Embedded Files
Welcome to the BoxCAD tutorials site!
This is the official docs/tutorial site for the program BoxCAD (GitHub repository link).
About BoxCAD
BoxCAD is a lightweight, Python-powered desktop application for designing custom, 3D-printable project enclosures. Instead of manually modeling simple boxes in CAD software, you define dimensions, preview the result in real time, and export directly for manufacturing.
The goal is speed, repeatability, and clean parametric control — especially for electronics projects.
Downloading and Installation
Normal users - If you're a normal user, read more about downloading and installing the project on the GitHub repository page. Specifically in the README file.
Developers - If you're a developer and plan to edit the repository or download the code, read more about downloading and installing the project on the GitHub repository page. Specifically in the README file under the Installation & usage (for developers) expandable text.
Launching the application & main window
Launch the application by opening the executable file/s provided in the downloaded archive file. When the welcome screen opens up, there is a few options. Each one is explained below:
Create new project - creates a new project
Hardware Library - opens up the hardware library. In the hardware library there are presets for common microcontrollers (ESP32, Arduino, etc.)
Tutorials - opens up the docspage (this page)
Exit - exits the application
On the right there is also the recent projects list. This is where you can browse you're recently opened projects.
Using the main interface
When you create a new project or open up one, the main interface will load. Below is a screenshot of an unloaded project for reference.
Note: This is a screenshot of the version v0.1.0. The interface may change slightly in later versions, but not in a way that would make this tutorial incorrect.
This is the unloaded main interface. That means that it will wait for your command (clicking the "Initialize Project" button), only then will it initialize the project. Read more about individual docks and screen parts below:
On the left side of the window, there is a parameter dock - you can grab it and move it around just like any other dock
On the bottom is a hardware library dock - if you click on a preset, it opens up a new window with the preset loaded
Taking up most of the screen is the 3D viewer - you can view your model here.
Once you click the "Initialize Project" button, the application will initialize everything that you need to start creating something awesome!
Note: This is a screenshot of the version v0.1.0. The interface may change slightly in later versions, but not in a way that would make this tutorial incorrect.
Above is the loaded interface. There are still the usual interface parts - the parameter dock, the hardware library and the 3D viewer. Now, in the parameter dock there are actual parameters which you can change. The parameters are fairly basic, so the tutorial won't go over them.
In the top right of the 3D viewer, there is the viewer setting menu button. Upon clicking the button, this menu appears:
Viewer settings
This is the viewer setting menu. There are a few basic settings:
Theme (light/dark) - change the theme here
Show Grid (on/off) - shows the grid
Show Orientation helper cube (on/off) - shows the orientation cube
Show Dimensions (on/off) - shows the maximum dimensions of the model using arrows
Auto Fit View (on/off) - automatically repositions the camera on each parameter change
Exporting your enclosure
When you have finished your enclosure, it's time to export it! Currently you have 2 options to export your enclosure:
as an STL file (.stl file extension) - used for 3D printing, sent directly to a slicer like Cura or PrusaSlicer
as an STEP file (.step file extension) - used for CAD interchange, opened in professional tools like Fusion 360 or FreeCAD
The rest of the interface is pretty self-explanatory so the tutorial doesn't go over it.
Happy Creating!
2klxst, the developer
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