Free Online STL to OBJ Converter

An STL file, short for Stereolithography, is a widely used file format in 3D printing and computer-aided design (CAD) applications. It serves as a standard method to represent the surface geometry of a three-dimensional object. The format was first developed by 3D Systems in 1987 and has since become a fundamental file type in the additive manufacturing industry. STL files are essential in the process of converting digital 3D models into physical objects through 3D printing technology.

STL files consist of a collection of triangular facets that approximate the shape of the 3D model. The surface of the object is divided into numerous small triangles, forming a mesh representation. Each triangle is defined by three vertices in 3D space and possesses information about its orientation and size. Since STL files store only the outer surface of the model, they are often referred to as "mesh" files or "surface" files, as they lack information about the object's internal structure or color.

When using STL files for 3D printing, slicing software processes the 3D model by dividing it into layers and creating the instructions for the 3D printer to build the object layer by layer. Despite its simplicity and widespread usage, STL files have some limitations. They do not support color or texture information, and the triangle-based representation can lead to larger file sizes and reduced accuracy compared to other file formats. Nonetheless, STL remains a vital format in the 3D printing ecosystem due to its simplicity and compatibility with a wide range of 3D printers and software.

STL Converter Capabilities

When converting 3D Model/Mesh files using our STL converter we will attempt to convert color materials into a suitable format for use in the converted file.

An OBJ file is a widely used file format in 3D computer graphics that serves as a standard representation for 3D models. It stands for "Object" and was originally developed by Wavefront Technologies. OBJ files store geometric data, such as vertex positions, normals, texture coordinates, and face information, describing the surface of a 3D object. This data is presented in plain text, making OBJ files human-readable and easy to exchange between various 3D modeling and rendering software.

The structure of an OBJ file is based on vertices (points in 3D space), which form the building blocks of the 3D model's shape. These vertices are organized into faces, typically triangles or quads, representing the surfaces of the object. Alongside the geometric data, OBJ files can also include material information, enabling the application of textures and shaders to the 3D model, providing it with color, reflectivity, and other visual properties.

Due to its simplicity and compatibility across different software platforms, the OBJ file format has become a popular choice for sharing 3D models. However, being a relatively basic format, OBJ files may not support complex features found in more advanced formats like animation data or high-level shader definitions. Despite this limitation, OBJ remains a widely adopted format in various industries, including gaming, animation, virtual reality, and 3D printing.