Backflip has launched 2D Drawing to CAD, an AI tool for its CAD copilot that turns 2D engineering drawings into parametric 3D models with native, editable feature trees.
Drawing to CAD interprets the part geometry described by the views and dimensions in an engineering drawing, then builds a parametric model with a feature tree: a sequence of 3D modeling operations that defines the part. Engineers can inspect that design history in Fusion and then continue editing it: change a hole diameter, adjust a pattern, or revise a mounting interface.
Launched at Autodesk University 2026, it’s live now in Autodesk Fusion and via the Backflip app.
“For many factories, an engineering drawing is the only record documenting the geometry of much of their manufacturing equipment and repair parts. But the modern manufacturing stack runs on 3D CAD, so when they need to create a replacement an engineer first has to rebuild the drawing in 3D,” explained Backflip CEO Greg Mark.
“Drawing to CAD does this in 5 to 30 minutes for $10 or less, depending on part complexity. Reconstructions run in parallel, so an entire drawing archive can be converted at once, rather than one part at a time, in an emergency, after something has already broken.”
In tandem to its 2D Drawings tool, Backflip has also introduced a multi-shot Photo to CAD tool, enabling CAD generation from photographs captured on mobile phones, adding it to the Backflip toolset that already includes Scan to CAD, which converts 3D scans, STL files, and other mesh geometry into parametric models with editable feature trees.
Built while reconstructing the geometry from the drawing, the feature tree allows a designer to edit the history in their existing CAD package, making changes and update, or to start building brand new features.
“Our mission is to digitise the world,” concluded Mark. “Many factories have 3D CAD for less than 1% of their equipment. When a part breaks – which happens often – they don’t have a 3D model immediately available, and it’s a huge scramble to prevent a production line from going down. Imagine how much more efficient the world would be if every factory had a complete, 3D catalog of their parts ready to manufacture at a moment’s notice. This is the power of our new AI tools”
