Convert 3DXML to OBJ in your application
3D InterOp is a CAD interoperability SDK that lets your software read 3DXML files and write OBJ, carrying the mesh data across without re-tessellating it.
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 3D XML · Writes OBJ
- Triangle mesh → triangle mesh
- C++ / C# APIs
3DXML to OBJ at a glance
Both formats store triangles, so the facets carry over without re-tessellation. The differences are in structure, appearance and metadata.
| 3D XML (source) | OBJ (target) | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | 3D XML | Wavefront OBJ |
| Standard / owner | Dassault Systèmes | Open format |
| File extensions | .3dxml | .obj |
| Geometry | Tessellated geometry | Polygon mesh |
| Assemblies / structure | Yes | No assembly hierarchy |
| PMI | Graphical PMI | None |
| 3D InterOp support | Read and write | Read and write |
What's preserved, what changes
Here is what your application can expect to carry across from 3D XML to OBJ.
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Preserved
Mesh dataThe 3DXML facets are read and written to OBJ without being re-tessellated.
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Changes
Assembly structureOBJ has no native assembly hierarchy. Decide in your application how 3D XML product structure is grouped or flattened before writing.
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Not carried
PMIOBJ has no place for PMI, so the PMI read from 3DXML isn’t written.
Why software vendors add 3DXML to OBJ conversion
Lightweight review
OBJ carries tessellated geometry that opens much faster than the full CAD model, so design reviews and digital mockups stay responsive.
Sharing outside engineering
Marketing, training and sales teams rarely have CAD software. A OBJ file gives them the shape in a format their tools can open.
Easier handling of large assemblies
Without exact surfaces and feature data, OBJ files are easier to transfer and display, even for large assemblies.
Things to check before you ship
- The OBJ writer is available through the UConnect interface only.
- Supported 3DXML input: 3D XML 4.0 to 4.3 (tessellated data only).
- B-Rep stored in authoring-mode 3D XML files isn’t imported: only the tessellation is read.
- Test tessellation settings on your heaviest parts: finer meshes mean larger files.
- 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
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Source format
What is a 3D XML (.3dxml) file?
3D XML is Dassault Systèmes’ lightweight XML-based format for sharing 3D product data. 3D InterOp reads and writes its tessellated representation, with product structure and graphical PMI.
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Target format
What is an OBJ (.obj) file?
OBJ is a simple, widely supported text format for polygon meshes, created by Wavefront. It describes vertices, faces and texture coordinates, with materials in a separate .mtl file.
Frequently asked questions
No re-tessellation is needed. 3D InterOp reads the 3DXML facets as visualization data and writes them to OBJ.
OBJ has no place for PMI, so the PMI read from 3DXML isn’t written. Your application can still access it after import, or offer STEP AP242 as an output.
OBJ has no assembly hierarchy, so your application decides how the 3DXML structure is grouped or flattened before writing.
The OBJ writer is available through the 3D InterOp UConnect interface.
No. B-Rep stored in authoring-mode 3D XML files isn’t imported: 3D InterOp reads the tessellation only.
3D InterOp reads 3D XML 4.0 to 4.3 (tessellated data only), as visualization data.
Yes. 3D InterOp reads and writes both formats, so OBJ to 3DXML is supported too.
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Building software that needs to convert 3DXML to OBJ?
3D InterOp is an SDK that lets your application read 3D XML and write OBJ alongside 30+ CAD and BIM formats.