PLY to 3MF Conversion
Check out this easy guide to turn PLY into 3MF with our powerful converter:
Install Autoconverter
Download and install Autoconverter on your system. Launch the software to convert PLY mesh files to 3MF format.
Import PLY Mesh File
Click Open... to load your PLY mesh file (.ply), or drag and drop it into the application window.
Export to 3MF Format
Use Save As... to export your mesh file to the 3MF mesh file format (.3mf).
Is PLY to 3MF conversion still giving you headaches? Our professional guides make PLY mesh files conversion painless:
- Batch Convert 3D Mesh Files with Autoconverter (STEP, STL, OBJ & More)
- Upgrade to Modern 3MF for Full-Color 3D Printing
- Enhance BricsCAD V24 with Automesher and Automapki Applications
- Automesher Desktop Application for Windows to Convert 3D File Formats
Polygon File
A a simple and flexible file format to store 3D mesh data. It supports vertices, faces (triangles/polygons), colors, normals, and custom properties. PLY is also known as the Stanford Triangle Format as it was developed at Stanford University in the early 1990s. It still remains a popular choice for storing 3D geometry.
Key Features of PLY
- Flexible Structure: Supports vertices, faces (triangles/polygons), edges, and custom data.
- Properties: Can store RGB colors, normals, texture coordinates, transparency, and user-defined attributes.
- ASCII & Binary Formats: PLY files can be saved in ASCII (readable) or binary (compact) form.
PLY File Conversion
Autoconverter is the best tool for converting PLY files because it handles all major 3D formats (STL, OBJ, FBX, STEP, etc.) while preserving colors, textures, and mesh accuracy. It offers fast batch conversions, an easy drag-and-drop interface, and works seamlessly across CAD, 3D scanning, and game development workflows. Try Autoconverter today - simplify your 3D workflow with flawless PLY conversions!
3D Manufacturing File
An open-source XML file format developed by the 3MF Consortium, a collaboration of companies and organizations in the 3D printing industry. It was designed to overcome the limitations of older formats, such as STL, which only store geometric data, by providing a more comprehensive and extensible framework for additive manufacturing workflows.
Main Advantages Over STL
Unlike STL, 3MF can store additional information, making it a more advanced and versatile choice for additive manufacturing:
- Color Support: Defines the color of individual triangles, enabling more realistic and visually detailed prints.
- Transparency: Specifies opacity levels for triangles or vertices, allowing for the creation of transparent or translucent objects.
- Textures: Supports texture mapping by associating 2D images with 3D models, enhancing realism in prints.
- Metadata: Allows embedding custom data such as author, title, description, and license, facilitating better file management and sharing.
3MF File Conversion
Our products, Autoconverter and Automesher Application, are fully compatible with the 3MF file format. They utilize the official lib3mf library to enable seamless import and export of 3MF files. A significant limitation of the 3MF format is its lack of support for group hierarchies. When converting a 3D model containing nested subgroups - often used for organizational purposes - these structural relationships are not preserved in the 3MF file. Despite this, 3MF remains a powerful and modern format for 3D printing, offering a rich set of features that go beyond traditional STL files.
PLY vs 3MF Comparison
| Property | PLY | 3MF |
|---|---|---|
| Extensions | .ply | .3mf |
| Name | Stanford Polygon | 3D Manufacturing Format |
| Versions | ||
| Textures | ||
| Colors | ||
| Geometry components | ||
| Readers | ||
| Writers |