App contender
Forma3D — 3D Printing & Mesh Editor for iPhone and iPad
3D Printing & Mesh Editor for iPhone and iPad
The short version
What is Forma3D — 3D Printing & Mesh Editor for iPhone and iPad?
Forma3D is a 3D mesh editor for iPhone and iPad that allows users to edit STL and 3MF models, paint faces for multi-filament printing, scan objects with LiDAR, and export files for 3D printing without requiring a desktop computer.
Enables desktop-grade mesh editing and print preparation workflows entirely on mobile devices with local processing.
Product capabilities
Key features
- Edit STL, 3MF, and USDZ models
- Face painting for multi-filament printing
- LiDAR scanning and object capture
- Boolean operations (Union, Subtract, Intersect)
- Manifold cut
- Extrude, inset, and bevel
- Procedural bolt, nut, and gear generation
- Image-to-3D relief
- SVG reference import
- Apple Pencil and keyboard support
Ways to use it
Use cases
- Preparing models for 3D printing
- Repairing non-manifold meshes
- Creating custom parts from scratch
- Scanning real-world objects
- Multi-filament print preparation
- Mechanical part generation
Who it is built for
Best for
At a glance
Strengths & considerations
Strengths
- Runs locally on the device without cloud processing
- Supports Apple Pencil and external keyboard shortcuts
- Includes built-in interactive tutorials
- Exports 3MF files with printer-specific metadata
Things to consider
- Does not connect directly to printers
- LiDAR features require supported LiDAR-capable devices
- Requires iOS 17 or later for LiDAR scanning
- Performance limits apply (e.g., paint-mode performance tested up to 1 million polygons)
Plan information
Pricing
Available on the App Store with monthly, annual, and lifetime full-access plans.
3-day introductory trial available for monthly and annual plans
Prices and plans can change. Confirm current terms on the official pricing page before purchasing.
Compatibility & availability
Technical details
Integrations
Platforms & channels
Languages
Official destinations
Links
Quick answers
Forma3D — 3D Printing & Mesh Editor for iPhone and iPad FAQ
Can I edit STL and 3MF files on iPhone or iPad?
Yes, Forma3D imports STL and 3MF files and allows editing of mesh vertices, edges, and faces.
Does Forma3D scan real objects with LiDAR?
Yes, on supported LiDAR-capable devices running iOS 17 or later, the app uses Apple Object Capture and photogrammetry to reconstruct objects.
Does Forma3D send files directly to a printer?
No, it exports printer-ready 3MF files for manual upload to slicers or print services.
Does Forma3D work offline?
Yes, core mesh editing, primitive generation, image-to-mesh processing, and rendering run locally on the device.
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Research trail
Official sources
These pages were used for the factual profile above. They may change after the research date.
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