Choose the right CAD Editor workspace

BaroCSS currently contains several bounded CAD authoring workflows, not one universal command ribbon. This guide helps you start in the right place before changing a model.

Availability: This is based on the current application/package source. It does not claim that the full flow has passed new live browser, GPU or physical-file testing. For per-operation limits, see feature coverage.

What do you want to create?

Your job	Start here	What it edits	Important boundary
Change the height, cut depth, radius, or width of a supported mechanical part	Model a part, at #/model	Named parameters in a cad.model() authored recipe and named outputs	Predefined admitted part families—not arbitrary freehand solids
Build a post, perforated plate, or joined L-bracket	Model a part → Modeling examples	Round-post, mounting-plate and L-bracket presets	Follow exact supported input/refusal rules; four lessons
Move an original Curve or Surface control point or change a weight	The separate Curve/Surface document editor	Original asset/body-qualified coefficients and native source	Not a general solid feature-history editor
Change a Boolean between two coplanar Faces and extrude the result	New Boolean extrusion workbench	An authored Face → Boolean → extrusion dependency graph	This is not a general Boolean of arbitrary closed solids
Assemble arbitrary parts with mates or create STEP manufacturing output	No general certified user workflow yet	Product roadmap, not a current standard command	Do not promise assembly mates, STEP exchange, 2D production drawings or arbitrary fillets

Working in Model a part

1. Open http://127.0.0.1:52010/#/model in the running local CAD Editor app.
2. Under Modeling examples, choose an example; choose Load example to adopt it. If there is an accepted model already, review and explicitly confirm replacement.
3. Edit a value under Named dimensions. A changed input is a draft, not new geometry.
4. Choose Apply dimensions. Only a successfully admitted result becomes the accepted native model. Discard draft drops edits not yet accepted.
5. Inspect the required named output rather than assuming every intermediate tool/operand is the finished part. Undo and Redo operate on accepted history.
6. Choose Download model for authored model bytes. Choose model file stages raw text only; review it and explicitly select Open saved model to parse/admit a replacement. A download notification does not certify that bytes persisted on disk.

For exact actions and examples: first pocket, round post, mounting plate, L-bracket. For a supported named convex output, use the STL export versus editable CAD Save guide: Download model preserves modeling intent, whereas Download STL writes approximate facet bytes. For accepted/draft confusion or a refused edit: troubleshooting.

Working with original Curve and Surface assets

The separate document editor has native Curve/Surface objects with asset-qualified identities. Select an original control point, stage supported coordinate/weight fields, and Apply through native qualification before treating the edit as accepted. A display mesh is only a view of that source. The original native file retains complete source/asset relationships, even where the displayed set contains fewer bodies.

Its saved native document format is not interchangeable by assumption with every cad.model() envelope or the Boolean extrusion feature graph. Open the document in the corresponding workflow; do not relabel a mesh export as editable native data.

For developer and file-contract details use the CAD Editor guide and API reference.

Working in the Boolean extrusion workbench

Use File → New Boolean extrusion for the admitted authored two-Face → Boolean → normal extrusion graph. This workbench has Face/dependency selection, a Boolean operation (union/intersection/difference), parameter/length editing, Apply/Discard and accepted-graph Save/Open. The geometries here are admitted native Face/extrusion profiles; this tool is not evidence that arbitrary nonconvex/curved closed-solid Boolean operations work.

For native qualification details and bounded operations, consult CAD capabilities.

How to interpret success

Accepted model, native exactness, displayed pixels, saved disk file and published product availability are different assertions. The browser might show an accepted view without proving a certified volume; a download may start without a verified physical roundtrip. See browser evidence protocol before describing a model or tool as device-tested.

Roadmap: CAD Editor product scope · CAD commercial goal · Manual parent.