3D Format Converter

How 3D Format Converter Works

Different 3D software and workflows use different file formats, and getting them to talk to each other is a constant friction point. This tool handles the most common conversions between the four main formats you encounter in hobbyist and professional 3D work: OBJ, STL, GLB (glTF binary), and PLY. Everything runs in your browser — the file you upload is parsed in JavaScript and re-serialised into the target format, then downloaded. Nothing is sent to a server.

OBJ is the oldest and most broadly supported format — it is plain text, which makes it inspectable and debuggable, and it works in virtually every 3D application made in the last 30 years. STL is the lingua franca of 3D printing, containing only triangle geometry with no colour, no normals beyond face normals, and no metadata. GLB is the modern standard for real-time applications and the web — it bundles geometry, materials, and textures into a single compact binary file. PLY (Polygon File Format) is favoured in academic and scientific applications, particularly for point clouds and scanned geometry.

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Upload your 3D file. Drag and drop an OBJ, STL, GLB, or PLY file into the upload zone. The file is read by your browser directly from your filesystem.
2. Select target format. Choose which format you want to convert to from the format selector.
3. Click Convert. The conversion runs in your browser in milliseconds to seconds depending on file complexity.
4. Download the converted file. The output file is ready to import into Blender, Unity, PrusaSlicer, or any application that supports the target format.

Best Use Cases

• OBJ → STL for 3D printing: Most 3D modelling apps export OBJ; most slicers prefer STL. This converter bridges the gap without needing Blender.
• STL → GLB for the web: Convert a printable STL into a GLB for embedding in a website with <model-viewer> or Three.js.
• GLB → OBJ for Blender: Extract geometry from a GLB file into OBJ for editing in Blender or Cinema 4D.
• OBJ → PLY for point cloud tools: PLY is required by many scientific and photogrammetry applications.

Honest Limitations

• Material loss in some conversions: STL contains no colour or material data. Converting any format to STL will discard colour, texture UVs, and material assignments.
• Large file performance: Files above ~5 MB may take several seconds to parse in the browser. Very large files (100 MB+) may cause memory pressure in the browser tab.
• GLB texture extraction not yet supported: When converting GLB to OBJ, embedded textures are stripped in the current version. The geometry converts correctly; you must manually re-apply textures in your target application.

Frequently Asked Questions

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