What’s new in Creo Parametric 5.0- Improved Support for Importing and Exporting 3MF Format

By Natasha Reaves

In Creo Parametric 4.0, there is support for export to 3MF but the export profile is limited. In Creo Parametric 5.0, you can import and export 3MF format files in Creo Parametric. The benefit of this enhancement is there is support in Creo Parametric for import from and export to 3MF format. This is a standard format that can be read by many 3D printers.

To import a 3MF file into Part or Assembly mode as a new model, select File>Open. From the File Open dialog box that opens, you can select All Files (*) or 3MF (*.3mf) in the Type drop-down list.

The Import New Model dialog boxes appear as shown below. 


To export a Creo file to a 3MF file, open or activate the desired model, then select File> Save As>Save A Copy. Enter an appropriate name for the new model in the New file name field.


You can define the new import and export profiles for 3MF using settings in Creo Parametric so that you can customize how 3MF files are read into or exported from Creo.

To customize how 3MF files are read into Creo Parametric, go the File>Options>Data Exchange, from the Import and Open Profiles section select 3MF from the drop-down list. Click on the Setup Import and Open Profiles button. Enter the appropriate setting in the 3MF Import Profile dialog box.

To customize how 3MF files are exported out of Creo Parametric, go the File>Options>Data Exchange, from the Export Profiles section select 3MF from the drop-down list. Click on the Setup Export Profiles button. Enter the appropriate setting in the 3MF Import Profile dialog box.

Additional information about customizing Creo Parametric and how to import and export files to and from Creo in our Introduction to Solid Modeling, Advanced Part Design, and Surface Design courses.

About the Author

Technical Training Engineer<br><br>Natasha joined the company in 2000 and has extensive experience sharing her CAD expertise through delivering webcasts, contributing to blog posts, and leading training classes. She trains end-users with all skill levels on Creo Parametric and CATIA, and she collaborates closely with the company’s technical writers on courseware development. Before joining Rand Worldwide, Natasha served as a mechanic in the U.S. Army National Guard and worked as a mechanical designer for a multinational telecommunications and data networking equipment manufacturer. She has a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, and she holds certification from Dassault Systèmes as a CATIA V5 Expert Mechanical Designer and Certified Surface Design Associate.

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