Question 1

What is the difference between STL, 3MF, OBJ, and GLB?

Accepted Answer

STL stores only raw triangle geometry — no color, materials, units, or scale, and vertices are duplicated per triangle. OBJ stores geometry with optional normals and UV coordinates, and can reference a separate .mtl file for materials. 3MF is a modern ZIP+XML format that stores indexed geometry along with units, color, and multi-object scenes in one file — the default export format in most current slicers (Bambu Studio, PrusaSlicer, Orca Slicer). GLB is binary glTF 2.0: a compact web and game format that AI 3D generators and viewers like Sketchfab commonly export; it carries geometry plus textures and materials, and slicers can't open it directly, so you convert it to STL or 3MF.

Question 2

Which format should I use for 3D printing?

Accepted Answer

For single-color, single-part models, STL remains the most universally compatible format. If you need multiple colors, multiple parts, or reliable scale, 3MF is the better choice. OBJ is mainly useful for moving a model between 3D modeling tools (e.g. Blender), not for slicing.

Question 3

How do I convert GLB to STL for 3D printing?

Accepted Answer

Drop the .glb file into the converter and choose STL or 3MF — it all happens in your browser and nothing is uploaded (80 MB limit, Draco and Meshopt compressed files supported). glTF is defined in meters with Y up, while 3D printing formats use millimeters with Z up, so on import the model is scaled ×1000 and rotated to stand correctly on the bed; exporting to GLB does the reverse. Only geometry is converted — textures, materials, animations and colors are dropped. If a GLB was authored at an arbitrary scale (AI models from Meshy or Tripo, game assets), just rescale it in your slicer — the dimensions shown after loading tell you the size.

Question 4

Will converting between formats lose any data?

Accepted Answer

This converter works at the geometry level only — it preserves shape, dimensions, and triangle count exactly, but does not preserve color, materials, or textures, since STL cannot represent any of these (any conversion involving STL is always geometry-only).

Question 5

Is my file uploaded to a server?

Accepted Answer

No. Conversion happens entirely in your browser — the file is never uploaded. This also means very large files may take longer on slower devices.

STL / 3MF / OBJ / GLB / BLEND Converter

FAQ