Description
DRAFTY is 3D-LABS’ CAD drafting and modelling application for Windows β 2D drafting, 3D modelling and drawing production built around engineering drawing standards rather than general-purpose CAD. It reads and writes DWG and DXF, so it drops into an existing workflow, and it adds the thing general CAD does not have: engineering drawing conventions, title blocks and symbol libraries already set up the way an EPC office issues drawings.
What DRAFTY does
Drafting and modelling
- 2D drafting with engineering line conventions, layers and standard sheet sizes
- 3D solid and surface modelling with orthographic view generation
- Parametric blocks and reusable detail libraries
- Automatic first-angle and third-angle projection per ISO 128-24
- Dimensioning and GD&T annotation to ASME Y14.5
Engineering drawing content
- Welding symbol library to AWS D1.1
- Piping and instrumentation symbols to ISA 5.1 with P&ID layout per ISO 10628-2
- Structural, piping and mechanical detail libraries
- Title block templates, revision tables and drawing registers
- Bill of materials and parts list generation from the model
2D to 3D conversion
- Converts existing 2D drawings and scanned sheets into editable 3D geometry
- Reads PDF and TIFF scanned drawings for tracing and rebuild
- Rebuilds legacy drawings as parametric models that can be revised instead of redrawn
Interoperability and output
- Native .dft format, with DWG 2013 and 2018 and DXF R12, 2013 and 2018 read and write
- STEP AP203 and AP214 and IGES 5.3 for 3D exchange
- Vector and raster PDF, SVG, and PNG or JPEG at a chosen DPI
- Batch plotting and sheet set issue with revision control
Codes and standards supported
IS 696 general engineering drawing practice, ISO 128-20 line conventions, ISO 128-24 orthographic projection, ASME Y14.5 dimensioning and tolerancing, AWS D1.1 welding symbols, ISA 5.1 instrumentation symbols and ISO 10628-2 for P&ID layout.
How DRAFTY compares with AutoCAD
AutoCAD is the default in most offices and reads everything. DRAFTY is aimed at the engineering drawing itself β the standards, symbols and title blocks are already in place, the 2D-to-3D rebuild is built in, and the licence is a one-off rather than a subscription.
| Capability | DRAFTY | AutoCAD |
|---|---|---|
| Licence model | Perpetual, one-off purchase | Annual subscription per seat |
| Engineering drawing standards preconfigured | IS, ISO, ASME Y14.5, AWS, ISA out of the box | Set up per office or bought as a toolset |
| 2D and scanned drawing to editable 3D conversion | Built in, reads PDF and TIFF | Not available without third-party tools |
| DWG and DXF read and write | Yes, DWG 2013 and 2018 | Native format |
| STEP and IGES 3D exchange | Yes | Via toolset or export add-ins |
| Works fully offline | Yes | Requires periodic sign-in |
| Runs on modest hardware | Yes | Heavier system requirements |
Why engineering teams choose DRAFTY
- Standards are already set up. Line conventions, projection, GD&T, weld and instrument symbols and title blocks follow the codes an engineering office issues to, so drawings do not need a house-style cleanup.
- Legacy drawings become usable again. The 2D-to-3D rebuild turns scanned and archived sheets into parametric models you can revise, which is where most brownfield jobs start.
- Buy once. A perpetual licence replaces a per-seat annual subscription, which is the single biggest drafting cost in a small design office.
- No lock-in. Full DWG and DXF read and write both ways, plus STEP and IGES, so you can hand files to any client or vendor.
- Offline by default. No sign-in, no licence check, no interrupted work on a site laptop.
- AI assistant for repetitive drafting. It handles annotation, schedules and sheet set-up, and leaves the geometry decisions to you.
Outputs you can issue to a client
- Issued drawing sheets as vector PDF, DWG and DXF
- 3D models as STEP or IGES for vendors and downstream software
- Bill of materials and parts lists extracted from the model
- Drawing register and revision table for the project file
- Raster exports at chosen DPI for reports and presentations
What is the licensing model?
Perpetual single-user licence with one year of free updates, or a site licence for concurrent users across a drawing office. Annual maintenance for updates and priority support is available separately. Runs on Windows 10 and 11 64-bit with no subscription and no online sign-in.
