Terms of service
Plain-English terms. What you agree to when you use HelioCad.
Effective date
July 23, 2026.
Your account
One person per account. You're responsible for keeping your credentials safe and for activity that happens under your account.
Acceptable use
Don't use HelioCad to design illegal weapons. Don't reverse-engineer the system, scrape it at scale, or use it to build a competing service. Don't upload content that infringes someone else's rights.
Subscription billing
Monthly billing, no annual lock-in, cancel anytime. Upgrades are prorated. Refunds are available within 7 days for genuine bugs that prevented you from using the service.
Your content
You own what you design. We get a license only as needed to operate the service — store your files, render them in your viewport, and back them up.
AI-generated content
You own the CAD code and geometry generated for your designs. Generated G-code is yours to ship.
AI-estimated data
Some dimensions, geometry, feeds, speeds, and material settings are AI estimates or drawn from unverified web research, not published specifications. Treat them as suggestions to check, not facts. Confirm critical dimensions against the real part, and validate any cut or machining settings with a test cut on scrap before committing to production.
Machine operation and safety
HelioCad generates G-code, cut files, and machine settings, and can connect to and control real machinery — including lasers it can jog, home, frame, test-fire, and run. Toolpaths, posted G-code, and AI-suggested feeds, speeds, and power settings are starting points, not verified instructions, and are not guaranteed to be correct or safe for your specific machine, controller, tooling, fixture, or material. Before you cut, always simulate the job, dry-run above the stock, single-block through the first program, verify the output against your controller, and stay with the machine while it runs. You are solely responsible for the safe operation of your equipment. HelioCad is not a substitute for your own judgment, training, and safety practices, and is not liable for damage, injury, or loss resulting from machine operation.
Custom post-processors
If you write or edit a custom post-processor — including raw code posts — its output has not been verified against any controller. A wrong retract, offset, or spindle command can crash the machine, break tools, or cause injury. You are responsible for verifying all G-code a custom post produces before running it on a machine.
Beta and experimental features
Features labeled beta, experimental, or preview are still in development, may change or be removed, and can behave unexpectedly. Use them at your own risk, and don't rely on them for production work without independent verification.
Our content
We own the HelioCad software, brand, and visual design. Design Playbook entries you contribute get a shared license so other users can read them.
Service availability
We target 99% monthly uptime. Status updates live at status.heliocad.com when we're investigating an incident.
No warranty
HelioCad is provided “as is” and “as available,” without warranties of any kind, express or implied, including merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, accuracy, and non-infringement. We don't warrant that the software, generated designs, G-code, or machine settings will be error-free, uninterrupted, safe, or fit for any particular part, machine, or use.
Limitation of liability
To the fullest extent allowed by law, HelioCad and its team are not liable for indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, lost profits, lost data, design errors, or any damage to equipment, tools, materials, or property, or any injury, arising from your use of the service or any machine you operate with it. Our total liability for any claim is limited to the amount you paid us in the 12 months before the claim. You are responsible for verifying that any part you machine, cut, print, or ship — and any G-code or settings you run — is correct, safe, and fit for purpose.
Assumption of risk
Manufacturing is inherently hazardous. By using HelioCad to design parts or operate machinery, you accept the risks of that work and confirm that you have the training, equipment, and safety measures to do it safely.
Indemnification
You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold HelioCad harmless from claims, damages, and costs (including reasonable legal fees) arising from your use of the service, the parts or files you produce, your operation of any machine, or your violation of these terms or the law.
Third-party machines and software
HelioCad works with third-party machines, controllers, firmware, and the HelioCad Bridge. We don't control and aren't responsible for third-party hardware or software, and compatibility can change. Follow your equipment manufacturer's instructions and safety guidance.
Termination
We can terminate accounts that violate these terms. You can leave anytime — your data is exportable in open formats up until cancellation.
Changes
We'll email you at least 30 days before any material change to these terms.
Dispute resolution and arbitration
Most disputes can be resolved by reaching out through our Contact page at heliocad.com/contact first, and we ask that you contact us before filing any claim. Any dispute that can't be resolved informally will be settled by binding individual arbitration, not in court, except that either party may bring qualifying claims in small-claims court. You and HelioCad waive the right to a jury trial and the right to participate in a class action or class-wide arbitration. The arbitration will be governed by the laws of the State of Michigan.
Governing law
The State of Michigan, United States.
Contact
Questions or disputes: reach us through the contact form at heliocad.com/contact.