Frequently Asked Questions
Short answers about files, credits, limits, privacy and what to do when a part fails. Viewing CAD files is free; modelling runs on credits; a 2D drawing can become a STEP file from $29.99.
What is PartWork.ai, and who is it for?
PartWork.ai is a browser-based CAD tool for people who need a real 3D part file without learning CAD. You describe the part, or use familiar tools, and an AI model builds exact geometry you can download.
What is PartWork.ai?
PartWork.ai is an AI-powered CAD tool that lets you create 3D parts by describing them in plain English, or with familiar tools like sketch, extrude and fillet. It runs in the browser and exports manufacturing-ready files.
Do I need CAD experience?
No. If you can describe what you want, with dimensions and units, you can use PartWork.ai. CAD terminology helps but is not required.
Can I use the parts commercially?
Yes. Parts you create are yours to use however you like, including for commercial projects and parts you sell.
Can PartWork.ai turn a 2D drawing into a STEP file?
Yes. Drawing to STEP is a separate service from the Studio: upload a PDF, PNG or JPG of a 2D engineering drawing and get back a STEP file, an STL file and a quality report, in minutes, from $29.99.
How does Drawing to STEP work?
Upload a drawing of a single part as a PDF, PNG or JPG up to 10 MB. A free check reads the drawing and shows the tier and price before you pay. The model is then built and every dimension on the drawing is measured against it, in minutes, from $29.99.
What if the drawing cannot be converted?
The free check tells you up front and nothing is charged. Assemblies, freeform surfaces and drawings with missing views are the usual reasons.
Convert a drawing, or read how a 2D drawing becomes a 3D model.
Which files can I import and export?
The Studio opens STEP, IGES, BREP, DXF, OBJ and STL files and exports STEP, STL and 3MF. STEP is the format to use whenever you have the choice, because it keeps exact solid geometry.
What file formats can I import?
STEP, IGES, BREP, DXF, OBJ and STL. STEP is recommended for best results. A DXF is a 2D drawing, so you are asked for an extrusion height and units when you import one.
What export formats are available?
STEP for CNC machining and other CAD software, STL for 3D printing, and 3MF, the modern 3D printing format that carries units.
Can I open a STEP file without an account?
Yes. Uploading and viewing a CAD file in 3D is free and needs no account. You can also use the free STEP viewer on this site.
Details: Importing files · Exporting and sharing · free STEP viewer.
What is free, and what are the limits?
Viewing is free, modelling runs on credits, and the file limits are generous for mechanical parts. The numbers below are the live limits, kept in one place so they match the server.
What is free, and what costs credits?
Uploading and viewing CAD files in 3D is free, with no account needed. Generating a part, running a modelling step or downloading a file uses credits, and the cost shows before the step runs. New accounts start with free trial credits; after that, credits come in packs of 50 for $4.99 (about 10¢ each).
What are the file size limits?
CAD files up to 75 MB can be imported. Meshes with more than 25,000 triangles are simplified automatically rather than refused.
What are the part size limits?
There is no hard limit on part size. PartWork.ai works best with typical mechanical part dimensions, from fractions of an inch to several feet, in inches or millimetres.
How accurate are the dimensions?
Exact. The geometry engine works in double precision, so a 10 mm hole is 10 mm in the exported STEP file. Check units before you export: a part designed in inches exports in inches.
Is my data private?
Yes. Your designs and prompts are never used to train AI models and never sold. Parts you generate stay in your account, and files you upload to the Studio are deleted after 30 days.
Prices and tiers are on the pricing page; account types on Account and settings.
Why did my part fail, and how do I fix it?
Most failures come from geometry that cannot exist: conflicting dimensions, overlapping features or a shape that intersects itself. Simplify the request, check the numbers, and add one feature at a time.
Why did my part fail to generate?
Common causes are conflicting dimensions, impossible geometry or an overly complex request. Try simplifying the prompt or breaking it into steps, and add one feature at a time.
What does "invalid geometry" mean?
The requested shape cannot exist in 3D space, usually because surfaces self-intersect or features overlap. Check that the dimensions make sense and that features do not conflict.
My part looks different from what I expected. What now?
Be more specific. Describe what needs to change, for example "make the holes closer to the edge" or "the plate should be horizontal", and the next step applies that change.
Can I undo changes?
Yes. Click any earlier message in the chat to see the part at that point, then click "Restore this version" to go back.
Step-by-step help: Quick start · Creating parts · Modifying parts.
What do the error messages mean?
Each message names the cause and has a simple fix. The table lists the four you are most likely to see in the Studio, what triggers each one, and what to change before trying again.
| Error | Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Generation failed | Invalid geometry or an impossible design | Simplify the request and check the dimensions |
| File upload failed | Unsupported format or a corrupted file | Check the format, then re-export the file |
| Rate limit exceeded | Too many requests in a short time | Wait a minute and try again |
| Self-intersecting geometry | Features overlap in a way that cannot exist | Adjust the dimensions so features do not overlap |
How do I get help?
Email support@partwork.ai with what you tried and what happened, and we will answer. For a question about PartWork.ai itself, the help center covers the Studio end to end.