From PLY scan to printable STL
PLY is the format many 3D scanners and photogrammetry apps produce: it stores the shape and sometimes the color of each point. Slicers prefer STL, so here you convert it without installing anything.
The tool reads text and binary PLY files, turns their faces into triangles and gives you a binary STL. Colors and normals are ignored, because the printer only needs the shape.
Mesh or point cloud: not the same thing
A scan can be saved in two ways. As a mesh, with faces forming a surface: that one converts. Or as a point cloud, just loose points with no faces: that can't be printed until a program (MeshLab, your scanner's app) turns it into a mesh. If you choose a point cloud, the tool tells you.
Units and holes
Units. PLY doesn't say whether it's in millimeters or meters. Desktop scanners usually use millimeters; photogrammetry sometimes has no real scale. You see the size live and can change the unit until it looks right.
Holes. A scan is almost never perfect: it's missing parts the camera didn't see, like the bottom. The tool warns you if the mesh has holes; many slicers repair them on their own, and if not, MeshLab or your scanner's app can close them.
Tips
- Before exporting, crop the floor and background that slipped into the scan in your scanner's app.
- If the part comes out tiny, try "Meters" under Units: it happens a lot with photogrammetry.
- A scan with millions of faces can be slow to open. If your app can simplify or decimate the mesh, do it first.
- If the warning says the mesh has holes, the repair button in PrusaSlicer or Bambu Studio usually fixes it.
Frequently asked questions
What is a PLY file?
It's the "Polygon File Format", also called the Stanford format. 3D scanners and photogrammetry software use it to store meshes and point clouds, sometimes with color.
Why does it say my file has no faces?
Because it's a point cloud: it only has loose points. Turn it into a mesh first (in MeshLab: surface reconstruction) or export it as a mesh from your scanner's app.
Is the scan's color kept?
No. STL only stores the shape. If you want the part in color, you'd have to paint it or print it in several filaments by hand.
Why is my scan tiny or huge?
Because PLY doesn't store the unit. Try "Millimeters" and then "Meters" under Units until the size matches the real object.
Is my file uploaded to the internet?
No. It's read and converted in your browser; it isn't sent anywhere.
Why is there a download limit?
The tool is free and supported by ads. Each visit includes 5 downloads; to keep going, open the page again.
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