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Convert Your 3D Mesh/Model LWO Files to 3MF

Our free and fast tool will convert most 3D mesh or LWO (LightWave Object File) model files to a standard 3MF (3D Manufacturing Format) file that can then be edited further in most popular 3D editing packages such as Blender or 3D printed without any further processing. Our conversion tool can also batch convert multiple LWO files; up to 25 files at a time can be converted.

To convert your LWO file, click the Upload button above and select the file to convert. Once selected, the file will be converted to a 3MF file and will be ready for download shortly afterwards. For more information about the LWO to 3MF conversion process, see the conversion information section below.

How to Convert your LWO to 3MF Online?

Here are two simple steps to convert your LWO to 3MF.

Upload a LWO

Click the "Upload a LWO File" button and select a LWO to upload. The maximum file size is 100MB.

Download your 3MF

Click the download link once completed to receive your 3MF file.

File Format Information for LWO to 3MF

ExtensionLWO
Full NameLightWave Object File
Type3D Model
Mime Typeapplication/octet-stream
FormatBinary
ToolsLWO Converters, 3D Model Voxelizer, Create LWO Animation, LWO Asset Extractor, LWO Viewer

Description

The LWO, or LightWave 3D Object file, is a 3D graphics file format originally released in 1990 and available for the Amiga, Mac OS, and Windows. The LightWave software was developed by NewTek and is used in the television and film production of 3D digital effects.

The LightWave software is still a popular choice for 3D modeling and digital effects, with the most recent version being released in 2021. The format can contain 3D model or mesh information along with material and animations.

LWO Notes

If your LWO file is uploaded with accompanying texture files, these will be included in the conversion process.

Supported Features

  • Mesh geometry
  • Material colors
  • Textures (PNG, JPG formats)
Extension3MF
Full Name3D Manufacturing Format
Type3D Model
Mime Typeapplication/vnd.ms-package.3dmanufacturing-3dmodel+xml
FormatBinary
Tools3MF Converters, 3D Model Voxelizer, Create 3MF Animation, Compress 3MF, 3MF Asset Extractor, Text to 3MF, 3MF Viewer

Description

3MF files are a modern 3D file format designed specifically for use with 3D printable models (additive manufacturing). It was designed to be the successor to the popular legacy STL format (also a common format in 3D printing) to overcome the limitations of that format.

The format of 3MF files is XML-based and compressed with standard Zip file compression, resulting in small, easily transferable files. The format supports 3D meshes along with associated materials and textures, all contained within the Zip file.

3MF Notes

3MF files support material and color information. If your uploaded model contains color information, our tool will attempt to save this in the 3MF file at the end of the conversion process. Textures are supported and will be included in the final 3MF file.

Supported Features

  • Mesh geometry
  • Face and vertex colors
  • Textures

Comparing LWO and 3MF Features

 

LWO Features

  • Mesh Geometry (Vertices and Faces)
  • Vertex Normals
  • Face Normals
  • Vertex Colors
  • Face Materials (Excluding textures)
  • Textures
  • Point Cloud
  • Multiple Objects Per File
  • Object Transforms (Translation, Rotation, and Scale)
  • Bones/Joints
  • Animations
  • Suitable for 3D Printing

3MF Features

  • Mesh Geometry (Vertices and Faces)
  • Vertex Normals
  • Face Normals
  • Vertex Colors
  • Face Materials (Excluding textures)
  • Textures
  • Point Cloud
  • Multiple Objects Per File
  • Object Transforms (Translation, Rotation, and Scale)
  • Bones/Joints
  • Animations
  • Suitable for 3D Printing

How does it work?

Converting from the LWO file format to 3MF can be a complex process, and any tool used for this conversion process needs to be able to handle a variety of data conversion tasks as well as identify any defects within the 3D model and fix them. Here we will explain the conversion process used by our tool to accurately convert your LWO file to a valid 3MF 3D model. Let's start with the conversion process, which involves the following steps:

Step 1: Read the Source LWO File

In its simplest form, an LWO file is a binary data file containing 3D data such as vertices, faces, normals, and more. When combined, these make up the 3D model you see on your screen.

