Complete guide to exporting 3D models in various formats from STP Viewer's fullscreen mode

Export Guide - 3D Model Export

Quick Start - Export in 2 Simple Steps

Click Export Button

In fullscreen mode, click the Export button (📥 download icon) in the toolbar or press Ctrl+E.

Select Format & Download

Choose your format and click Export. File downloads automatically.

Most Popular Formats:

STL Binary - 3D printing
OBJ - CAD software
GLB - Web applications

Pro Tip: Export works with your currently loaded model. Ensure proper display before exporting. Processing typically takes 5-30 seconds depending on model complexity.

Supported Export Formats

10 Export Formats

Support for major CAD and 3D formats including OBJ, STL, PLY, glTF, and more

Cross-Platform

Optimized experience on desktop, tablet, and mobile devices

High Quality

Maintains model precision and supports both binary and text formats

Smart Selection

Format recommendations based on your intended use case

🎯 Format Quick Reference

Format	Best For	File Size	Compatibility	Typical Use
STL Binary	3D Printing	Small	Universal	Most common
OBJ	CAD Software	Medium	Excellent	Industry standard
GLB	Web Apps	Small	Modern	Interactive web
glTF	Web (with assets)	Large	Modern	Rich web apps
PLY Binary	Point Clouds	Small	Good	Scientific
3DM	Rhino	Medium	Specialized	NURBS models

View All 10 Formats

Text-Based Formats

Format	Extension	Multi-File	Best For
OBJ	`.obj`	Yes (with .mtl)	General 3D modeling, wide compatibility
STL Text	`.stl`	No	3D printing, text-based workflows
PLY Text	`.ply`	No	Point clouds, research applications
OFF	`.off`	No	Mathematical modeling, mesh processing
glTF	`.gltf`	Yes (with assets)	Web applications, PBR materials
BIM	`.bim`	No	Building Information Modeling

Binary Formats

Format	Extension	Multi-File	Best For
STL Binary	`.stl`	No	3D printing (smaller file size)
PLY Binary	`.ply`	No	Point clouds (compact)
GLB	`.glb`	No	Web delivery, single-file distribution
3DM	`.3dm`	No	Rhino compatibility, NURBS preservation

How to Export Models

Desktop Experience

Enter Fullscreen Mode

Click the fullscreen button or press F11 to enter fullscreen viewing mode.

Access Export Tool

In the fullscreen toolbar, click the Export button (download icon) or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+E.

Select Format

Choose your desired export format from the dialog. Each format shows:

Format name and description
File type indicator (Binary/Text)
Multi-file indicator where applicable

Confirm Export

Click Export [Format Name] to begin the conversion process. The export will start automatically once processing is complete.

📱 Mobile & Tablet Experience

Access Export

In fullscreen mode, tap the More button (⋮ three dots) → Export.

Select & Download

Choose format and tap Export. File saves to Downloads folder automatically.

Mobile Tips:

Use Wi-Fi for large models
STL Binary recommended (smaller files)
Check Downloads app after export

Common Use Cases

Format Selection Guide

For 3D Printing

Recommended: STL Binary

Small file size
Universal printer support
Fast processing

For Web Applications

Recommended: GLB or glTF

Optimized for web delivery
Supports materials and textures
Modern standard

For CAD Software

Recommended: OBJ or 3DM

Wide software compatibility
Preserves geometry precision
Industry standard

For Research/Analysis

Recommended: PLY or OFF

Flexible data structure
Supports custom properties
Academic standard

Troubleshooting

Common Export Issues

🚫 Export Button Grayed Out

Quick Fix: Wait for model to fully load (progress bar completes)

If Still Grayed Out:

Refresh page and reload model
Check browser supports WebGL (visit webglreport.com)
Try different browser (Chrome/Firefox recommended)

⚠️ Export Fails or Takes Too Long

Immediate Solutions:

Close other browser tabs (frees memory)
Try STL Binary format (most reliable)
Check file size - models >100MB may timeout

Advanced Solutions:

Clear browser cache
Disable browser extensions
Try incognito/private mode

📁 File Not Downloading

Browser Issues:

Check Downloads folder first
Allow downloads for this site
Disable download managers/extensions
Try different format (STL Binary is smallest)

Important: The export system processes the currently loaded and rendered model. Make sure your model is displayed correctly before exporting, as the export will reflect the current view state.

Software Compatibility

CAD Software Compatibility

Software	Recommended Formats	Notes
AutoCAD	OBJ, STL	STL for 3D printing workflows
SolidWorks	STL, OBJ	Native STEP import preferred
Fusion 360	STL, OBJ, 3DM	Good STL support
Rhino	3DM, OBJ, PLY	3DM preserves NURBS
Blender	OBJ, PLY, glTF/GLB	Excellent OBJ support
SketchUp	STL, OBJ	STL via plugins

3D Printing Slicer Compatibility

Slicer	Recommended Format	Notes
PrusaSlicer	STL Binary	Fastest import
Cura	STL Binary/Text	Both supported
Simplify3D	STL Binary	Preferred format
Slic3r	STL, OBJ	STL recommended

Advanced Technical Details

Technical Implementation Details

ExportDialog Component

The export functionality is implemented through the ExportDialog component (src/components/stp-viewer/fullscreen/ExportDialog.tsx), which provides:

// Core export functionality
const handleExport = useCallback(async () => {
  if (!online3DViewerAPI?.exportModel) {
    // Handle API unavailability
    return;
  }
  
  await online3DViewerAPI.exportModel(
    formatConfig.fileFormat,  // 'Binary' or 'Text'
    formatConfig.extension    // File extension
  );
}, [selectedFormat, online3DViewerAPI]);

API Integration

The system integrates with Online3D Viewer's export capabilities:

Format Detection: Automatic format selection based on extension
Quality Control: Maintains model precision during conversion
Progress Feedback: Visual indicators during processing
Error Recovery: Graceful handling of export failures

Performance Considerations

Memory Usage: Binary formats generally use less memory
Processing Time: Text formats may take longer to generate
File Size: Binary formats produce smaller files
Compatibility: Text formats offer better cross-platform support

Next Steps

After mastering the export functionality:

Explore the screenshot capabilities for visual documentation
Learn about measurement tools for precise analysis
Check out troubleshooting for additional help
Review mobile guide for mobile-specific features

This guide covers the complete export functionality available in STP Viewer's fullscreen mode. For additional support or feature requests, please visit our support resources.

Export Guide - 3D Model Export in Fullscreen Mode

10 Export Formats

Cross-Platform

High Quality

Smart Selection

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