Got an idea and want to make a simple 3D model, but don’t want to install a full-fledged CAD modeling suite and queue up a few hours of tutorial videos? Check out SketchForge, a 3D modeling program that runs locally in one’s browser without any need for an account, or external services.

SketchForge takes a more WYSIWYG approach to 3D modeling by making it easy to put an object together with primitive shapes, and making it extra easy to specify dimensions and align parts with one another. There’s also a sketch feature that makes it easier to create more complex shapes by making a 2D drawing, then extruding or revolving it into a solid. We like that it has STEP format export as an option, making it easy to import your creation into another CAD program of your choice later. Most 3D printer slicers natively support the STEP format nowadays, too.

It’s a bit reminiscent of Tinkercad in concept, but entirely local. It’s still new, but there’s a demo online that gives a good idea of its capabilities if you’d like to give it a spin.

We’re reminded of CaDoodle, another project that takes the “Tinkercad, but local” approach but as a standalone executable, instead of browser-based.

有了一个创意，想制作一个简单的3D模型，但又不想安装功能齐全的CAD建模套件，也不想花上几个小时看教程视频？那就看看 SketchForge 吧——这是一款3D建模程序，在浏览器中本地运行，无需账号，也不依赖任何外部服务。

SketchForge 在3D建模上采用了更贴近所见即所得（WYSIWYG）的方式，让用户能够轻松地用基本几何体拼装出对象，并且格外方便地指定尺寸和对齐各部件。它还提供了一个草图功能：先绘制2D图形，再通过拉伸或旋转将其变成实体，从而更轻松地创建复杂形状。我们很喜欢它支持导出STEP格式这一选项，方便你以后将自己的作品导入到所选的其它CAD程序中。如今大多数3D打印机切片软件也都原生支持STEP格式。

它在概念上有些像 Tinkercad，但完全在本地运行。它问世不久，不过网上已有在线演示，如果你想试一下，它会让你很好地了解其功能。

这让我们想起了 CaDoodle——另一个采用“Tinkercad，但本地化”思路的项目，只不过它是以独立可执行程序的形式存在，而非基于浏览器。