Blog · How-to
How to share a 3D model with someone who doesn't have CAD
You sent your client a STEP file and they emailed back "what do I open this with?" Five practical ways to share a 3D model so the receiver can rotate, zoom and inspect it without installing anything, ranked by friction.
Option 1 — convert to GLB and send a link
GLB is the format every browser can render. Convert your model to GLB (Blender, glTF-Transform), upload to any file host, and send the link. The receiver clicks and looks at it.
For polished sharing, host the GLB on your own page with Google's model-viewer web component — one HTML tag wrapping the GLB file gives them a 3D viewer with orbit controls, AR launch on mobile, and animation playback.
Trade-offs: setup takes 10 minutes. Worth it if you share models often.
Option 2 — drop into a free viewer link
Upload your model (STL, GLB, STEP, OBJ — any of them) to Sketchfab, MyMiniFactory, or any free 3D-share service. Get a link. Send the link.
Sketchfab embeds work in email previews on most clients, are mobile-friendly, support AR. Free tier limits monthly uploads and adds a watermark.
Trade-off: file is now hosted publicly (or via a private share link, depending on tier). Don't use for confidential work.
Option 3 — send the file with a viewer recommendation
Email the original file and include the line "open this at https://open3d.app/viewer or any free 3D viewer." Browser-based viewers run on any device, take no install, and the file stays on the receiver's machine.
Works for STL, GLB, OBJ, STEP, 3MF, FBX and more. Slowest setup for you, but the receiver gets the original file unchanged.
Option 4 — screenshot + GIF
If the receiver only needs to see the model — not measure or modify it — send a turntable GIF or an MP4. Most viewer software can record a rotating view in 10 seconds.
Works for: design feedback, "does this look right" conversations, presentations.
Doesn't work for: actual evaluation by someone who needs to inspect specific features. They'll keep asking "can you show me from this angle?"
Option 5 — AR view via QR code
Generate a QR code that points to a hosted GLB with AR enabled. The receiver scans the code on their phone, the model launches in AR Quick Look (iOS) or Scene Viewer (Android), and they can place it in their actual room.
Great for: furniture, product mockups, anything physical the receiver wants to visualise at scale.
Quick decision guide
- One-off, casual sharing: send the file plus a link to a free browser viewer.
- Frequent sharing of similar models: set up a model-viewer on your own page once, reuse.
- Public portfolio: Sketchfab.
- Client review with markup / comments: Autodesk Viewer (free with sign-in), or paid options like Shapr3D Share.
- Real-world scale visualisation: GLB + QR for AR.
What not to do
Don't send a STEP file to someone with no CAD software and assume they'll figure it out. They'll Google it for ten minutes, install something dodgy, ask you for help, or give up. Converting to GLB or providing a viewer link takes you 2 minutes and them 0.
Don't zip up an entire CAD folder. Most CAD project files reference external libraries that won't travel; the receiver will get errors. Export to a single self-contained format (GLB, STEP, STL) before sending.
Don't email a 200 MB STL. Compress to GLB with Draco first — typical 10x reduction — or upload to a service that handles large files.