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3MF viewer online

Open 3MF files instantly — measure in mm, cut a section, spot overhangs and check if the model is ready to print. Nothing is uploaded.

Drop your 3MF file here
or choose files · STL, 3MF, OBJ, GLB, FBX, STEP, PLY, DAE, IGES, G-code… · batch OK
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In short: 3MF is a ZIP of XML files from the 3MF Consortium that keeps units, colours and multiple parts, and slicer projects build on top of it. Drop a .3mf file above to view it with real dimensions, measure distances, cut through it and check watertightness — all locally in your browser. To change format, pick an output and download; for printing, STL or 3MF work in every slicer.

Updated October 8, 2026 · By the MeshShift team · How we test

What is a 3MF file?

3MF was designed by the 3MF Consortium, whose members include Microsoft, Autodesk, HP, Stratasys and Prusa, as a modern replacement for STL in additive manufacturing. A .3mf file is a ZIP archive following the Open Packaging Conventions. Inside it, an XML model part holds the mesh, while other parts can hold thumbnails, textures and metadata. Unlike STL, the mesh shares vertices between triangles, which makes files smaller and keeps the surface connected. The core specification defines units, build items with placement transforms, and several objects in one file. Extensions cover materials, slices and beam lattices. Bambu Studio, OrcaSlicer and PrusaSlicer save their projects as 3MF with their own settings stored in extra files, so a project from one slicer may open in another with the geometry intact but the print profile ignored.

What a 3MF file can store

A 3MF stores indexed triangle meshes, a unit declaration (millimetre by default, with micron, centimetre, inch, foot and metre allowed), and a build section that positions each object with a transform. It can hold many objects and components, per-object names, base colours and materials, and optional texture and slice data through extensions. Slicers add their own metadata for plates, filament assignments, supports and settings. Plain geometry exported from a mesh editor usually contains just the mesh, units and a build item.

Apps that open 3MF

Bambu Studio, OrcaSlicer, PrusaSlicer, UltiMaker Cura, Fusion, Blender, Windows 3D Builder, Meshmixer, SolidWorks, FreeCAD.

Strengths

  • Declares units, so scale is not guesswork
  • Holds several objects and part names in one file
  • Carries colours and materials
  • Compact because vertices are shared and the package is compressed
  • Basis for Bambu, Orca and Prusa project files

Limits

  • Slicer settings are vendor-specific and rarely transfer between brands
  • Not every viewer or game engine opens it
  • Texture and lattice support depends on the extension and the app
  • Rarely used for animation or scene graphs

3MF and 3D printing

For multi-colour and multi-part prints, 3MF is the format to use. Bambu Studio and OrcaSlicer open each part as a separate object, which lets you assign a different filament or setting to each one, and Prusa-family slicers do the same. Because the unit is stored in the file, a model does not arrive at the wrong size. Be careful with project files: a 3MF saved by Bambu Studio carries printer, plate and process settings that PrusaSlicer will not apply, and some slicers pick a different default when a model has no declared plate. MeshShift writes 3MF with several parts and keeps colours as base materials, and it reads 3MF for viewing, measuring and print checks.

Frequently asked questions

How do I open a 3MF file without installing software?

Drop the 3MF file on this page. It opens in your browser with studio lighting and real dimensions; nothing is uploaded. You can rotate, zoom, measure between two points, cut through the model and check whether it is watertight for printing.

Is 3MF better than STL for 3D printing?

For most modern slicers, yes. 3MF records units, supports colours and several objects, and compresses well, while STL has none of those. STL remains the safer choice when a tool, a resin printer or a print service only advertises STL support.

Why do my colours disappear when I open a 3MF in another slicer?

Basic base-material colours usually survive, but filament assignments and painted regions are stored in each slicer's own extension data. When a different slicer does not read that data, it falls back to the plain geometry and you reassign colours manually.

Can MeshShift convert 3MF to STL or other formats?

Yes. MeshShift reads 3MF and writes 3MF, STL, OBJ, GLB and others in your browser without uploading the file. Writing 3MF keeps multiple parts and colours as base materials. Converting to STL merges everything into one colourless mesh, because STL cannot store those details.

Convert 3MF to…

3MF → STL →3MF → OBJ →3MF → GLB →3MF → glTF →3MF → PLY →3MF → STEP →3MF → STP →3MF → AMF →3MF → USDZ →3MF → OFF →