Convert IGS to 3MF
Free IGS to 3MF converter that runs in your browser. See real dimensions before you download, and get a watertight, slicer-ready file.
How to convert IGS to 3MF
- Drop your IGS file onto the converter — it opens in your browser, nothing is uploaded.
- Check the preview and the dimensions in mm; fix units or the up axis in “Units & orientation” if the size or orientation looks wrong.
- Choose 3MF as the output and click Convert. Several files download as one ZIP.
What carries over from IGS to 3MF
| IGS | 3MF | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colour / materials | No | Yes | — |
| Textures | No | No | — |
| Units stored in file | Yes | Yes | Written as mm |
| Separate parts | Yes | Yes | Kept |
| Usual up axis | Z | Z | Unchanged |
About IGS files
IGES was first published in 1980 by the US National Bureau of Standards, with participation from Boeing, General Electric and others, as one of the earliest standards for moving CAD data between different systems. Files use the .igs or .iges extension and are fixed-width 80-column text records divided into Start, Global, Directory Entry, Parameter Data and Terminate sections, a layout that reflects its punched-card heritage. IGES describes wireframe curves, trimmed and untrimmed NURBS surfaces, and, in later revisions, solids, but in practice it is mostly used for surface data. The format has not been updated since version 5.3 in 1996; STEP replaced it as the preferred standard. Even so, aerospace, automotive and tooling companies keep large IGES archives, and some CAM and surface-modelling programs still ask for it.
About 3MF files
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.
3D printing notes
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
Is this IGS to 3MF converter free and private?
Yes. The conversion runs in your browser with JavaScript and WebAssembly, so your IGS file is never uploaded to a server. There is no sign-up, no watermark and no daily limit; very large files are limited only by your device's memory.
Is IGES the same as IGS?
Yes. IGS is the three-letter extension used by systems that limited file names, and IGES is the full form. They contain the same data, and software that opens one will open the other, so renaming a .igs to .iges is safe.
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.