# Free 3D Tools

> Kenerate's free 3D tools are browser-based viewers, converters and makers for 3D files such as STL, GLB and OBJ. They run locally with three.js, so files are never uploaded and no account is needed. Inspect or convert a model, or turn images and text into STL. AI 3D generation is in the 3D Studio (any paid plan or credit pack).

URL: https://kenerateai.com/3d-tools
Publisher: Kenerate AI (https://kenerateai.com)
Last updated: 2026-10-01

## Key facts
- Price: Free, no account
- Viewers: 3D model viewer, STL, GLB, OBJ, FBX
- Converters: 3D model converter plus 10 format pairs
- Makers: Image / PNG / JPG / SVG to STL, lithophanes, 3D logos, 3D text and keychains, STL editor, shapes, normal maps
- Formats: In: STL, OBJ, FBX, GLB, 3MF, PLY · Out: STL, OBJ, GLB, 3MF, PLY, USDZ
- AI 3D: Text, photo or multi-view to 3D in the 3D Studio (paid plan or credit pack)
- View anything: Orbit, zoom, clay, wireframe and normals views with triangle, vertex and size readouts.
- Convert for printing: STL and 3MF with millimetre sizing and Z-up orientation for slicers.
- Convert for web and AR: GLB for browsers and engines, USDZ for iPhone and iPad.
- Private: Files are parsed on your device. Nothing is uploaded or stored.
- Works everywhere: Windows, Mac, Linux, Chromebook, iPhone and Android — any browser with WebGL.
- Make models with AI: No file yet? Turn a photo or a prompt into a model with nine engines in the 3D Studio.
- Load: A format-specific three.js loader is fetched only when you open that kind of file.
- Parse: Meshes, materials and textures are rebuilt in memory on your device.
- View: A WebGL viewer frames the model with studio lighting and shading modes.
- Export: Open-source exporters write the format you choose and download it.
- STL (Stereolithography): Triangle mesh (binary or ASCII); by 3D Systems, 1987. Holds: Triangle surfaces, Facet normals. Lacks: Colour and textures, Units, Materials. Best for: 3D printing — every slicer opens it. Opens in: Cura, PrusaSlicer, Bambu Studio, OrcaSlicer, Blender.
- 3MF (3D Manufacturing Format): ZIP package with XML; by 3MF Consortium, 2015. Holds: Meshes with units (millimetres), Colours and materials, Several objects and build plates. Lacks: Animation. Best for: Modern 3D printing and multi-colour prints. Opens in: Bambu Studio, PrusaSlicer, OrcaSlicer, Cura, Windows 3D Builder.
- OBJ (Wavefront OBJ): Plain-text mesh; by Wavefront Technologies, 1980s. Holds: Vertices, faces, UVs and normals, Materials via a separate .mtl file. Lacks: Animation and rigs, Embedded textures. Best for: Moving static meshes between 3D apps. Opens in: Blender, Maya, 3ds Max, ZBrush, most slicers.
- FBX (Filmbox): Proprietary scene format; by Autodesk, 1996 (Kaydara). Holds: Meshes and materials, Skeletons, skinning and animation, Cameras and lights. Lacks: An open specification. Best for: Game engines and animation pipelines. Opens in: Unity, Unreal Engine, Maya, 3ds Max, Blender.
- GLB (glTF 2.0 Binary): Single-file scene with PBR materials; by Khronos Group, 2017 (glTF 2.0). Holds: Meshes and PBR materials, Textures in the same file, Animation and skins. Lacks: Units beyond metres, CAD precision. Best for: Web, AR and real-time apps — the “JPEG of 3D”. Opens in: Browsers (three.js, model-viewer), Blender, Unity, Unreal, Godot.
- USDZ (Universal Scene Description (zipped)): Zipped USD package; by Pixar / Apple, 2018 (USDZ). Holds: Meshes and PBR materials, Textures in the package. Lacks: Broad support outside Apple and DCC tools. Best for: AR Quick Look on iPhone and iPad. Opens in: iOS / iPadOS / macOS Quick Look, Reality Composer, Blender.

## Steps
1. Pick a tool — Use the converter above, or choose a specialised viewer or converter below.
2. Open your file — Drop it onto the box — or try a sample model made with AI.
3. Inspect — Orbit, change shading and read the model's stats.
4. Save — Download a screenshot or the converted file.

## In depth

### A quick guide to 3D formats
STL [1] and 3MF [5] are for printing; OBJ [2] for exchanging meshes; FBX [3] and GLB [4] for games and animation; GLB for the web; USDZ for Apple AR [6][9]; PLY for scans [7].

### Why browser tools are enough now
WebGL and libraries like three.js [10] give a browser tab everything a lightweight viewer and converter need — and keeping files local is simpler and more private than uploading them.

