PVD 3D Viewer v204 — CAD + configurations

Import from SolidWorks

Choose configurations and display states to publish. Each selected pair becomes a separate configuration in the browser.

Native SolidWorks files require SolidWorks on your Windows computer. Double-click the single PVD_SolidWorks_Editor.cmd launcher from this release. The import dialog opens automatically. It starts the local editor and companion together. You can also drag a .sldprt or .sldasm onto that launcher.

This uses your installed SolidWorks; no translator installation is required. Save the result as a .pvdscene to use it here or in the viewer.

Browser appearance approximates SolidWorks colour, shininess and transparency. Material names and available physical database properties are retained. Edit CAD features and mates in SolidWorks.

Appearance limits: native SolidWorks import retains available colours, transparency, material details and lights. Decals and image/procedural textures are not imported, including with Full detail.

Open assemblies fully resolved, with all referenced parts available. Select one or more display states under each configuration. Suppressed components are always excluded.

Exclude hidden components and bodies

Checked: hidden geometry is omitted. Unchecked: hidden geometry is included and starts off; reveal it later in Component Visibility.

Import options / performance

Preset Rebuild each configuration Resolve lightweight components Reuse tessellation across display states Read physical-material details Read face and feature appearances Read source normals Read source lights

For faster imports, omit material details, face appearances or source normals when unnecessary. Skip rebuilding only if the configurations are up to date. Disable resolving only for assemblies already fully resolved. Tessellation reuse retains geometry within each configuration and component path; disable it to resample every state.

Connection diagnostics

Checking companion…

Style

Transparency 0.50

View

Ortho ↔ Persp Select a face to look perpendicular to its surface.Background Side scale bar Origin axes Ground grid Auto-minimize menu Minimize delay 3.0 sOpen panels stay open. The delay controls the idle menu rail.

Light

Lighting

Override & link lighting in all configurations SolidWorks lights are used by default. Linking replaces them with the editor lighting in every configuration.Lighting source

Scene lookStarting point Defined form with balanced fill and reflections.Exposure

Key light · shapeStrength Around model Height

Fill & reflectionsFill light Reflections

Ground shadowEnabled Strength Softness

Configurations

Component Visibility

Materials

Explode

Separation 0% Origin Pattern

Move a component Drag a componentMovementEnable, then drag a visible component. All bodies of that component move together. Reassemble clears manual moves.

Load a multi-body model to enable.

Measure

Tool Display units Property scope Distance: click two surfaces. Measurements use the model's input unit scale.

Section

Enabled Axis Position Reverse Cut display

Rotate

On / Off Rotate about Rotation speed 0

GPU

Renderer Initializing…Auto uses the stable WebGL renderer. Changes keep your loaded model and edits.

Reset

Full Screen

Viewport

Overlay locationsMenu locationTitle locationConfigurations location

Border colorBorder styleBorder line width4 pxBorder corner radius30 pxModel fit padding20%Negative padding enlarges the model beyond its normal fit and may crop edges. Border and fit settings are saved with the scene.

Viewer setup

Viewer setup

Opening and configurationsOpening viewConfigurations locationSaved in the scene. Opening mode applies when the viewer loads the file; later configuration changes keep the live view.

Viewer presets

Viewer menus

Viewer actions

Import notes stay hidden unless explicitly enabled. Save the .pvdscene to publish these choices.

Configuration Construction

Import files as configurations

Each file becomes one configuration. Placement below controls its alignment; axis directions are retained.

DestinationSTL / OBJ source unitsGLB / glTF and STEP / IGES units are handled automatically. Choose source units for STL / OBJ. Placement uses project coordinates after unit conversion.GLB, self-contained glTF, STL, OBJ, STEP and IGES. Select multiple files at once, or add more later. Use GLB for glTF with external textures or buffers.Save with All configurations to keep every imported file.

Configuration locationLocate byPlace atApplies to incoming files. Face/corner points use the un-exploded bounding box, including hidden geometry. No rotation. Fit view after locating

ConfigurationsEdit a name below, then press Rename or Enter. Use View to switch the model and its component list.

Load a model to name its configurations.

Import

Import notes

Naming

Title NameTitle nameClick the title badge in the viewport to rename it directly. Saved in .pvdscene projects.

ComponentsComponents in: No modelNames here apply only to the currently viewed configuration.

Export

Portable project embeds the model geometry, component materials, visibility, lighting, camera and explode settings. Does not overwrite the original CAD file.

Info

PVD 3D Viewer v204 • Three.js r180

Instructions / Help ↗

Materials & Appearance

Override & link materials in all configurations

Link copies this configuration’s component appearances to all configurations. Later edits override the SolidWorks appearances; visibility stays independent.

0 components selected

Click a component on the model, or select it in the list. Ctrl / ⌘ / Shift adds or removes components. Each component selection includes all of its bodies.

Material preset

Enable a property to apply only that property across the selection. Other material properties remain unchanged.

Color#9fc5e8

Roughness0.50

Metalness0.00

Opacity1.00

Clearcoat0.00

Material changes are visible in Shaded or Shaded + edges mode. Glass, Clay, and other override modes may conceal individual materials.

Select components

Click in the viewport or use the list below.

Components · visibility

Visibility is saved separately for each configuration. Transparent temporarily fades components without changing their materials.

Drop 3D model to open

Loading model…

Tool Width Zoom 100%

Crop ▾

Size Format