The 3D Manufacturing Format (3MF) allows design applications to send 3D models for additive manufacturing. The goal is to establish a new standard addressing shortcomings of existing formats, making p...
The 3D Manufacturing Format (3MF) allows design applications to send 3D models for additive manufacturing. The goal is to establish a new standard addressing shortcomings of existing formats, making processes reliable and repeatable. The .3mf format streamlines design to production by encapsulating comprehensive model data.
3MF is an open format published by the 3MF Consortium. It includes material and color information lacking in STL. 3MF is part of the Linux standards project, not competing in CAD. Consortium members include Autodesk, Dassault, and Netfabb.
Advantages include full texture support in one file. Others are base materials, textures and colors, lattice structures and slices. This flexibility suits prototyping, manufacturing, architecture and design. A key plus is encapsulating all information in one file – model geometry, textures, materials, print settings.
The consortium formed to address limitations of formats like STL. Applications needed a way to pass model data to printers. Members include Microsoft, HP, Ultimaker and more. Microsoft donated in-progress work as a starting point.
The 3MF file uses ZIP compression. It contains model, material and property data. It may also store print tickets, images and signatures. The consortium created it to streamline printing. The intent is for it to replace STL and other formats, reducing issues.
Microsoft 3D Builder
Autodesk Fusion 360
Ultimaker Cura