: Carveco Maker, Carveco Plus, and Carveco Showcase can natively open, view, and edit any legacy .ART or .RLF file.
ArtCAM (Artistic Computer Aided Manufacturing) was a prominent CAD/CAM software solution widely used in the sign-making, woodworking, and jewelry industries for creating 3D reliefs from 2D artwork. The software utilized a proprietary file extension, .art , to store vector data, 3D relief models, toolpath strategies, and layer information.
For organizations seeking to view .art files today, the recommended workflow typically follows this hierarchy:
If your business relies heavily on an archive of old ArtCAM designs, relying solely on legacy viewing methods exposes you to operational risks. Implement these strategies to safeguard your library: Batch Export to Universal Formats artcam file viewer
A: FileProInfo offers a powerful and completely free online ART file viewer that requires no registration or installation.
: Relief files, which store 3D shapes that can be imported and placed on other models. .con / .pmoptz
For years, was the gold standard for CNC machining, woodworking, jewelry design, and sign making. Its proprietary file formats—most notably .art (ArtCAM Model) and .rlf (Relief File)—became the industry benchmark for 3D relief and vector data. : Carveco Maker, Carveco Plus, and Carveco Showcase
: Use the simulation function to visualize the carving process and see a 3D preview of the finished piece before sending it to the machine. A previously calculated toolpath can be simulated to see the finished piece and ensure the design is correct.
The primary file extension associated with ArtCAM is . Unlike standard vector files ( .dxf , .svg ) or solid models ( .stp , .iges ), an .art file is a complex "hybrid" container. It stores:
To understand the necessity of a dedicated viewer, one must understand the complexity of the .art format. Unlike standard vector formats (like .dxf or .svg ), an ArtCAM file is a compound database containing: For organizations seeking to view
When Autodesk discontinued ArtCAM, the original development team formed a new company called . Built on the exact same source code architectural foundation, Carveco is the spiritual and technical continuation of ArtCAM.
If your primary goal is to view individual 3D elements stored as .RLF files, you do not need ArtCAM at all.
Because the format is proprietary and closed-source, generic 3D viewers (such as standard CAD software) cannot natively open .art files. This walled-garden approach necessitates specific middleware or legacy software to interpret the data.
Carveco was formed by the original development team after Autodesk discontinued ArtCAM. It is the most reliable way to view and edit legacy files. : Directly opens .art and .rlf files.