When our tool reads this 3D data, all we are interested in are the vertices, faces, normals, materials, and textures, as this is the only data that can be accurately converted into the final 3MF file.

The LWO file can contain data such as material definitions and textures that describe how a particular set of 3D geometry should be rendered. As we are creating an 3MF file, which supports both materials and textures, our tool will attempt to load any materials and textures present in the LWO file.

For more information regarding the LWO file format, please see this great article that goes into a lot of detail explaining the LWO format.

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Step 2: Process File Data

With the LWO file data read, our tool generates an internal representation of the full 3D model and will attempt to fix any geometry issues encountered. Along with repairing any issues with the 3D model, the tool will remove any duplicated vertices and prepare the model for exporting to the 3MF format.

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Step 3: Saving to the 3MF Format

The 3MF file format is relatively new and its primary aim is to become the standard for storing and distributing 3D models for 3D printing applications. Most modern 3D printing software can open 3MF files.

Our tool will now take the in-memory 3D model we have created in step 2 and convert this to the 3MF format ensuring it is compatible with any 3D printing software that supports 3MF.

Along with the completed 3MF file, any textures that were present in the original LWO file will be saved in either PNG or JPG format, depending on the original image format. If the original format was neither of these, for example, if your model contained a texture in the TGA format, it will be converted to a PNG.

Converting Your LWO File for 3D Printing

Software used to prepare a 3D model file for printing, which is also known as 3D slicer software, cannot usually open LWO files. This is because slicer software authors will support the most common formats used for 3D printing, such as STL and 3MF and do not have the resources to implement 3D object parsers for all the possible 3D formats that are out there.

A retro-themed laptop initial design

A retro-themed laptop initial design

The retro-themed laptop saved to the 3MF format

The retro-themed laptop saved to the 3MF format

The fully-assembled 3D printed laptop

The fully-assembled 3D printed laptop

Slicer software can, however, handle files formatted to the 3MF standard. This is because the 3MF format was specifically designed as a medium of storage and exchange for 3D printable models. Our LWO to 3MF conversion tool can convert your LWO file into a 3MF file suitable for loading into most 3D slicer software. As 3MF files support material colors and textures, our converter will convert these if present, resulting in a single 3MF file suitable for use with most 3D slicer software.

Frequently Asked Questions

My LWO file contains textures, how do I upload these?

If your LWO file has separate texture (PNG, JPG etc.) files, you can place these additional files, along with the LWO file within a ZIP or other compressed archive file and upload this.

How long does it take to convert my LWO to 3MF?

We aim to process all LWO to 3MF conversions as quickly as possible, this usually takes around 5 seconds but can be more for larger more complex files so please be patient.

How accurate is the LWO to 3MF conversion?

We aim to create the most accurate conversions with our tools. Our tools are under constant development with new features and improvements being added every week.

Is it safe to convert my LWO to 3MF on ImageToStl.com?

Yes, of course! We do not store the LWO file you submit to us. The resulting 3MF file, once created is deleted 15 minutes after upload and the download link will expire after this time.

Do I need a high-spec. computer to use the LWO to 3MF converter?

No. All our conversion tools process your LWO file on our dedicated conversion servers, meaning you can use our tools on low-spec computers, laptops, tablets, and mobile devices and receive your converted 3MF file quickly.

Can I convert my LWO to 3MF on Windows, Linux, Android, iOS or Mac OS?

Yes! Our LWO to 3MF tool will run on any system with a modern web browser. No specialist software is needed to run any of our conversion tools.

What if I am using an Ad Blocker, will that affect things?

Yes. Although you can use an Ad Blocker, if you like our LWO conversion tool please consider white-listing our site. When an Ad Blocker is enabled there are some conversion limits on some of our tools and processing/conversion times will be longer.

Can I get support with converting my LWO to 3MF?

Yes. When you have converted your LWO to 3MF, there is a "Feedback" option that you can use to let us know of any issues you encountered when converting your file.

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