Convert IGES to 3MF in your application
3D InterOp is a CAD interoperability SDK that lets your software read IGES files and write 3MF, generating the 3MF mesh from the geometry it reads, with tessellation settings your application controls.
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 IGES · Writes 3MF
- Exact geometry → triangle mesh
- C++ / C# APIs
IGES to 3MF at a glance
IGES stores exact geometry; 3MF stores triangles. The translation is a tessellation, and the settings you choose decide how close the mesh stays to the original.
| IGES (source) | 3MF (target) | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Initial Graphics Exchange Specification | 3D Manufacturing Format |
| Standard / owner | ANSI | 3MF Consortium, ISO/IEC 25422 |
| File extensions | .igs, .iges | .3mf |
| Geometry | Exact B-Rep and surfaces | Triangle mesh |
| Assemblies / structure | No native assembly 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 IGES to 3MF.
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Improved
Healed geometry3D InterOp heals IGES data automatically on import.
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Improved
Analytic shapesShapes the IGES file stores as splines are restored to their exact analytic form.
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Changes
Geometry is tessellatedThe exact IGES B-Rep is replaced by a triangle mesh, generated by 3D InterOp from the exact geometry it reads. Accuracy depends on the tessellation settings your application uses.
Why software vendors add IGES 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 IGES input: IGES files up to version 5.3.
- 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 an IGES (.igs) file?
IGES is one of the earliest neutral CAD formats, an ANSI standard for exchanging 2D and 3D geometry. It stores exact curves, surfaces and solids, but not the product structure and manufacturing data STEP can carry.
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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
3D InterOp tessellates the geometry it reads from IGES when it writes 3MF. Your application sets the tolerances, so it controls the trade-off between accuracy and file size.
The 3MF writer is available through the 3D InterOp UConnect interface.
Yes. Healing runs automatically on IGES import, and shapes stored as splines are restored to their exact analytic form.
3D InterOp reads IGES files up to version 5.3.
3D InterOp writes 3MF 1.1.
Yes. 3D InterOp reads and writes both formats, so 3MF to IGES is supported too.
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Building software that needs to convert IGES to 3MF?
3D InterOp is an SDK that lets your application read IGES and write 3MF alongside 30+ CAD and BIM formats.