How to view a .3DS file online
Three steps, no software to install.
Choose your file
Drag your .3DS file onto the box above. If it comes with companion files like .mtl, .bin or textures, drop them together with it.
It opens right away
Your .3DS file is opened and shown in 3D.
Inspect and measure
Rotate, switch views, toggle wireframe and check size, area and volume before printing.
What is a .3DS file?
Meshes, scenes and what "watertight" means for 3D printing.
A 3DS file is a 3D mesh in Autodesk's old 3D Studio format, storing geometry, materials, and basic scene data. Open it free in Blender or drag it into 3DViewer.net in a browser. To 3D print it, export to STL; for modern software or game engines, convert to OBJ or FBX.
Programs that open .3DS files
| Full name | 3D Studio Mesh |
|---|---|
| Developer | Autodesk (originally The Yost Group / Autodesk 3D Studio for DOS) |
| First released | 1990 (Autodesk 3D Studio for DOS, releases 1-4); native format until 3D Studio MAX 1.0 in 1996 |
| Category | 3D & CAD |
| MIME type | image/x-3ds |
| Signature | 4D 4D "MM" - primary chunk ID 0x4D4D (MAIN3DS), little-endian |
Related viewers
Other free tools for engineering and visual files.
Is my .3DS file uploaded to your server?
No. Your .3DS file is rendered with WebGL.
Why is my OBJ model grey or missing textures?
OBJ keeps materials in a separate .mtl file and textures as images. Select or drop all of them together with the .obj and the viewer will link them up automatically.
How accurate are the volume and weight?
For watertight meshes the volume is exact for the triangles in the file. The weight assumes PLA at 1.24 g/cm³ and 100% infill, so a sliced print with lower infill will weigh less.
My model looks lying on its side. What now?
CAD and 3D-printing files usually treat Z as "up", while games and glTF use Y. Switch Up: Y / Z in the toolbar.
Can I open STEP or IGES files here?
Those are CAD formats that store exact surfaces rather than triangles. Open them in our CAD Viewer, which converts them to a mesh.
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