Convert 3DM to IFC in your application
3D InterOp is a CAD interoperability SDK that lets your software read 3DM files and write IFC, writing the exact geometry into a format that can also hold facets.
Spatial does not offer an online converter or a desktop conversion app. 3D InterOp is a component that software vendors embed in their own products.
- Reads Rhino · Writes IFC
- Exact geometry → mixed-geometry format
- C++ / C# APIs
3DM to IFC at a glance
Rhino stores exact geometry; IFC can hold exact solids and facets. What ends up in the IFC file depends on what the IFC writer writes, as detailed below.
| Rhino (source) | IFC (target) | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Rhinoceros 3D model | Industry Foundation Classes |
| Standard / owner | Robert McNeel & Associates | buildingSMART, ISO 16739 |
| File extensions | .3dm | .ifc, .ifczip |
| Geometry | Exact NURBS geometry and meshes | Exact B-Rep and tessellated geometry |
| Assemblies / structure | No assembly hierarchy | Yes: spatial and element hierarchy |
| 3D InterOp support | Read only | Read and write |
What's preserved, what changes
Here is what your application can expect to carry across from Rhino to IFC.
-
Preserved
Exact geometryExact B-Rep read from 3DM is written to IFC as exact geometry.
Why software vendors add 3DM to IFC conversion
Open BIM deliverables
Many projects specify IFC deliverables. Writing it lets your users meet those requirements from your software.
Coordination and clash detection
Coordination tools gather models from every discipline in IFC. Your users can contribute without a round trip through another tool.
Facility and asset data
Owners and operators often receive building data as IFC for asset management after handover.
Things to check before you ship
- Written IFC versions: IFC2x3 to IFC4x3 ADD2 (.ifc).
- Exact B-Rep needs IFC4 or later; IFC2x3 files only get tessellation.
- 3DM has no BIM semantics: check which IFC class your application assigns to each object.
- Supported 3DM input: Rhino 2 to 8.
- Validate a sample of translated files in the target system your users actually work with.
Working with Spatial was a real milestone for us: Thanks to the powerful 3DInterOp library, we were able to successfully bring our complex CAD-based solutions to the cloud while remaining flexible to meet individual customer requirements. For us, Spatial is not just a technology partner, but a true enabler of our product strategy.
Dr. Arno Michelis, Founder, Simus Systems
Read the Case StudyAbout the formats
-
Source format
What is a 3DM (.3dm) file?
3DM is the native file format of Rhinoceros (Rhino), the NURBS modeler from Robert McNeel & Associates. It stores exact curves, surfaces and solids, as well as meshes.
-
Target format
What is an IFC (.ifc) file?
IFC is the open, vendor-neutral standard for exchanging building information models, maintained by buildingSMART and published as ISO 16739. It carries building elements with their geometry, properties and relationships.
Frequently asked questions
The exact B-Rep that 3D InterOp reads from 3DM is written to IFC.
Write IFC4 or later to keep exact B-Rep: IFC2x3 files only get tessellation. 3D InterOp writes IFC2x3 to IFC4x3 ADD2.
3DM has no BIM semantics, so your application decides which IFC class each object is written as.
No. 3D InterOp reads Rhino geometry, but importing mapping data isn’t supported.
3D InterOp reads Rhino 2 to 8.
3D InterOp writes IFC2x3 to IFC4x3 ADD2 (.ifc).
No. 3D InterOp reads 3DM but doesn’t write it. To send data back to Rhino users, write a neutral format they can import, such as STEP.
-
Building software that needs to convert 3DM to IFC?
3D InterOp is an SDK that lets your application read Rhino and write IFC alongside 30+ CAD and BIM formats.