Open source file format standard
3D Manufacturing Format or3MF is anopen source file format standard developed and published by the 3MF Consortium.[ 1] [ 2]
3MF is anXML -based data format designed specifically foradditive manufacturing . It includes information about materials, colors, and other information that cannot be represented in theSTL format.[ 3] [ 4] [ 5] CAD formats .[ 6]
Today,CAD software related companies such asAutodesk ,Dassault Systèmes ,PTC , and Netfabb are part of the 3MF Consortium. Other firms in the 3MF Consortium areMicrosoft (foroperating system and3D modeling support), SLM andHP , whilstShapeways are also included to give insight from a3D printing background.[ 7] Materialise ,3D Systems ,Siemens Digital Industries Software andStratasys have recently joined the consortium.[ 8] [ 9] C++ implementation of the 3MF file format.[ 10]
In 2025 the 3MF becameISO standard ISO/IEC 25422:2025.[ 11]
Below are a list of some of the advantages of the 3MF format, supplied by the consortium.[ 12]
Full color and texture support in a single file Support structures attached to part data Full tray support for direct machine preparation Thumbnails , viewing, and printing inMicrosoft Windows [dubious discuss Multiple material support Beam extension for complex lattice structures[ 13] Slice extension for machine data Secure end to end encryption[ 14] Volumetric communication of data at voxel level[ 15] Designed for industrial manufacturing Native integration inMicrosoft Office andPaint 3D 3MF consortium members [ edit ] Autodesk HP 3D Systems Dassault Systèmes EOS Hexagon Materialise Microsoft nTopology PTC Siemens Altair SLM Stratasys Ultimaker Viaccess.Orca Prusa[ 16] Source:[ 17]
^ "3MF Website" .3MF .Archived from the original on 6 September 2015. Retrieved1 May 2015 .^ "3MF Consortium Releases New 3D Printing File Format" . 5 May 2015.Archived from the original on 22 August 2022. Retrieved26 May 2016 .^ "What is 3MF?" ^ "Microsoft Spearheads 3D Printing File Format: Introducing the 3MF" .Forbes Archived from the original on 2022-07-26. Retrieved2017-08-23 .^ "3D Printing Effort Becomes Linux Foundation Open Standards Project, Announces New Executive Director - Linux Foundation" .www.linuxfoundation.org .Archived from the original on 2022-10-21. Retrieved2022-10-21 .^ "3MF About Us" .3MF . Archived fromthe original on 2019-10-10. Retrieved10 July 2020 .^ "3MF Consortium Launches to Advance 3D Printing Technology" . Business Wire.Archived from the original on 26 July 2022. Retrieved1 May 2015 .^ " . Archived fromthe original on 2021-09-16. Retrieved2020-09-23 .^ Wegner, Andre."With A New Executive Director, 3MF Strengthens The Digital Thread For Additive Manufacturing" .Forbes . Retrieved2022-12-02 . ^ "Lib3mf" .GitHub Archived from the original on 26 July 2022. Retrieved16 September 2018 .^ "3MF file format officially becomes ISO Additive Manufacturing standard" . METAL AM. Retrieved2025-08-10 .^ "3MF Core Specification" (PDF) . 3MF Consortium. 2018.^ 3MF Beam Lattice Extension archived from the original on 2022-10-21, retrieved2022-10-21 ^ 3D Manufacturing Format - Secure Content Extension archived from the original on 2022-10-21, retrieved2022-10-21 ^ Manufacturing Format - Volumetric Extension archived from the original on 2022-10-21, retrieved2022-10-21 ^ https://help.prusa3d.com/article/saving-projects-as-3mf_1773 Archived 2025-03-19 at theWayback Machine lowest coont^ "Members" .3MF Consortium .Archived from the original on 2022-12-02. Retrieved2022-12-02 .
