PLY-3DS-WRL-OBJ Viewer
open 3D visualization files

CATIA Siemens-NX CREO SolidWorks Solid Edge Inventor Rhino JT STEP X_T DWG-DXF IGES-SAT-VDA 3MF-STL PLY-3DS-WRL-OBJ

What are PLY, 3DS, WRL and OBJ Files?

These formats represent a 3D model by dividing its surface into thousands of triangles. This 3D data is commonly referred to as MESH data, faceted data, or visualization data.
PLY files (Polygon File Format) are inspired by the OBJ format but with extensions for colors, transparency, texture and normals.
3DS files (3D-Studio) are an older file format of the 3D modeling, animation and rendering software Autodesk 3DS Max.
WRL files (VRML, Virtual Reality Markup Language) are a 3D format developed specifically for the internet and are predecessors to the new X3D standard.
OBJ files (Wavefront OBJ) only save the geometric shapes of a 3D model. Colors, mirroring, transparency, and other visual properties are saved in separate material files with the file extension MTL.

3D viewer for PLY, 3DS, VRML and OBJ files

PLY, 3DS, WRL and OBJ File Versions

PLY files can be saved in either ASCII text format or binary. The file format has remained unchanged since the mid-1990s.

3DS files originated from the 90s DOS version of Autodesk 3DS but are still widely used and supported by many programs due to their small file size.
WRL files can be available in either VRML version 1.0 or 2.0. Version 1.0 was introduced in 1995, while the heavily revised and expanded version 2.0 was introduced in 1997. In 2004, the VRML successor X3D was introduced.
OBJ files (3D geometries) and the associated MTL files (color and reflection) were originally developed in 1990 for the Wavefront Advanced Visualizer. Although the format has remained unchanged since then, not all specifications from that time are supported by current software, particularly in regards to MTL files.

PLY, 3DS, WRL and OBJ Characteristics

PLY, OBJ and, more rarely, WRL files are not only used in visualization and animation, but also in 3D printing and rapid prototyping. In contrast to STL files, color information is officially specified. However, not all surface properties are interpreted correctly by modern rendering software.

The file format with the most options is WRL in version VRML 2.0. A VRML scene can contain multiple 3D objects, including hierarchy, animations, and multimedia elements. A scene can also consist of several networked WRL files, and the objects can be contained in different levels of detail.

How Do I Open PLY, 3DS, WRL and OBJ Files?

Most 3D printing and rapid prototyping programs should support OBJ and PLY files. Modern rendering software such as Blender and 3DStudio MAX import all four formats, possibly via plugins.

There are also various free online viewers. However, the focus here is on the presentation and less on measuring and analyzing the design.

The 3D-Tool Viewer opens these and many other 3D formats and offers extensive measuring tools including the calculation of volume, weight and the smallest surrounding box as well as a wall thickness analysis.

How Do I Convert PLY, 3DS, WRL and OBJ Files?

The conversion between triangulated formats is relatively simple. Even the Basic version of the 3D-Tool CAD Viewer supports the import and export of all common MESH formats, including U3D and 3D PDF.

On the Internet you often find the question of how to convert OBJ to STEP, or generally triangulated formats such as STL, 3MF, 3DS, PLY into an exact 3D CAD format. Automatic conversion is not possible. Using special software, the many triangles of the model must be converted more or less manually into exact surfaces (reverse engineering).

Screenshot of the 3D-Tool ply, 3ds, wrl, obj viewer

Test the PLY, 3DS, WRL and OBJ viewer

3D-Tool is an intuitive CAD viewer available in one free and three commercial license versions, but always with professional information and measurement features.

The 3D-Tool Free Viewer can open STL and 3MF files, but it cannot export 3D formats. To use it, simply download it from our website.
3D-Tool Basic opens 3D visualization formats such as STL, 3DS, OBJ, PLY and VRML.
3D-Tool Advanced opens additionally the 3D exchange formats STEP, IGES, VDA, SAT and Parasolid.
3D-Tool Premium, which includes the 3D-NativeCAD Converter, opens and converts native 3D models from CATIA, Siemens NX, Creo, Inventor, Solid Edge, SolidWorks, Rhino and AutoCAD, as well as the 3D exchange formats STEP, IGES, VDA, SAT, Parasolid and JT.

Download the 3D-Tool, start it, and request a trial key. Test all functions, interfaces, and the 3D-NativeCAD Converter for 14 days.

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PLY-3DS-WRL-OBJ Viewer open 3D visualization files