Is a free trial available?
Yes. A fully functional trial is available on request through the 3D-LABS contact form, so you can open your own DWG files and test the drawing output before committing.
Who should use DRAFTY
Draughtsmen and design engineers in mechanical, piping, structural and civil offices, fabrication shops producing shop drawings, and teams rebuilding legacy or scanned drawings for brownfield projects.
Support
Licensed users get direct access to the engineers who build the software. Reach us on WhatsApp or by email for setup help, code questions and review support on live projects.
About DRAFTY β CAD Drafting & Modelling Software
DRAFTY β CAD Drafting & Modelling Software is a specialised engineering application from 3D-LABS, built by engineers who use it in practice. It sits between an Excel spreadsheet (too basic) and a full engineering suite (too expensive) β purpose-built for one job, done well.
Key features
- Windows desktop application — installs on Windows 10 and 11, 64-bit. Needs an internet connection to activate on first install and for periodic licence checks.
- Your project files stay local — work is saved on your own machine or network drive, not in the cloud.
- Excel-compatible import/export β bring your existing spreadsheet data in; export results to Excel for reporting.
- Version history β every change is tracked; roll back to any prior state.
- Team collaboration β real-time collaboration on shared projects, with role-based access.
- API access β integrate with your existing workflow through REST API endpoints.
System requirements
Windows 10 or 11, 64-bit. Minimum 4 GB RAM. An internet connection is required to activate the licence on first install and for periodic licence checks.
Free trial
14-day full-featured trial without payment. Sign up with your email, no credit card required. If you upgrade to a paid licence during the trial, no data is lost β everything you built during the trial carries over.
Pricing
DRAFTY β CAD Drafting & Modelling Software is priced at βΉ29,999 for a perpetual single-user licence with 12 months of updates and email support. Annual renewal from year 2 is 30% of the original price. Team licences and floating licences available for organisations. Volume discounts on 5+ seats.
Support and updates
Email support included with all licences β response within one business day (Mon-Sat, IST). Video onboarding sessions at no extra charge for new users. Software updates roughly quarterly with bug fixes, new features, and code-reference updates. Enterprise SLA (4-hour response) available on request.
Related products and services
- Browse other 3D-LABS software products.
- Complement with our 686 engineering spreadsheets β Excel tools for calculations that do not need dedicated software.
- Need custom software development? See our IT services.
- Prefer AI-driven automation? Explore our 166 AI agents.
Frequently asked questions
What platform does DRAFTY β CAD Drafting & Modelling Software run on?
DRAFTY β CAD Drafting & Modelling Software is a Windows desktop application. It installs on Windows 10 and 11, 64-bit, and your project files are saved on your own machine or network drive. It is not available for Mac, Linux or mobile devices. An internet connection is needed to activate the licence on first install and for periodic licence checks.
Is there a free trial?
Yes. A 14-day full-featured trial is available without payment β sign up with your email at the trial link on this page. No credit card required. If you upgrade to a paid licence during the trial, no data is lost.
What is the pricing model?
Purchase includes a perpetual licence for one user with 12 months of updates and support. Annual renewal (from year 2) is 30% of the original licence price and covers all software updates and email support. Team licences and floating licences available for organisations.
How does support work?
Email support included with all licences β response within one business day (Mon-Sat, IST). Priority support available for enterprise customers with 4-hour SLA. Video onboarding sessions available for new users at no extra charge.
How does DRAFTY β CAD Drafting & Modelling Software compare to alternatives?
The nearest alternative is typically an Excel spreadsheet or a large all-in-one engineering suite. DRAFTY β CAD Drafting & Modelling Software fills the gap: purpose-built for one job, faster than Excel, cheaper than a full suite, and integrates cleanly with your existing workflow. Comparison sheet available on request.
About 3D-LABS software
DRAFTY β CAD Drafting & Modelling Software is one of five specialised engineering software applications from 3D-LABS. Every application is built and maintained by the engineers who use it in practice β this is applied practice packaged as software, not consulting-firm software built by a marketing team.
