Our free and fast tool will convert your 3D STL (Standard Triangle Language) model files to a standard 3DS (3D Studio Mesh) file that can then be edited further in most popular 3D editing packages or 3D printed without any further processing. Our conversion tool can also batch convert multiple STL files; up to 200 files at a time can be converted.
To convert your STL file, click the Upload button above and select the file to convert. Once selected, the file will be converted to a 3DS file and will be ready for download shortly afterwards. For more information about the STL to 3DS conversion process, see the conversion information section below.
| Extension | STL |
| Full Name | Standard Triangle Language |
| Type | 3D Model |
| Mime Type | application/vnd.ms-pki.stl |
| Format | Text & Binary |
| Tools | STL Converters, 3D Model Voxelizer, Create STL Animation, Compress STL, Text to STL, STL Viewer |
| Open With | Blender, Daz Studio, MeshLab, CAD Assistant |
The STL file format has its roots in the 1980's and is the native file format for 3D Systems stereolithography CAD software. The format defines a triangulated mesh with vertices and faces and is a popular format for sharing 3D printable model files.
There were several formats that attempted to extend the STL format, namely SolidView and VisCAM, whose formats included limited 15-bit color information for each mesh face, which is often ignored by most modern 3D software. The STL format can be either text or binary; our tools will support both formats.
Standard STL files do not contain material or color information, so this cannot be imported. There are, however, two formats (VisCAM and SolidView) that attempt to add color information to the STL file format. If our tool detects this additional color information, it will attempt to import this information.
| Extension | 3DS |
| Full Name | 3D Studio Mesh |
| Type | 3D Model |
| Mime Type | application/octet-stream |
| Format | Binary |
| Tools | 3DS Converters, 3D Model Voxelizer, Create 3DS Animation, 3DS Asset Extractor, Text to 3DS, 3DS Viewer |
| Open With | MeshLab |
The 3DS format has been a standard 3D format for many years. It has been the native file format for Autodesk's 3D Studio since the days of Microsoft's MS DOS. The age of the format began to show its limitations many years ago and was replaced by Autodesk when 3D Studio Max was launched.
There are, however, still many 3D model files circulating in the 3DS format, and these can be easily converted using our 3DS conversion tools. Some of the limitations of the 3DS file format include: texture names are limited to DOS 8.3 filenames; the maximum number of vertices allowed in the 3D mesh is capped at 65536; and there is no support for directional lighting.
Converting from the STL file format to 3DS 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 STL file to a valid 3DS 3D model. Let's start with the conversion process, which involves the following steps:
In its simplest form, an STL file can be either a plain text or binary file containing 3D data such as vertices, faces, normals, and more. When combined, these make up the 3D model you see on your screen.
For more information regarding the STL file format, please see this great article that goes into a lot of detail explaining the STL format.
With the STL 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 3DS format.
With the conversion process entering its final stages, our tool now needs to take the in-memory 3D model we have created in step 2 and convert it to the 3DS format.
You can convert from both text and binary STL files. If your STL file contains color information we will bring this over.
Many 3D file conversion websites use the same off-the-shelf components to convert files, these often lack features and full STL file compatibility. Our bespoke file conversion tools offer full STL file compatibility and have been developed in-house by a team of developers, some of whom have over 30 years of experience working with 3D graphics file formats, meaning our tools will convert your STL file quickly and accurately with maximum compatibility.
Yes! Our STL tool supports full batch conversions. You can upload up to 200 STL files at a time. Our tool will convert them all as quickly as possible. Once completed, you can either download the 3DS files individually or download them all in a single ZIP file.
First click the "Upload..." button, and select your STL file to upload. You can also drag and drop your file onto the tool. Once your file is selected, you can set any configuration options. When the STL to 3DS conversion has completed, you can download your 3DS file straight away.
We aim to process all STL to 3DS conversions as quickly as possible, this usually takes around 5 seconds but can be more for larger more complex files so please be patient.
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.
Yes, of course! We do not store the STL file you submit to us. The resulting 3DS file, once created, is stored for 4 hours after upload; after this time it is deleted, and the short-term download link will stop working. You can create a long-term download Url with most tools that will ensure the file is retained for 24 hours, allowing you to download the file when convenient. Our tools also come with a Delete button, allowing you to delete the file immediately.
No. All our conversion tools process your STL 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 3DS file quickly.
Yes! Our STL to 3DS tool will run on any system with a modern web browser. No specialist software is needed to run any of our conversion tools.
Yes. Although you can use an Ad Blocker, if you like our STL conversion tool please consider white-listing our website. When an Ad Blocker is enabled there are some conversion limits and some settings may not be available when using our tools. Processing/conversion and download times will also be longer.
Yes. When you have converted your STL to 3DS, 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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