Akse3D: An Open-Source 3D Modeling Tool for Everyone

Akse is a specialized 3D design service provided by Skaperiet, specifically tailored for children and teenagers. It is an open-access tool designed for maker spaces that allows users to draw, design, and create.

By merging basic primitive shapes or sketching custom 2D blueprints, users can generate models and export them as .stl files, making them immediately compatible with 3D printers.

Try Akse for free: Visit akse3d-app.skaperiet.no to experience it directly in your browser. It is free to use and supports full STL export.

01 / Understanding Akse

The name Akse translates to "axis," referring to the fundamental $\text{X, Y, and Z}$ coordinates of 3D space.

The core philosophy is to provide a platform where youth can develop their spatial reasoning and learn to think in three dimensions ~~without getting lost in overly complex professional menus~~.

Key Design Principles:

Real-World Scale: Everything is measured in actual millimeters ( $\text{mm}$ ), ensuring that the digital model matches the physical object after printing.
Educational Roots: Created by Skaperiet (a youth maker space), Akse is optimized for workshops where the goal is to minimize the time between a conceptual idea and a physical print.
Accessibility:
- 🧒 Youth-Centric: Features intuitive tools, simple terminology, and large, clickable buttons.
- 🖨️ Print-Ready: A single click converts a project into an STL file, the universal language of 3D printing.

02 / The Workflow: From Concept to Object

The process of creating a model in Akse follows a streamlined three-step path:

Build with Shapes: Start with basic primitives or create custom outlines using 3D text, freehand sketching, or the blueprint tool.
Shape and Combine: Use smart snapping to move, rotate, and scale objects with precision.
- Pro Tip: Enable "hole mode" on any shape to subtract its volume from others—ideal for creating windows, secret gaps, or screw holes.
STL Export and Print: Download the entire assembly as one print-ready file. Additionally, you can import existing STL files to modify or expand upon them.

03 / The Blueprint Tool: 2D Sketching to 3D Reality

The Blueprint feature is Akse's most potent capability. It provides a 2D drawing board (mimicking millimeter paper) where you sketch a top-down view and "extrude" it into 3D.

Blueprint Capabilities:

Drawing Suite: Seven distinct tools are available, each with a dedicated keyboard shortcut to build muscle memory.
Material Properties: Shapes are defined as either Solid (indicated in blue) or a Hole (indicated by an orange dashed line).
Dynamic Grouping: When shapes are grouped, the distance between them is displayed as an editable measurement. You can type exact values to maintain perfect alignment during scaling.
The 3D Transition: Define the desired height in $\text{mm}$ and select "Make 3D model." A live preview allows you to verify the result before finalizing.

04 / Primitive Library & Shortcuts

You can combine these blocks as solids or holes to create everything from jewelry to complex spare parts.

Shape	Shortcut	Description
Box	`K`	Standard rectangular prism
Cylinder	`S`	Circular extrusion
Sphere	`U`	Perfect ball
Cone	`J`	Tapered circular point
Pyramid	`P`	Tapered square point
Wedge	`I`	Triangular prism
Torus	`M`	Donut shape

Additionally, the tool supports 3D Text, Freehand Drawing, and STL Import.

05 / Technical Features

Akse is a "small tool" with professional-grade precision:

Millimeter Precision:
- Movement snapping: 0.1 / 0.5 / 1 / 10 mm
- Rotation snapping: 1° / 22.5° / 45° / 90°
- Measurements are visible on the model and editable via keyboard.
Boolean Operations: Easily create "holes" for letter slots or peepholes without needing advanced CAD knowledge.
Flexible Storage: Save your work to the cloud via a Skaperiet account or locally as a file.
Experimentation Tools:
- Full history: Ctrl+Z (Undo) and Ctrl+Shift+Z (Redo).
- Efficiency: Copy/Paste and Ctrl+D for rapid duplication and pattern making.
UI Customization: 8 distinct shape colors and a choice between Light and Dark themes.
Cross-Platform Input: Full mouse support (handles/shortcuts) and a simplified touch interface for tablets.

06 / Self-Hosting & Open Source

Akse is released under the AGPL-3.0 license, meaning the source code is open and available on GitHub for schools and makerspaces to host independently.

Installation Guide

To run your own instance, ensure you have git and Node.js (version 22+) installed.

# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/joachimhs/akse3d.git
cd akse3d

# Install dependencies and launch
npm install
npm run dev

Once running, access your local editor at http://localhost:5173.

Integration

For developers, Akse is available as a Svelte package: @skaperiet/akse. This allows it to be embedded into other websites using custom storage backends.

Note: Under the AGPL-3.0 license, you are free to modify and host Akse, provided that any modified versions also keep their source code open.

[Open the Akse Editor] $\rightarrow$ Compatible with all modern browsers. No installation required.