# How to open a 3D DXF file online

Source: https://0xr.space/m/how/open-a-3d-dxf-file-online  
Published 2026-10-10, updated 2026-10-10, by ZeroXR, the maker of Model Explorer (https://0xr.space/).

Open 0xr.space, press Open and choose the .dxf. The 3D surfaces in it are drawn: 3DFACE entities, polyface and polygon meshes and AutoCAD MESH objects, placed through blocks with their scale, rotation and arrays. Colours follow AutoCAD, by entity, layer or block, and layers that are off or frozen stay hidden. The unit comes from the drawing's $INSUNITS, so the model can stand at real size on a Quest or an ARCore phone.

Only ASCII DXF is read; a binary DXF is refused with a note to save it as ASCII. A 2D drawing of lines, arcs and text does not open, and the app says it is a 2D drawing. 3D solids (3DSOLID, REGION, BODY) are ACIS data and are not drawn. Blocks nest at most 16 deep, a drawing over 4 million triangles is refused, and DWG does not open.

## Steps

1. In your CAD tool, convert 3D solids to mesh objects, or export STEP for them instead.
2. Save the drawing as an ASCII DXF.
3. Open 0xr.space, press Open and choose the .dxf. Read the size in Info to check the unit.
4. Cut through it with the section plane, or press View in your space.

## Questions

### Why does it say my DXF is a 2D drawing?

It holds no 3D faces or meshes, only lines, arcs, text or hatches. Those are not drawn; this viewer shows surfaces.

### Why are my solids missing?

3DSOLID, REGION and BODY are ACIS data that only AutoCAD-family software reads. Export them as STEP or STL, or convert them to MESH objects first.

### Which unit is used?

The drawing's $INSUNITS. A drawing with no unit that is 10 or more units across is read as millimetres, a smaller one as metres.

### Does it open DWG?

No. Save the drawing as DXF from your CAD tool, or export STEP.

## Related guides

- [How to view a KiCad .wrl or other VRML file](https://0xr.space/m/how/view-kicad-3d-model-wrl)
- [How to preview a G-code toolpath in a browser](https://0xr.space/m/how/preview-gcode-toolpath-in-browser)
- [How to open a STEP or IGES file without CAD software](https://0xr.space/m/how/open-step-file-without-cad-software)
- [How to open a SOLIDWORKS .sldprt file without SOLIDWORKS](https://0xr.space/m/how/open-sldprt-file-without-solidworks)
- [How to open a SketchUp .skp file without SketchUp](https://0xr.space/m/how/open-skp-file-without-sketchup)
- [How to open a Rhino .3dm file without Rhino](https://0xr.space/m/how/open-3dm-file-without-rhino)