Recommended File Formats

This page lists file formats and discussions about file formats that are suitable for use with RepRap and its support tools:

Design Programs

See Useful Software Packages.

File Formats

• Native CAD file format (remember to always also upload the file in the original file format of the program you used and to write what program it was!)
• A description of the STL file format (on Wikipedia)
• A description of the PLY file format (on Wikipedia)
• A description of the COLLADA file format (on Wikipedia)

Discussions about File Formats

• A community specification for an improvement to STL files.
• A community specification for an open 3D file wrapper.
• ""CAD" files vs CAM files - a designer's plea". ... "STLs are to CAD models as a PDF full of photographs of words is to a text file. You can send them both to a printer just fine, but it's a big hassle to fix a typo." ... "the .scad files contain formulas that document what we in the SolidWorks community call "design intent"." ...