diff --git a/src/main/mesh.js b/src/main/mesh.js
index 0df9e5ae..d97f8d06 100644
--- a/src/main/mesh.js
+++ b/src/main/mesh.js
@@ -83,7 +83,8 @@ broker.subscribe('space_init', data => {
             platform.setColor(platcolor);
         },
         'keypress', evt => {
-            switch (evt.code) {
+            let { shiftKey, metaKey, ctrlKey, code } = evt;
+            switch (code) {
                 case 'KeyC':
                     selection.centerXY().focus();
                     break;
@@ -96,11 +97,6 @@ broker.subscribe('space_init', data => {
                 case 'KeyB':
                     selection.boundsBox({toggle:true});
                     break;
-                case 'KeyS':
-                    for (let m of selection.models()) {
-                        m.sync();
-                    }
-                    break;
                 case 'KeyH':
                     space.view.home();
                     break;
@@ -126,7 +122,13 @@ broker.subscribe('space_init', data => {
                     }
                     break;
                 case 'KeyD':
-                    broker.send.space_debug();
+                    if (shiftKey) {
+                        for (let m of selection.models()) {
+                            m.debug();
+                        }
+                    } else {
+                        broker.send.space_debug();
+                    }
                     break;
                 case 'Escape':
                     selection.clear();
@@ -213,19 +215,21 @@ broker.subscribe('space_load', data => {
 broker.subscribe('space_debug', () => {
     for (let g of mesh.api.group.list()) {
         let { center, size } = g.bounds();
-        console.group('group', {
+        console.group(g.id);
+        console.log({
             center,
             size,
             pos: g.group.position
         });
         for (let m of g.models) {
-            console.log('model', {
+            console.log(m.id, {
                 box: m.mesh.getBoundingBox(),
                 pos: m.mesh.position
             });
         }
         console.groupEnd();
     }
+    moto.client.fn.debug();
 });
 
 // remove version cache bust from url
diff --git a/src/mesh/api.js b/src/mesh/api.js
index 5fc895ba..2a0db761 100644
--- a/src/mesh/api.js
+++ b/src/mesh/api.js
@@ -221,7 +221,7 @@ let api = mesh.api = {
     model,
 
     objects() {
-        // return models, not groups
+        // return model objects suitable for finding ray intersections
         return group.list().map(o => o.models).flat().map(o => o.object());
     }
 };
diff --git a/src/mesh/group.js b/src/mesh/group.js
index a09d67b5..30fa25e6 100644
--- a/src/mesh/group.js
+++ b/src/mesh/group.js
@@ -16,6 +16,9 @@ gapp.register("mesh.group", [
 let mesh = self.mesh = self.mesh || {};
 if (mesh.group) return;
 
+let space = moto.Space;
+let worker = moto.client.fn;
+
 mesh.group = class MeshGroup extends mesh.object {
 
     // @param group {mesh.model[]}
@@ -28,6 +31,10 @@ mesh.group = class MeshGroup extends mesh.object {
         }
     }
 
+    type() {
+        return "group";
+    }
+
     object() {
         return this.group;
     }
@@ -37,7 +44,8 @@ mesh.group = class MeshGroup extends mesh.object {
         model.group = this;
         this.models.addOnce(model);
         this.group.add(model.mesh);
-        moto.Space.update();
+        space.update();
+        worker.group_add({id: this.id, model:model.id});
         return this;
     }
 
@@ -54,12 +62,14 @@ mesh.group = class MeshGroup extends mesh.object {
         this.models.remove(model);
         this.group.remove(model.mesh);
         // trigger sync with worker
+        worker.group_remove({id: this.id, model:model.id});
         model.remove(true);
         // auto-remove group when empty
         if (this.group.children.length === 0) {
             mesh.api.group.remove(this);
+            worker.object_destroy({id: this.id});
         }
-        moto.Space.update();
+        space.update();
         return this;
     }
 
diff --git a/src/mesh/model.js b/src/mesh/model.js
index 6cf96b34..ba1ebf6d 100644
--- a/src/mesh/model.js
+++ b/src/mesh/model.js
@@ -16,6 +16,9 @@ gapp.register("mesh.model", [
 let mesh = self.mesh = self.mesh || {};
 if (mesh.model) return;
 
+let space = moto.Space;
+let worker = moto.client.fn;
+
 /** default materials **/
 let materials = mesh.material = {
     unselected: new THREE.MeshPhongMaterial({
@@ -49,16 +52,19 @@ mesh.model = class MeshModel extends mesh.object {
         this.mesh = this.load(mesh);
     }
 
+    type() {
+        return "model";
+    }
+
     object() {
         return this.mesh;
     }
 
-    sync() {
-        moto.client.fn.model_sync({
+    debug() {
+        worker.model_debug({
             matrix: this.mesh.matrixWorld.elements,
             id: this.id
         }).then(data => {
-            if (data && data.length)
             // for debugging matrix ops
             return mesh.api.group.new([new mesh.model({
                 file: `synth-${this.name}`,
@@ -80,7 +86,7 @@ mesh.model = class MeshModel extends mesh.object {
         // this ref allows clicks to be traced to models and groups
         meh.model = this;
         // sync data to worker
-        moto.client.fn.model_load({id: this.id, name: this.name, vertices, indices});
+        worker.model_load({id: this.id, name: this.file, vertices, indices});
         return meh;
     }
 
