Convert DAE to 3MF in your application
3D InterOp is a CAD interoperability SDK that lets your software read DAE files and write 3MF, 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 COLLADA · Writes 3MF
- Triangle mesh → triangle mesh
- C++ / C# APIs
DAE to 3MF at a glance
Both formats store triangles, so the facets carry over without re-tessellation. The differences are in structure, appearance and metadata.
| COLLADA (source) | 3MF (target) | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | COLLADA Digital Asset Exchange | 3D Manufacturing Format |
| Standard / owner | Khronos Group, ISO/PAS 17506 | 3MF Consortium, ISO/IEC 25422 |
| File extensions | .dae, .zae | .3mf |
| Geometry | Triangle mesh | Triangle mesh |
| Assemblies / structure | Yes: scene hierarchy | Objects and build items |
| 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 COLLADA to 3MF.
-
Preserved
Mesh dataThe DAE facets are read and written to 3MF without being re-tessellated.
-
Changes
Assembly structure3MF has no native assembly hierarchy. Decide in your application how COLLADA product structure is grouped or flattened before writing.
Why software vendors add DAE to 3MF conversion
Additive manufacturing
3MF is still the input most slicers and print services expect. Writing it lets your users send parts to print directly.
Mesh-based processing
Inspection, scan comparison and mesh-editing tools work on triangles. A mesh output gives them a model they can open anywhere.
Lightweight sharing
A mesh is simpler than the native CAD file and needs no CAD system to open.
Things to check before you ship
- Written 3MF versions: 3MF 1.1.
- The 3MF writer is available through the UConnect interface only.
- Supported DAE input: COLLADA 1.4.1, .dae and .zae.
- 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
-
Source format
What is a DAE (COLLADA) file?
COLLADA (.dae) is an XML-based open format from the Khronos Group for exchanging 3D scenes: meshes, materials, cameras and lights. It is common in visualization and AR/VR pipelines.
-
Target format
What is a 3MF (.3mf) file?
3MF is an open format for additive manufacturing, defined by the 3MF Consortium. It stores triangle meshes with units, colors and build information in a single package.
Frequently asked questions
No re-tessellation is needed. 3D InterOp reads the DAE facets as visualization data and writes them to 3MF.
3MF has no assembly hierarchy, so your application decides how the DAE structure is grouped or flattened before writing.
The 3MF writer is available through the 3D InterOp UConnect interface.
Yes. 3D InterOp reads the visual material properties of COLLADA files, from .dae and .zae.
3D InterOp reads COLLADA 1.4.1, .dae and .zae, as visualization data.
3D InterOp writes 3MF 1.1.
Yes. 3D InterOp reads and writes both formats, so 3MF to DAE is supported too.
-
Building software that needs to convert DAE to 3MF?
3D InterOp is an SDK that lets your application read COLLADA and write 3MF alongside 30+ CAD and BIM formats.