File format guide
STL or 3MF: which export should your token use?
Both formats describe printable geometry, but they carry different amounts of project information. The right choice depends on how you plan to assign colours and share the file.
Open the free token maker
Choose STL for the broadest geometry support
STL stores a surface mesh without standard material colours, object names, or units. Almost every slicer can open it, which makes it a dependable option for single-colour tokens and for workflows where you want to configure every setting manually.
Because colour roles are not preserved, a two-part design may need separate files or manual splitting and alignment in the slicer. Record the intended physical size when sending STL files to someone else because the format itself does not reliably carry unit metadata.
- Very broad slicer compatibility
- Simple single-mesh handoff
- No standard colour or material assignments
- Usually requires more manual multicolour setup
Choose 3MF for an assembled multicolour model
3MF is a packaged format that can contain multiple named objects, units, display materials, and application-specific project data. 1ClickMade uses it to keep the token base and raised or flush detail together as an assembled model with separate colour roles.
In Bambu Studio, the file should open as one assembled token with base and detail parts available for filament assignment. The preview colours are guidance; confirm the actual AMS slots and slicing profile before printing.
A simple decision rule
Export STL when you need a universal single-colour mesh or a neutral file for another modelling workflow. Export 3MF when the design contains separate colour parts and the recipient uses a compatible slicer that benefits from the assembled project.
Whichever format you choose, inspect the sliced layers rather than relying only on the shaded model preview. The toolpath is the authoritative view of what the printer will attempt to make.