In the world of3D打印，几十年来，一种文件格式已经统治了该行业 - STL文件。它一直在统治着至高无上，自从成立以来3D打印. Developed in 1987, the STL (Stereo-Lithography) file format was created by 3D Systems for use on their first SLA 3D printers and has remained largely unchanged for over 30 years. Even though the STL format is a relic of the old days of rapid prototyping, it is still one of the most commonly used formats to save 3D mesh data for use in 3D printing.
STL文件具有其优势。它们是简单，可靠的，并且得到了工程，设计和增材制造业中几乎所有3D软件包的支持。但是，STL文件极为有限。它们仅包含由x，y，z坐标点列表定义的简单形状数据。如果网格显着密集且复杂，则通常可以具有极大的文件尺寸。STL也没有能力节省各种有用的其他信息，并且缺乏功能，例如：
- 比例数据
- 单位（帝国/公制）数据
- Color data
- 纹理映射颜色数据
- 支持structure data
- Metadata
- 制造数据
As the additive manufacturing industry continues to develop and evolve, the limitation of the STL format has become more readily apparent. The time has come for an updated, more robust file format that is ready for the demands of the modern age of 3D printing.
This is where 3MF or “3D Manufacturing Format” steps in. Several industry-leading companies joined forces in 2015 to develop a format that addressed the limitations in not only the STL format, but also other popular but aging 3D formats such as OBJ and VRML. Led by a group of companies such as Microsoft, Autodesk, 3D Systems and Dassault Systemes, the 3MF Consortium was formed with the goal to help advance the 3D printing industry.
3MF财团的创始成员
Features of the 3MF Format
3MF格式专门为增材制造设计，以跟上快速发展的行业的需求和发展。新格式从现有文件格式中获取最佳元素，并解决其缺陷，以提供丰富的3D打印格式，其中包含多个内置功能，包括：
- Complex shape data with low file sizes
- One or multiple textures
- 多种颜色数据
- Multiple materials
- Lattice and support structures
- Unit scale information
- 制造过程和切片数据信息
- AM build tray management
- 元数据（设计师名称，版权和许可信息，描述等）
- Built-in thumbnail images for asset management
- Open format that is fully extensible allowing for new innovation and broad adoption anytime new hardware or techniques are created within the industry
3MF功能比较
3MF格式是为增材制造量身定制的，并为其他格式所缺乏的增材制造工作流提供了宝贵的好处。
文件大小比较
为什么3MF不太著名？
有了如此强大的功能集，为什么许多人没有听说过3MF？为什么该行业使用它如此慢？3MF仍然相对较新，制造业有时可能会慢慢采用新标准。结果，3MF仍然缺乏行业认可。此外，并非所有CAD程序和软件平台都具有本机3MF支持。但是，随着软件平台和硬件制造商的列表现在支持3MF格式：
- 3D Systems, 3DXpert and 3D Sprint
- Autodesk Fusion360, Meshmixer and Netfabb
- Dassault Systemes CATIA / 3DExperience and SOLIDWORKS
- HP喷气融合3D打印解决方案
- Materialise 3-matic and Magics
- Microsoft 3D Builder，Paint 3D和Office 365
- PTC Creo
- 犀牛
- Siemens PLM Solid Edge and NX
- Simplify 3D
- Ultimaker Cura
- Ntopology元素
HP has leveraged the power of 3MF in a big way. With the introduction of the多喷射融合4200 Industrial 3D printer along with their full-color prototyping system, the 300/500 series, 3MF is the file type of choice to use when going from CAD to 3D print production. The slicing software packaged with the printer, “SmartStream 3D Build Manager” natively supports the 3MF format. Furthermore, when you submit a build from the Build Manager to the printer, the software will generate another 3MF file that contains all the slicing and manufacturing data that the machine will use during the entire printing process.
The 300/500 Series goes a step further with its 3MF file support. Not only can 3MF files be used to create full-color and texture-mapped parts, the machine will also read additional data such as surface area, volume, density and other parameters. This data is paired with the built-in high resolution FLIR thermal camera that monitors the entire printing process and helps to control the thermal profile as each layer is fused, ensuring consistent high-quality parts across the entire build volume.
The 3MF format is an excellent update to the previous simple 3D formats more commonly found in use today. 3MF takes the strengths of STL, OBJ, VRML and addresses their weaknesses to create a well rounded, feature rich 3D format tailor-made for additive manufacturing. With numerous built-in features and near limitless extensibility, the 3MF file format is positioned to be the ideal format for the future of additive manufacturing. It’s time to let STL fade into the past and embrace the future file format of 3D printing.
要了解有关3MF财团和3MF格式的更多信息，请访问https://3mf.io/，并确保查看我们的additive manufacturing页面查看最新的印刷技术。谢谢阅读！
