CAD Converter

• Convert file to...

How to convert your CAD file

1. Click the "Select File" button above, and choose your CAD file.
2. You'll see a preview.
3. Click the "Convert file to..." button to save your file in the format you want.

About CAD files

The .cad file extension is a generic label used by over a dozen distinct Computer-Aided Design applications, creating significant compatibility challenges. The most common format (approx. 43%) is the GenCAD (IPC-2511) standard, an ASCII text-based format used for transferring Printed Circuit Board (PCB) fabrication data between design and manufacturing. Another frequent use (approx. 14%) is the native drawing format for CadStd, a simplified 2D CAD application. Other variants include legacy files from Autodesk QuickCAD, CadIS cadastral data, and BobCAD-CAM.

Because .cad refers to completely different file structures depending on the software that created it, users often face "Invalid File" errors when trying to open a PCB file in a mechanical drafter, or vice versa. Most .cad files are strictly proprietary or rely on legacy standards that modern viewers natively reject. For sharing or archiving, converting these files is essential.

Best Conversion Targets:

• For PCBs (GenCAD): Convert to PDF for visual inspection of board layouts without needing expensive ECAD software. Convert to DXF if you need to import the board geometry into mechanical CAD tools like AutoCAD.
• For Drawings (CadStd): Convert to DXF (Drawing Exchange Format) to ensure editability in professional suites like CorelDRAW or Adobe Illustrator. Convert to PDF or SVG for easy web viewing and printing.
• For 3D/Other: If the source is BobCAD or Cadkey, converting to IGES or STEP is necessary for 3D interoperability.

Use Convert.Guru to open and convert your CAD file.

Users also converted DWG, PDF, BOB, BRD, Q2D, DXF, STP, JPG, SLDASM, GCD, DCD, PCB and STL files.