@@ -93,8 +99,8 @@ mesh.model = class MeshModel extends mesh.object {
             geo.attributes.index.needsUpdate = true;
         }
         geo.attributes.position.needsUpdate = true;
-        geo.computeFaceNormals();
         geo.computeVertexNormals();
+        worker.model_load({id: this.id, name: this.name, vertices, indices});
     }
 
     get group() {
@@ -122,7 +128,7 @@ mesh.model = class MeshModel extends mesh.object {
             mat.opacity = ov;
             mat.visible = true;
         }
-        moto.Space.update();
+        space.update();
     }
 
     wireframe(bool, opt = {}) {
@@ -151,7 +157,7 @@ mesh.model = class MeshModel extends mesh.object {
             this.mesh.add(this._wire);
             this.opacity(opt.opacity || 0);
         }
-        moto.Space.update();
+        space.update();
     }
 
     material(mat) {
@@ -163,7 +169,7 @@ mesh.model = class MeshModel extends mesh.object {
             // direct call requires pass through group
         } else {
             // called from group
-            moto.client.fn.model_remove({id: this.id});
+            worker.object_destroy({id: this.id});
         }
     }
 };
diff --git a/src/mesh/object.js b/src/mesh/object.js
index 51811a13..5aab2055 100644
--- a/src/mesh/object.js
+++ b/src/mesh/object.js
@@ -13,10 +13,18 @@ gapp.register("mesh.object", [
 let mesh = self.mesh = self.mesh || {};
 if (mesh.object) return;
 
+let space = moto.Space;
+let worker = moto.client.fn;
+
 mesh.object = class MeshObject {
 
     constructor() {
         this.id = mesh.util.uuid();
+        worker.object_create({id: this.id, type: this.type()});
+    }
+
+    type() {
+        throw "type() requires implementation";
     }
 
     // @returns {THREE.Object3D}
@@ -54,7 +62,8 @@ mesh.object = class MeshObject {
         let pos = this.position();
         pos.set(pos.x + x, pos.y + y, pos.z + z);
         this.updateBoundsBox();
-        moto.Space.update();
+        space.update();
+        moto.client.fn.object_move({id: this.id, x, y, z});
         return this;
     }
 
@@ -65,7 +74,9 @@ mesh.object = class MeshObject {
         }
         scale.set(...arguments);
         this.updateBoundsBox();
-        moto.Space.update();
+        let [ x, y, z ] = arguments;
+        moto.client.fn.object_scale({id: this.id, x, y, z});
+        space.update();
     }
 
     rotate(x = 0, y = 0, z = 0) {
@@ -73,25 +84,30 @@ mesh.object = class MeshObject {
         if (y) this.object().rotateOnWorldAxis(new THREE.Vector3(0,1,0), y);
         if (z) this.object().rotateOnWorldAxis(new THREE.Vector3(0,0,1), z);
         this.updateBoundsBox();
-        moto.Space.update();
+        worker.object_rotate({id: this.id, x, y, z});
+        space.update();
         return this;
     }
 
     rotation() {
-        let rot = this.object().rotation;
+        let rotation = this.object().rotation;
         if (arguments.length === 0) {
-            return rot;
+            return rotation;
         }
-        rot.set(...arguments);
+        rotation.set(...arguments);
         this.updateBoundsBox();
-        moto.Space.update();
+        let { x, y, z } = rotation;
+        worker.object_rotation({id: this.id, x, y, z});
+        space.update();
         return this;
     }
 
     qrotation(quaternion) {
         this.object().setRotationFromQuaternion(quaternion);
         this.updateBoundsBox();
-        moto.Space.update();
+        let { w, x, y, z } = quaternion;
+        worker.object_qrotation({id: this.id, w, x, y, z});
+        space.update();
         return this;
     }
 
@@ -101,7 +117,9 @@ mesh.object = class MeshObject {
             return pos;
         }
         pos.set(...arguments);
-        moto.Space.update();
+        let [ x, y, z ] = arguments;
+        worker.object_position({id: this.id, x, y, z});
+        space.update();
     }
 
     showBounds(bool) {
@@ -114,7 +132,7 @@ mesh.object = class MeshObject {
 
     updateBoundsBox() {
         let helper = this._boundsBox;
-        let world = moto.Space.world;
+        let world = space.world;
         if (helper) {
             world.remove(helper);
         }
diff --git a/src/mesh/work.js b/src/mesh/work.js
index 26bf4db8..59ef1477 100644
--- a/src/mesh/work.js
+++ b/src/mesh/work.js
@@ -23,33 +23,85 @@ let space_rotation = new THREE.Matrix4().makeRotationX(Math.PI / 2);
 let { client, worker } = moto;
 let cache = {};
 
