ALINK3D turns CAD files such as STEP and IGES into lightweight web 3D that opens right in the browser, lets you build explode and assembly animations, and shares everything with a single link. There is nothing to install — a browser like Chrome is all you need.
This is the first post in our tutorial series. We'll sign up, get to know the screens, and send a first share link. If you already have a CAD file, five minutes is enough.
What you'll learn — Sign up for free and find your way around the dashboard · Upload a CAD file to create your first project · Understand the layout of the 3D editor · Send a share link and check how often it's viewed
What you need
- A PC with an up-to-date browser (the editor is designed for desktop screens)
- One STEP (.step, .stp) or IGES (.iges, .igs) file, up to 50 MB
- No CAD file? You can also start with a GLB file generated by an AI service such as Tripo or Meshy.
1. Sign up for free
Click Start for free on the alink3d.com home page.
- Enter your name, work email and a password, and accept the terms. You can also sign up with a Google account.
- Enter the 6-digit code we email you. The code is valid for 10 minutes.
- Choose what you'll use ALINK3D for, and your dashboard opens.
The Free plan comes with 100 trial credits. A CAD conversion costs 20 credits (for files under 10 MB), so you can try up to five conversions of smaller files. Uploading GLB or glTF files costs no credits.
[Image: sign-up screen]
2. Find your way around the dashboard
After you log in you land on All projects. The left menu has five items:
| Menu | What it does |
|---|---|
| All projects | Your 3D projects. Filter by CAD or GLB, search, and sort by last modified. |
| Share links | Every project you're sharing, with quick access to copy link, share settings and analytics. |
| View analytics | How often your links and embeds were opened, and on which devices. |
| Trash | Restore deleted projects or delete them permanently. |
| Account settings | Name, email, language, password, plus workspace and billing. |
Your storage and credits this month are always shown at the bottom left — check your remaining credits there before converting.
Use the ⋯ menu on a project card to rename, duplicate or move a project to the trash.
[Image: dashboard – All projects]
3. Create your first project
Click + New project at the top right. You'll see two options:
- Convert CAD file: turns a STEP or IGES file into web 3D.
- Import AI 3D: uploads a GLB or glTF made with an AI service as is — no credits needed.
Let's start with a CAD file.
- On the Convert CAD file tab, drag and drop your file or click Browse.
- Check the project name.
- Pick an optimization level. Standard (recommended) is fine to start with.
- High-quality surfaces: for models with many curved surfaces that will be viewed up close
- Maximum lightweight (mobile): for models with a very large number of parts, or mostly viewed on phones
- The credits to be used and your remaining balance are shown at the bottom. Check them and click Start conversion.
The conversion screen shows each stage: upload → assembly structure analysis → optimization → GLB export. The conversion keeps running if you close the window, and if it takes more than three minutes we'll email you when it's done. If a conversion fails, your credits are refunded automatically.
[Image: New project – Convert CAD file]
Want to know more about choosing an optimization level? Read From STEP to web 3D: why and how to optimize.
4. Get to know the 3D editor
When the conversion finishes, the 3D editor opens. It's divided into four areas.
[Image: full editor screen with four areas marked]
① Top toolbar
- Select · Move · Rotate: pick parts and move or turn them.
- Part / Assembly: choose whether you select single parts or whole groups.
- Measure · Section: measure distances or cut the model open to see inside.
- Preview and Share at the far right: see exactly what viewers will see, and create a link.
② Scene tree (left)
Your CAD assembly structure appears as a tree. Click a part name to select it in the 3D view, and use the eye icon to hide or show it.
③ 3D view (center)
Rotate and zoom with the mouse. Use the Front, Side and Fit buttons to jump to a view, and Transparent, Ghost and Isolate to make the parts you care about stand out. Drag the Explode view slider to pull the assembly apart.
④ Properties panel (right) and step timeline (bottom)
Change the color and position of the selected part in the right panel, and set the start view people see when they open the link. The timeline at the bottom shows each step of your explode or assembly animation as a card. Click Apply explode template to generate steps automatically.
Changes are saved automatically — there's no save button to press.
💡 Try one thing before you send your first link: rotate the model to the angle you want to show, then click Set current view as start view in the right panel. Your viewers will see that angle first.
5. Send a share link
Click Share at the top right of the editor.
- Choose who can view it:
- Workspace members only: only logged-in members of your team.
- Anyone with the link: opens without logging in, and isn't shown in search engines.
- Password protected: needs both the link and a password.
- Click Copy link and send it by email or messenger.
- Turn on options if you need them — show animation step controls, autoplay on open, link expiry date and more.
Viewers can rotate the 3D model right in a PC or phone browser, with nothing to install. Your original CAD file is never shared.
To put the viewer on your website or a product page, use the Embed on website tab in the same window (Pro plan and above).
[Image: share window]
6. Check your views
Once your link is out, open View analytics from the left menu. You'll see views over time, the split between links and embeds, views per project and device types — handy for checking whether a customer actually opened the sales material you sent.
[Image: view analytics]
Common issues
- The conversion failed → Try again with the Maximum lightweight level. Credits for failed conversions are refunded. See "When a STEP conversion fails" in the Help Center.
- My file is over 50 MB → Larger STEP and IGES files (up to 1 GB) can use large-file conversion. See the pricing page.
- Some parts are missing → Problems in the original geometry can cause some faces or parts to drop out. The editor tells you which parts are missing.
Coming up next
In the next post we'll cover changing part colors, hiding parts and making specific parts stand out in the editor. If you want to jump straight into animations, read Rebuild your technical documents with explode animations first.
Get started now. Start for free and get 100 trial credits.
