Convert STL to 3DXML in your application
3D InterOp is a CAD interoperability SDK that lets your software read STL files and write 3DXML, 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 STL · Writes 3D XML
- Triangle mesh → triangle mesh
- C++ / C# APIs
STL to 3DXML at a glance
Both formats store triangles, so the facets carry over without re-tessellation. The differences are in structure, appearance and metadata.
| STL (source) | 3D XML (target) | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Stereolithography | 3D XML |
| Standard / owner | Open format | Dassault Systèmes |
| File extensions | .stl | .3dxml |
| Geometry | Triangle mesh | Tessellated geometry |
| Assemblies / structure | No | Yes |
| PMI | None | Graphical PMI |
| 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 STL to 3D XML.
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Preserved
Mesh dataThe STL facets are read and written to 3DXML without being re-tessellated.
Why software vendors add STL to 3DXML conversion
Lightweight review
3D XML 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 3D XML file gives them the shape in a format their tools can open.
Easier handling of large assemblies
Without exact surfaces and feature data, 3D XML files are easier to transfer and display, even for large assemblies.
Things to check before you ship
- Written 3DXML versions: 3D XML 4.3, as static tessellation.
- Only static tessellation is written, not XML tessellation.
- Supported STL input: any STL version.
- 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 STL file?
STL describes a 3D surface as a set of triangles, with no units, materials or assembly structure. Its simplicity makes it the usual input for 3D printing.
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Target 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.
Frequently asked questions
No re-tessellation is needed. 3D InterOp reads the STL facets as visualization data and writes them to 3DXML.
3D InterOp writes 3D XML 4.3 with static tessellation. XML tessellation isn’t written.
STL files store no units, so the 3D InterOp STL reader assumes millimeters. Agree on the unit with the application that wrote the file.
3D InterOp reads any STL version, as visualization data.
3D InterOp writes 3D XML 4.3, as static tessellation.
Yes. 3D InterOp reads and writes both formats, so 3DXML to STL is supported too.
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Building software that needs to convert STL to 3DXML?
3D InterOp is an SDK that lets your application read STL and write 3D XML alongside 30+ CAD and BIM formats.