+function cacheUpdate(id, data) {
+    Object.assign(cache[id], data);
+}
+
 worker.bind("debug", (data, send) => {
-    console.log({cache});
+    console.log({work_cache: cache});
     send.done();
 });
 
-worker.bind("model_load", (data, send) => {
-    let { vertices, name, id } = data;
-    let geo = new THREE.BufferGeometry();
-    geo.setAttribute('position', new THREE.BufferAttribute(vertices, 3));
-    geo.computeVertexNormals();
-    cache[id] = { id, name, geo };
-    send.done();
-});
+let model = {
+    load(data) {
+        let { vertices, name, id } = data;
+        let geo = new THREE.BufferGeometry();
+        geo.setAttribute('position', new THREE.BufferAttribute(vertices, 3));
+        geo.computeVertexNormals();
+        cacheUpdate(id, { name, geo });
+    },
 
-worker.bind("model_remove", (data, send) => {
-    delete cache[data.id];
-    send.done();
-});
+    debug(data) {
+        let { matrix, id } = data;
+        let rec = cache[id];
+        let geo = rec.geo.clone();
+        let m4 = space_rotation.clone().multiply( new THREE.Matrix4().fromArray(matrix) );
+        geo.applyMatrix4(m4);
+        // for debugging state / matrix ops
+        return geo.attributes.position.array;
+    }
+};
 
-worker.bind("model_sync", (data, send) => {
-    let { matrix, id } = data;
-    let rec = cache[id];
-    let geo = rec.geo.clone();
-    let m4 = space_rotation.clone().multiply( new THREE.Matrix4().fromArray(matrix) );
-    geo.applyMatrix4(m4);
-    // for debugging matrix ops
-    send.done(geo.attributes.position.array);
+let group = {
+    add(data) {
+        let { id, model } = data;
+    },
+
+    remove(data) {
+        let { id, model } = data;
+    },
+
+    create(data) {
+        let { id, type } = data;
+        cache[id] = { id, type };
+    }
+};
+
+let object = {
+    create(data) {
+        let { id, type } = data;
+        cache[id] = { id, type };
+    },
+
+    destroy(data) {
+        delete cache[data.id];
+    },
+
+    move(data) {
+        let { id, type, x, y, z } = data;
+    },
+
+    position(data) {
+        let { id, type, x, y, z } = data;
+    },
+
+    rotate(data) {
+        let { id, type, x, y, z } = data;
+    },
+
+    rotation(data) {
+        let { id, type, x, y, z } = data;
+    },
+
+    qrotation(data) {
+        let { id, type, w, x, y, z } = data;
+    }
+};
+
+worker.bindObject({
+    model,
+    group,
+    object
 });
 
 })();
diff --git a/src/moto/client.js b/src/moto/client.js
index 28d721ef..39de9520 100644
--- a/src/moto/client.js
+++ b/src/moto/client.js
@@ -120,7 +120,6 @@ let client = moto.client = {
             data,
             stream: ondata ? true : false
         };
-
         try {
             worker.postMessage(msg, direct);
         } catch (error) {
diff --git a/src/moto/worker.js b/src/moto/worker.js
index fbfb4fa1..48bd3593 100644
--- a/src/moto/worker.js
+++ b/src/moto/worker.js
@@ -15,32 +15,52 @@ let endpoints = {};
 // code is running in the worker / server context
 const dispatch = moto.worker = {
 
-    bind: (name, fn) => {
+    // bind an endpoint name to a function
+    bind(name, fn) {
         endpoints[name] = fn;
         dispatch.send({bind: name});
     },
 
-    send: (msg) => {
+    // bind all functions in an object
+    bindObject(object, root, recurse) {
+        recurse = recurse || root === undefined;
+        for (let [key, fn] of Object.entries(object)) {
+            key = root ? `${root}_${key}` : key;
+            if (typeof fn === 'function') {
+                dispatch.bind(key, fn);
+            } else if (recurse) {
+                dispatch.bindObject(fn, key, recurse);
+            }
+        }
+    },
+
+    send(msg) {
         self.postMessage(msg);
     },
 
-    onmessage: (e) => {
+    onmessage(e) {
         let msg = e.data,
             run = endpoints[msg.task],
+            async = false,
             done = false,
             send = {
-                data: (data, direct) => {
+                // puts function in async mode
+                // prevents auto send.done() on function return
+                async() {
+                    async = true;
+                },
+                data(data, direct) {
                     if (canSend(data)) {
                         dispatch.send({ done: false, data: data }, direct);
                     }
                 },
-                done: (data, direct) => {
+                done(data, direct) {
                     if (canSend(data)) {
                         dispatch.send({ done: true, data: data }, direct);
                         done = true;
                     }
                 },
-                error: (data) => {
+                error(data) {
                     if (canSend(data)) {
                         done = true;
                         dispatch.send({ error: data });
@@ -57,7 +77,7 @@ const dispatch = moto.worker = {
         if (run) {
             try {
                 let data = run(msg.data, send);
-                if (data) {
+                if (data || async === false) {
                     send.done(data);
                 }
             } catch (error) {