Blog
Practical guides to STL and 3MF files, from the team behind MeshView, an STL and 3MF viewer for Android. Each one explains what a file really contains, so you can spot a problem before it costs you filament.
Why a Bambu Studio 3MF looks grey elsewhere
A Bambu Studio 3MF can open grey or empty in other viewers. Where Bambu stores its filament colours, what painted regions are, and what to check.
Binary vs ASCII STL: what is the difference?
Binary and ASCII STL hold the same triangles in different forms. How to tell them apart, why file size differs, and why a 'solid' header can mislead.
How to check an STL before you print it
Open edges, flipped normals, non-manifold edges and degenerate triangles explained, and a quick way to spot a broken STL before it wastes filament.
What a cross-section shows inside a 3D model
Cutting a model along X, Y or Z shows what the outside hides: internal walls, hollow regions and parts that should not be there. How to read a cross-section.
Estimate filament use from an STL's volume
Turn a model's volume into a quick filament weight estimate before you slice: the formula, typical densities, and why the real figure is lower.
How to open 3MF files on Android
How to open a 3MF file on an Android phone: what the format holds, three ways to look inside it, and why some files open grey or empty.
Why a huge STL is simplified on your phone
What triangle count means, why very large STL files are simplified for the preview on a phone, and what stays exact: your file and its real count.
What is a non-manifold edge?
A non-manifold edge is shared by more than two triangles, and it leaves a slicer unsure what is solid. What causes them, how they show up, and how to fix them.
Open an STL from WhatsApp, Gmail or Drive
Someone sent you an STL or 3MF. How to open it on Android from WhatsApp, Gmail, Google Drive or your file manager without hunting for the file.
How to open a ZIP of 3D models on Android
Model downloads often arrive as a ZIP with STL or 3MF files inside. How to open them on a phone, and why you should never unzip a 3MF.
Orthographic vs perspective view in 3D
Perspective makes near parts look bigger; orthographic keeps sizes true. Why that matters when you inspect a model for printing, and when to use each.
Separate parts in an STL and why they matter
One STL can hold several disconnected pieces. How to tell when that is intended, when it means floating fragments or hidden copies, and what to do about it.
STL has no units: how to check a model's size
An STL stores numbers without units, so a model can print 25 times too small. How to read its real size and spot a unit mistake before you slice.
STL vs 3MF: which file should you use?
STL stores triangles only; 3MF adds colour, units and several objects in one file. What each format holds and when to pick which.
What a 3D viewer app does with your files
Questions worth asking before you open a model in any 3D viewer app, how to test them yourself, and what MeshView does with your files and data.