The file itself is something like a compressed. You can create full-color 3D models with complex textures and save it as one. It contains information about proper dimensions and supports multiple instances of a given object in 3D space. 3MF summaryįrom all the file types suitable for 3D printing, the 3MF is definitely the most versatile and reliable. One of them is using displacement maps to add detail to your polygon 3D model.

There are several options for how to achieve the imitation of the diamond plate. If you were to 3D print the object above, the surface would come out as smooth. The texture file really is just a flat image. In addition, they all contain information about UV maps, which is used to properly wrap a JPG/PNG file around the 3D object. Imagine you would like to get a prototype of your screwdriver design (in real life dimensions), but instead received a prototype so tiny that even a Lego mini figure would have problems holding it.Īll of the file types listed above use polygons to represent objects in 3D space. That means your part could get 25.4x smaller. A common error occurs when you create your 3D model in inches, and the 3D printing studio uses mm as a default. When you want someone else to print your STL file, it is wise to specify the correct units/dimensions to them clearly. So, you can’t tell if the 3D model was created in mm, inch, etc. You can read from the file that the 3D model is, for instance, 200 x 150 x 8, but there is no additional information. Sadly, there is no information about units contained in STL file. (You will get a 30-day trial version of Netfabb Premium, which then automatically switches to free Netfabb Basic). Or you can download CAD models from sites like and convert them to STL – for conversion you can use, for instance, Workbench) What to double check before 3D printing an STL file:įor checking your STL file, you can use a free version of Autodesk Netfabb. You can also download a vast amount of ready to print STL files on sites like. 1) Created in polygon based 3D modeling software and then exported ( Blender, 3ds Max, Maya, Z-Brush, Cinema 4D…)Ģ) Created in CAD or NURBS-based 3D modeling software, then converted to polygon mesh and exported ( SolidWorks, Inventor, Tinkercad, Rhino, Modo…)ģ) 3D scanned (by using a 3D scanner, you create a polygon 3D model of an existing physical object)

Check stl file for 3d printing