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3DAI
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3DS to STL Converter

The .3ds format from 3D Studio still turns up in model archives and old asset packs, but slicers want STL. This page reads the meshes from a .3ds file, places them as they sit in the file and writes binary STL, either one file for the whole model or one STL per object packed in a ZIP. A .3ds file has no unit, so you pick what one unit means before downloading. Nothing is uploaded. 3D Studio and 3ds Max are named only to describe the format; we are not affiliated with their maker.

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How to use it

  1. 1

    Drop the .3ds

    Only the .3ds is needed. Texture images are not used, since STL has no colour.

  2. 2

    Set the unit

    Slicers read STL numbers as millimetres. Keep x1 if the model was built in millimetres, or pick centimetres, inches or metres to convert.

  3. 3

    Choose one or many files

    A model with several objects can be saved as one merged STL or as one STL per object in a ZIP, handy for printing parts in different colours.

  4. 4

    Download

    The model is centred and rests on the plate. Load the STL into your slicer and check the size it shows.

What to know before you convert

  • STL holds only the shape: materials, colours, textures and UV maps from the .3ds are dropped.
  • Animation keyframes, cameras and lights are not exported.
  • Meshes are not repaired. A model made for rendering may have open edges or zero thickness; check it in your slicer.
  • The 3DS format allows about 65,000 vertices per object, so big models are often stored as several objects. They are joined again in the merged STL, or kept apart in the ZIP.

Don't have a model?

Create one with AI from a photo, a sentence or a sketch. The generators use credits; this converter is free and stays in your browser.

Image to 3D →Turn one photo into a textured 3D model.Text to 3D →Describe an object and get a GLB.Sketch to STL →Draw it, get a printable model.

Frequently Asked Questions

Drop the .3ds on the box above, choose the unit and click Download. You get a binary STL ready for your slicer.
.3ds files store plain numbers with no unit. The STL uses the same numbers times the factor you pick, and slicers read them as millimetres. If the part looks 10 times too small, it was probably modelled in centimetres: pick x10.
Yes. When the file has more than one object, tick "One STL per object" and download a ZIP with one STL for each, named after the object.
Many .3ds models were made for rendering, not printing, so they can have single-sided walls or gaps. The converter keeps the mesh as it is; repair tools in your slicer can close small holes.
No. STL cannot store colour or images. Use our 3DS to OBJ or 3DS to GLB converter if you need the textures.
No. The page reads the file and converts it inside your browser with the open-source three.js library. Nothing is sent to our servers, there is no account, and no credits are used. Closing the tab discards everything.