Blog · 2026-11-06
3MF or STL? Which file to send to your slicer
STL has been the 3D printing file for decades. It's simple and every program reads it. 3MF is newer and does a lot more.
What each file holds
| STL | 3MF | |
|---|---|---|
| The shape | Yes | Yes |
| Units | No (assumed mm) | Yes, millimetres |
| Name and thumbnail | No | Yes |
| Position on the bed | No | Yes |
| Print settings | No | Yes, per object |
| Several parts and colours | No | Yes |
| File size | Larger | Smaller (it's zipped) |
When to use which
- Printing it yourself: 3MF. It opens where it should be, with the settings it needs.
- Sending to someone with a different printer: STL is the safe choice, or a 3MF and let them pick their printer's settings.
- Web viewers, AR and design tools: neither. Use GLB, which keeps the real size and shows correctly on phones.
What's in a MakeMyIdea 3MF
When you download a 3MF from a MakeMyIdea tool, you pick your printer first. The file opens centred on that printer's bed, with the quality you chose (layer height, walls, infill, top and bottom layers) and no brim unless the part needs one. Everything else (temperatures, speeds, cooling) comes from your printer's own profile in the slicer.
It works in Bambu Studio, OrcaSlicer, Anycubic Slicer Next, Snapmaker Orca, Creality Print, Elegoo Slicer and PrusaSlicer. See supported printers for the full list.