Free online FCSTD to GLTF converter

FCStd files are native FreeCAD project documents, while GLTF is widely supported by web viewers, game engines, AR tools, and 3D asset libraries. Convert the file when the model must be viewed or embedded outside FreeCAD, especially in a browser or real-time 3D application.

What the FCStd format is

FCStd is FreeCAD's native document format. It can contain parametric Part Design bodies, Part workbenches, sketches, constraints, assemblies, spreadsheets, views, and links to other document objects. FreeCAD creates FCStd files when you save a project with File → Save or File → Save As.

An FCStd document stores modeling history and editable design parameters rather than just a display mesh. Its contents may therefore include construction geometry, hidden features, and objects that have not been converted into a final visible solid.

What the GLTF format is

GLTF is a 3D scene format designed for efficient transmission and rendering. A .gltf file normally references one or more external .bin and texture files; a .glb file packages the scene, geometry, and textures into one binary file.

GLTF is supported by WebGL viewers, JavaScript 3D libraries, many game engines, augmented-reality pipelines, and common asset-management software. It preserves triangulated geometry, transforms, scene hierarchy, basic materials, textures, and sometimes animations, but it does not preserve FreeCAD's parametric feature tree or sketches.

How to convert FCStd to GLTF

Using FreeCAD

1. Open the .FCStd document in FreeCAD.
2. In the Model tree, make the required bodies or final features visible and hide construction geometry, sketches, and intermediate operations that should not appear in the exported scene.
3. Select the objects to export. Selecting only the final visible solids avoids exporting duplicate copies created by earlier Part Design features.
4. Choose File → Export, select a GLTF or GLB file type if it is available, and save the result with a .gltf or .glb extension.
5. Open the output in a GLTF viewer or target application and check the scale, orientation, materials, and object hierarchy.

GLTF export availability depends on the FreeCAD version and installed workbench support. If GLTF is not offered in the export file-type list, update FreeCAD to a version that includes its GLTF exporter rather than renaming an STL or FCStd file.

Using 101convert

You can convert the file on 101convert.com for free without installing software. Upload the FCStd file, choose GLTF as the output format, start the conversion, and download the generated file. If the service offers GLB as an alternative, use GLB when the destination expects one self-contained file.

Quality and compatibility limitations

• The conversion tessellates CAD solids into polygons. Increase the mesh or deviation quality setting when available if curved faces look faceted; a finer mesh increases file size.
• Parametric history, sketches, constraints, spreadsheets, draft dimensions, and FreeCAD-specific metadata are not transferred to GLTF.
• CAD material definitions may be reduced to basic GLTF colors, roughness, metallic values, and image textures. Appearance can change between FreeCAD and the GLTF viewer.
• Large engineering models can produce very dense meshes. Remove hidden objects and reduce tessellation before export if the file is intended for a browser or mobile device.
• Check units after conversion. GLTF uses meter-based scene conventions, while FreeCAD documents may be modeled in millimeters; some viewers rely on the exporter or importer to apply the correct scale.
• For dependable browser delivery, keep the accompanying .bin and texture files beside the .gltf file, or export .glb to avoid broken relative paths.