CAD Exchanger Products
CAD Exchanger Products

What is STL file type and how to open it?

Applications for end-users. SDK's and tools for software developers. Custom development services for businesses.

Trusted by industry leaders

Available in CAD Exchanger Products

CAD Exchanger Lab

Desktop application to view, explore and convert 3D CAD data across 30+ file formats.

WindowsMacOSLinux
Learn more 
CAD Exchanger Lab

CAD Exchanger SDK

Software libraries for C#, C++, Java, Javascript and Python.

C++C#JavaJavaScriptPython
Learn more 
CAD Exchanger SDK

What is STL format?

STL (STereoLithography) is a file format native to the stereolithography CAD software. This file format is supported by many other software packages; it is widely used for rapid prototyping, 3D printing and computer-aided manufacturing. STL files describe only the surface geometry of a three-dimensional object without any representation of color, texture or other common CAD model attributes. The STL format specifies both ASCII and binary representations. Binary files are more common, since they are more compact.

Software to open STL files:

Formats list

Convert STL
files

Need to work with CAD files in numerous formats? No worries.

Convert STL files across 30+ other 3D formats.

How To Import (Read) and Export (Write) STL files

What Our Delighted Customers Say

From Our Blog

Everything you need to know about CAD file formats

Everything you need to know about CAD file formats

A CAD file is an output of a CAD software, containing key information about the designed object: its geometry and topology representation, 3D model hierarchy, metadata, and visual attributes depending on the format of the file.

Read more 
3D formats overview: STL

3D formats overview: STL

In the sixth part of the series, we cover the ubiquitous mesh format tying 3D and reality through 3D printing applications

Read more 
Darmstadt Graphics Group GmbH brings CAD to AR applications with CAD Exchanger SDK

Darmstadt Graphics Group GmbH brings CAD to AR applications with CAD Exchanger SDK

CAD Exchanger imports and tesselates FBX, glTF, OBJ, PLY, and STL files, making them ready for further optimization by RapidCompact.

Read more