| Extension | SLDPRT |
| Full Name | SolidWorks |
| Type | CAD |
| Mime Type | application/octet-stream |
| Format | Binary |
The SLDPRT file format is the native (and proprietary) 3D CAD (Computer Aided Design) format used by the SolidWorks application. SolidWorks is popular in the aerospace, automotive, and other manufacturing spaces where a highly accurate representation of 3D objects is necessary.
An SLDPRT file can contain 3D geometric data such as points, curves, faces, and other components that make up the 3D object. Along with the 3D design data, other manufacturing-related data is also stored within the SLDPRT file.
As the SLDPRT format is proprietary and designed for exclusive use with the SolidWorks application, there is limited third-party support for the format, preferring instead to support more open and standardized CAD formats such as STEP.
| Extension | 3MF |
| Full Name | 3D Manufacturing Format |
| Type | 3D Model |
| Mime Type | application/vnd.ms-package.3dmanufacturing-3dmodel+xml |
| Format | Binary |
The 3MF file format was created as a standard storage medium for 3D models for use within the area of 3D printing. A 3MF file will contain 3D model data stored within an XML-formatted document with additional assets such as image previews and material data. These files are wrapped up within a compressed ZIP file (using the 3MF extension).
The 3MF format was created in response to the constraints of the STL format, which is the most popular format for storing 3D printable models. Unlike the STL format, which can only store triangular information, the 3MF format can store mesh geometry along with material, units of measurement, and other relevant 3D printing information that is impossible to store within an STL file.
Storing the 3D data within a ZIP file container ensures the file size is kept to a minimum while making it easily extendable in the future. 3MF files are widely supported by 3D printing slicer software and are a common export option within 3D editing software.
