The 3D Manufacturing Format (3MF) is the standard and standalone XML-based file format that contains the essential data required by the additive manufacturing processes such as 3D printing. The 3MF files represent 3D models and their representation in a markup format. They include data that constitute the complete model information to fully describe 3D models. All the necessary model, material, and property information is included in the 3MF files. The 3MF files contain data related to 3D manufacturing that define the shape and composition of 3D objects that can be fabricated on 3D printers.

The 3MF file format is defined as a 3D payload because the file format is a complete collection of interdependent parts and relationships. It contains 3D object definitions, the supporting files, and the full set of parts required for processing the 3D model part. The 3MF file format is readable because of its common, simple, and extensible data structure as it is XML-based.

You can import 3MF files containing part and assembly models to Creo and export Creo part and assembly models to the 3MF format. The following data is exchanged between Creo and the 3MF formats when you import 3MF files to Creo and export Creo models to the 3MF format:

Solids can only be exported to the 3MF format. You cannot export quilts to the 3MF format.