1. Enabling the full potential of 3D Printing with the 3MF File Format
Name, Company
Representing the 3MF Consortium

2. Made for Additive Manufacturing
What is 3MF?
Made for Additive Manufacturing
Extensible
An industry supported file format that allows design applications to send full- fidelity 3D models to a mix of applications, platforms, services and printers. 3MF eliminates the issues with other available 3D model formats
Unambiguous
Complete
Free
Human Readable
Complete: Containing all of the necessary model, material and property information in a single archive
Human readable: Using common structures such as OPC, ZIP, and XML to ease development
Simple: A short, clear specification, making development easy and validation fast
Extensible: Leveraging XML namespaces allow for both public and private extensions while maintaining compatibility
Unambiguous: Clear language and conformance tests ensure a file is always consistent from digital to physical
Free: Access to and implementation of the 3MF specification is and will always be free of royalties, patents and licensing
3MF meets the needs of the additive manufacturing industry
3MF improves additive manufacturing productivity
3MF defines the part that will be manufactured - clearly and unambiguously
3MF encompasses all of the information required to manufacture a part into a single file
3MF evolves alongside new devices and new technology
3MF has native support in Windows and Office
Image Source: 3DSystems
Widely supported
Simple
Well tested

3. 3MF vs STL File size comparison With 3MF:
Send a color model to a print service
Print lattice structures
Incorporate texture
Include support structures with model
Assign materials
Print an object with the specific size and dimension
Manage a full AM build tray
Track parts in production systems
File size comparison
Sending a color model to a print service
All of the information, mesh and color information, is contained in the 3MF file
STL doesn’t support color
VRML and OBJ are not designed for manufacturing, and generally require additional file processing steps before they can be used for that purpose.
(e.g. manual processes such as the designer to ask for missing information, remove non-manufacturing information, convert to manufacturing format, fix broken geometry)
Print lattice structures
Only possible with 3MF
Include support structures with the model
Only possible with 3MF. If using STL, need to have a separate model, and a manual process to track it
Assign materials
Only possible in 3MF. STL does not carry this information. Must be tracked separately.
Print an object with the specific size/dimension

4. Industry Adoption FOUNDING MEMBERS ASSOCIATE MEMBERS ADOPTIONS --
3-matic Materialise Software
3D Builder Microsoft Software
3D Manage 3D Systems Hardware
3D Scan Microsoft Software
CATIA 3DEXPERIENCE-R2017X Dassault Systemes Software
CATIA V5-6R2017 Dassault Systemes Software
Creo PTC Software
Cross Manager Datakit Software
Cura Ultimaker Hardware
Element nTopology Software
HP Jet Fusion 3D 4200/3200 Printing Solution HP Hardware
i.materialise Materialise Service
Magics Materialise Software
Mixed Reality Viewer Microsoft Software
MyMiniFactory MyMiniFactory Services
Netfabb Pro Autodesk Software
NX Siemens PLM Software
Office 365 Microsoft Software
OpenJSCAD Open Source Software
Orange Mcor Hardware
Paint 3D Microsoft Software
Remix3D.com Microsoft Services
Rhino 6 for Windows Robert McNeel & Associates Software
Rinkak Kabuku Inc. Services
Rize One 3D Printer Rize Inc. Hardware
Simplify 3D Simplify 3D Software
Solid Edge Siemens PLM Software
SolidWorks 2017 Dassault Systemes Software
Sprout HP Hardware
Windows Microsoft API
XYZware XYZ Hardware
AND MORE!

5. 3MF Extensions Overview
3MF extensions are essential to keeping up with the developments of the industry and enabling specific use cases.
The 3MF Consortium has developed the following extensions so far:
3MF Materials Extension
Optional material and color capabilities
Multi-property support
Supports physically based rendering according to the glTF standard
3MF Slice Extension
Optional vector-based slice format
Integrates into existing object hierarchy
3MF Production Extension
Part, model, and assembly identification for tracking and tracing
Enables multiple individual model files within the same 3MF container
3MF Beam Lattice Extension
Node and Beam structural lattice definition
Compatible with core mesh geometry for hybrid modeling
Simple and efficient encoding
Image Source: nTopology

6. 3MF Materials Extension
Enables the use of one or more textures and/or materials in a printed part
Allows for multiple colors to be used for one or more printed parts
Makes it simple for manufacturers to combine multiple properties
Realistic preview of the print outcome using the glTF physically based rendering standard

7. 3MF Slice Extension
Provides a single, standardized format for defining layered geometry data
Enables high model complexity with manageable file size
Simplifies the printing process processes for manufacturers
Ensures that the data needed to print is readily understandable and consistent

8. 3MF Production Extension
Designed for high-volume users such as service bureaus
Makes it more efficient for users to organize and manage print jobs with multiple parts
Keeps parts in separate .xml files within the 3MF package
Divides the parsing load for large printing jobs
Manages the file hierarchy and relationships among the files
Keeps unique identifiers for each part instance
Tray rearrangement is possible without reencoding the geometry data

9. 3MF Beam Lattice Extension
Designed for storing and transferring lattice-type geometry information
Efficient encoding and reduced file sizes for lattices
Solves an interoperability issue for the additive manufacturing industry, providing a solution not found in other file formats
Enables multi-product workflows
Image Source: Autodesk

10. Adoption 3D Systems 3DXpert and 3D Sprint
Autodesk Fusion360, Meshmixer, and Netfabb
Dassault Systemes CATIA / 3D – Experience and SolidWorks
HP Jet Fusion 3D Printing Solution
Materialise 3-matic and Magics
Microsoft 3D Builder, Paint 3D, and Office 365
PTC Creo
Rhino
Siemens PLM Solid Edge and NX
Simplify 3D
Ultimaker Cura
nTopology Element

11. Extensive Tooling available
The specification documents are all free under BSD license:
Open Source Implementation (BSD):
Free to use online Repair Service:
Extensive Validation Suite: available early 2019
Freely available supporting tools: 3D Builder, Meshmixer, OpenSCAD, Cura, Netfabb Basic, nTopology Element Free
More on

12. Get More Information Keep up with us on social media
Learn more about the 3MF Consortium
Download 3MF for free
@3MFconsortium

13. https://3mf.io/specification/
Achieve the full potential of 3D Printing with the 3MF File Format
The next success story could be you…
…use 3MF to make your additive manufacturing workflow more reliable and productive…
…you don’t need to be a member to use 3MF, it’s free
Download the 3MF file format specification and get started today!