3D + Additive - October 2025

Standardized AM data format

PHOTO COURTESY OF 3MF CONSORTIUM

The 3MF (3D Manufacturing Format) data format has been officially recognized as an ISO standard after 10 years of development and refining by the 3MF Consortium, a coalition of manufacturers, service bureaus, and software developers focused on the additive manufacturing (AM)-specific format. 3MF was created to solve the data interoperability challenges of the AM industry by incorporating comprehensive information about a 3D model into a single file.

Unlike older, more basic file formats such as STL, 3MF supports a wide range of 3D printing features including color, materials, texture, and support structures. While older file formats weren’t designed for the complex, high-resolution requirements of AM geometry, 3MF is capable of much smaller file sizes, enabling faster speeds while retaining detail.

3MF is also an open format supported by numerous software programs and hardware manufacturers, making sharing and collaboration easier. Its standardization is expected to accelerate the widespread use of 3D printing in various industries.

3MF Consortium
https://3mf.io