References:
[1] Wikipedia — STL (file format): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/STL_(file_format)
[2] Wikipedia — Wavefront .obj file: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wavefront_.obj_file
[3] Wikipedia — FBX: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FBX
[4] Khronos Group — glTF: https://www.khronos.org/gltf/
[5] 3MF Consortium — 3MF specification: https://3mf.io/specification/
[6] Wikipedia — Universal Scene Description (USD / USDZ): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Scene_Description
[7] Wikipedia — PLY (file format): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PLY_(file_format)
[8] Khronos Group — glTF 2.0 specification: https://registry.khronos.org/glTF/specs/2.0/glTF-2.0.html
[9] Apple — AR Quick Look: https://developer.apple.com/augmented-reality/quick-look/
[10] three.js — documentation: https://threejs.org/docs/
[11] Prusa Knowledge Base — Modeling with 3D printing in mind: https://help.prusa3d.com/article/modeling-with-3d-printing-in-mind_164135
[12] Prusa Blog — lithophanes and filament transparency: https://blog.prusa3d.com/lets-play-with-filament-transparency-how-to-make-amazing-lifelike-color-photos-with-just-a-simple-color-change_104338/
[13] Polymers (2024) 16(20):2862 — FFF parameters and translucency of PLA: https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16202862
[14] Wikipedia — Lithophane: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithophane
[15] W3C — CSS Values and Units Level 3 (absolute lengths): https://www.w3.org/TR/css-values-3/
[16] Adobe Substance 3D — OpenGL vs DirectX normal maps: https://experienceleague.adobe.com/en/docs/substance-3d/bakers/common-questions/what-is-the-difference-between-the-opengl-and-directx-normal-format
[17] Blender Manual — Normal Map node: https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/latest/render/shader_nodes/displacement/normal_map.html
[18] Wikipedia — Normal mapping: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normal_mapping
[19] SIL Open Font License: https://openfontlicense.org/

## FAQ
Q: Are these 3D tools really free?
A: Yes. They run in your browser, so there's no account, watermark or usage limit.

Q: Are my files uploaded?
A: No. Files are read and converted on your device.

Q: Which formats are supported?
A: Open STL, OBJ, FBX, GLB, 3MF and PLY; save STL, OBJ, GLB, 3MF, PLY and USDZ.

Q: Do they work on phones?
A: Yes, in modern mobile browsers. Large files are faster on a desktop.

Q: Can I make a 3D model from a photo?
A: Yes, in the Kenerate 3D Studio, which offers nine AI engines including Tripo, Meshy, Rodin and Hunyuan 3D. AI generation is part of every paid plan and credit pack.

Q: Can I edit models here?
A: The tools view, rescale, reorient and convert. For modelling, use Blender or the AI 3D Studio.

## Related pages
- AI 3D Model Generator: https://kenerateai.com/ai-3d-model-generator
- Image to 3D: https://kenerateai.com/image-to-3d-converter
- AI STL Generator: https://kenerateai.com/ai-3d-printing-model-generator
- Text to 3D: https://kenerateai.com/text-to-3d-generator

## Sources
- Wikipedia — STL (file format): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/STL_(file_format)
- Wikipedia — Wavefront .obj file: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wavefront_.obj_file
- Wikipedia — FBX: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FBX
- Khronos Group — glTF: https://www.khronos.org/gltf/
- 3MF Consortium — 3MF specification: https://3mf.io/specification/
- Wikipedia — Universal Scene Description (USD / USDZ): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Scene_Description
- Wikipedia — PLY (file format): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PLY_(file_format)
- Khronos Group — glTF 2.0 specification: https://registry.khronos.org/glTF/specs/2.0/glTF-2.0.html
- Apple — AR Quick Look: https://developer.apple.com/augmented-reality/quick-look/
- three.js — documentation: https://threejs.org/docs/
- Prusa Knowledge Base — Modeling with 3D printing in mind: https://help.prusa3d.com/article/modeling-with-3d-printing-in-mind_164135
- Prusa Blog — lithophanes and filament transparency: https://blog.prusa3d.com/lets-play-with-filament-transparency-how-to-make-amazing-lifelike-color-photos-with-just-a-simple-color-change_104338/
- Polymers (2024) 16(20):2862 — FFF parameters and translucency of PLA: https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16202862
- Wikipedia — Lithophane: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithophane
- W3C — CSS Values and Units Level 3 (absolute lengths): https://www.w3.org/TR/css-values-3/
- Adobe Substance 3D — OpenGL vs DirectX normal maps: https://experienceleague.adobe.com/en/docs/substance-3d/bakers/common-questions/what-is-the-difference-between-the-opengl-and-directx-normal-format
- Blender Manual — Normal Map node: https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/latest/render/shader_nodes/displacement/normal_map.html
- Wikipedia — Normal mapping: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normal_mapping
- SIL Open Font License: https://openfontlicense.org/