepted Answer

Current versions of Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Safari, on desktop and mobile. The 3D orientation stage uses WebGL, which every modern browser supports; if the 3D preview is black, update your browser or enable hardware acceleration.

Question 38

The site behaves oddly after an update (missing buttons, stuck panels).

Accepted Answer

Your browser is probably running a cached older version. Do a hard refresh: Ctrl+Shift+R (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+Shift+R (Mac). That reloads the newest app version.

Question 39

My assembly takes a long time to generate.

Accepted Answer

Each solid body gets its own full drawing package, so 8 bodies means 8× the projection work. Consider uploading only the parts you actually need drawings for, or splitting very large assemblies into separate uploads.

Question 40

Who can see my CAD files?

Accepted Answer

Only you. Files are processed in an isolated drawing engine and stored in your private workspace; they're never shared with other users, never used to train models, and never sold. See the Privacy Policy for the full list of infrastructure providers.

Question 41

Can I delete my data?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Deleting a project archives it; permanent removal of your account and data can be requested from privacy@drawlytic.com — handled under KVKK/GDPR rules as described in the Privacy Policy.

Question 42

Is the connection secure?

Accepted Answer

Yes — all traffic is HTTPS end-to-end, passwords are stored only as salted hashes, and payment data is handled entirely by Polar (PCI-compliant merchant of record).

Frequently asked questions

Getting started(3)

Files & upload(5)

Technical drawings(5)

Cross sections(5)

Measure & adjust(4)

Scaling & units(3)

Exports & downloads(4)

Account & billing(6)

Performance & compatibility(4)

Privacy & security(3)