lib3mf
lib3mf is an implementation of the 3D Manufacturing Format file standard
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes. lib3mf is production-stable, actively maintained, permissively licensed, and has zero known vulnerabilities. Install friction is moderate due to binary wheels but manageable. Choose it if you need to work with 3MF files in Python; it is the standard binding for the 3MF Consortium's reference implementation.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Medium install friction due to precompiled binary wheels for macOS, Linux, and Windows; no runtime dependencies.
- Active maintenance with a release 172 days ago.
License · maintenance · safety
permissive license (permissive) — Permissive BSD license allows commercial and private use with minimal restrictions; third-party components (libzip, zlib, cpp-base64, fast-float) are also permissively licensed.
last release 2026-02-23 (172 days)
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 343,044 downloads/mo, #7,388 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
import lib3mf
from lib3mf import get_wrapper
wrapper = get_wrapper()
model = wrapper.CreateModel()
mesh_object = model.AddMeshObject()
mesh_object.SetName("Box")
writer = model.QueryWriter("3mf")
writer.WriteToFile("output.3mf")- Minimum Python version requirement (requires_python field is unspecified in metadata)
- Whether the package supports Python 2 or only Python 3 (classifiers indicate Python 3 but version range unclear)
What it is and what it does
lib3mf is a Python binding to a C++ implementation of the 3D Manufacturing Format standard, enabling developers to read, write, and validate 3MF files used in 3D printing and modeling workflows. The package provides a clean API for creating and manipulating 3D mesh objects, defining vertices and triangles, applying transformations, and serializing models to 3MF format.
The library runs on Windows, Linux, and macOS with precompiled wheels, eliminating the need for compilation. It has no runtime dependencies and is designed to lower adoption barriers for 3MF by offering straightforward integration into existing applications. The package is actively maintained and released under a permissive BSD license.
Use it for
- Create and export 3D models to 3MF format for 3D printing workflows
- Parse and validate existing 3MF files in 3D design or manufacturing software
- Convert 3D mesh data (vertices and triangles) into standardized 3MF files
- Build 3D printing middleware or service tools that need 3MF support
- Integrate 3MF file handling into CAD or modeling applications
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes.
lib3mf is production-stable, actively maintained, permissively licensed, and has zero known vulnerabilities. Install friction is moderate due to binary wheels but manageable. Choose it if you need to work with 3MF files in Python; it is the standard binding for the 3MF Consortium's reference implementation.
Install
lib3mf on PyPI
Before you install
Medium install friction due to precompiled binary wheels for macOS, Linux, and Windows; no runtime dependencies. Active maintenance with a release 172 days ago.
License in practice
Permissive BSD license allows commercial and private use with minimal restrictions; third-party components (libzip, zlib, cpp-base64, fast-float) are also permissively licensed.
Quickstart
import lib3mf
from lib3mf import get_wrapper
wrapper = get_wrapper()
model = wrapper.CreateModel()
mesh_object = model.AddMeshObject()
mesh_object.SetName("Box")
writer = model.QueryWriter("3mf")
writer.WriteToFile("output.3mf")Verify before relying
- Minimum Python version requirement (requires_python field is unspecified in metadata)
- Whether the package supports Python 2 or only Python 3 (classifiers indicate Python 3 but version range unclear)
Package facts
| License | permissive license permissive |
| Python support | Not specified |
| Install friction | Medium. Platform-specific wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | None |
| Maintenance | Actively maintained 172 days since the last release |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 343,044 / month, #7,388 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 5 - Production/StableIntended Audience :: DevelopersLicense :: OSI Approved :: BSD LicenseOperating System :: OS IndependentProgramming Language :: Python :: 3 |
Evidence: lib3mf-2.5.0-py3-none-macosx_10_9_universal2.whl; lib3mf-2.5.0-py3-none-manylinux2014_x86_64.whl; lib3mf-2.5.0-py3-none-win_amd64.whl
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See also py-lib3mf · numpy-stl · plyfile · cmeel-assimp · manifold3d · pygltflib · PyGEL3D · meshioplusplus · open3d · fast-simplification