Forma3D is a 3D mesh editor for iPhone and iPad. Edit STL and 3MF models, paint faces for multi-filament printing, scan supported objects with LiDAR, and export locally for your slicer. No desktop required.
A verified set of tools for editing meshes, preparing multi-filament models, scanning supported objects, and exporting for 3D printing.
On supported LiDAR devices, use Apple Object Capture and photogrammetry to reconstruct an object as a USDZ mesh. Choose high, medium, or low reconstruction detail, then edit the result in Forma3D.
Paint-based mesh segmentation with tongue-groove joints — cone, cylinder, square, and ball connectors. Split models into printable parts that snap together.
Connect open edges with auto, straight, and flip modes. Live preview lets you see the bridge before committing — perfect for fixing non-manifold geometry.
Built-in tutorial system with anchor highlighting. Learn the basics or dive into extended lessons — no external docs needed, everything in-app.
In-place Metal buffer updates reduce redraw work while painting. The current App Store release notes report paint-mode performance for models with up to 1 million polygons.
Forma3D is localized for English, German, French, Japanese, Simplified and Traditional Chinese, Spanish, Italian, Korean, Brazilian Portuguese, Russian, Dutch, Polish, Turkish, Swedish, and Arabic.
From quick edits to complex boolean operations — Forma3D brings desktop-grade mesh editing to your iPhone and iPad.
Paint individual faces with different colors directly in the editor. Export 3MF with per-face color data ready for multi-filament 3D printing. Bambu Studio and Creality Print auto-assign filaments — no manual slicer setup needed.
Switch between Object Mode and Edit Mode. Select and edit vertices, edges, and faces with precision. Single, Rectangle, Oval, or Brush selection with multi-select support.
On supported LiDAR devices, use Apple Object Capture and photogrammetry to reconstruct real-world objects. Choose high, medium, or low detail and import the resulting USDZ mesh directly into your scene.
Union, subtract, or intersect meshes with the Manifold CSG engine. Slice objects with line, rectangle, ellipse, circle, polygon, curve, or freehand tools, then split the result for print preparation.
Import and export STL, 3MF, and USDZ. Save native .forma3d projects and optionally update a chosen file with autosave. Export 3MF with Bambu and Creality-compatible metadata for manual slicer or cloud upload.
Position, rotation, and scale with exact numeric controls. Interactive transform gizmo with snap-to-grid. Measurements in millimeters — engineering-grade precision on mobile.
Forma3D brings a focused mesh-editing workflow to iPad and iPhone. Apple Pencil and keyboard are supported for precise control.
Every tool you'd expect from a desktop 3D editor — optimized for touch and Apple Pencil.
Cubes, spheres, cylinders, cones, tori, pyramids, planes, tubes, and 3D text with soft variants
Draw a curve in the viewport and sweep a tube along it for pipes, wires, and paths
Push faces in or out, shrink or grow with live preview and direction toggle
Union, subtract, and intersect with Manifold CSG — clean mesh results for print preparation
Slice with line, circle, ellipse, rectangle, polygon, curve, or freehand shapes
Symmetrically duplicate geometry across X, Y, or Z axis
Create lathe geometry by rotating a profile around an axis
Precise measurement tool with millimeter units for print-ready accuracy
Adjustable transparency, wireframe overlay, and ghost mode for complex scenes
Color individual faces for multi-filament printing — export 3MF with embedded colors
Scan real objects with LiDAR + Object Capture photogrammetry
Procedural bolt and nut generator with helical threads — ready to print
Round edges with adjustable width, segments, and profile — desktop-grade algorithm
Adjustable diameter, height, radial segments, and height segments for custom geometry
Matte clay rendering mode for clean preview shots and presentation renders
Auto-rotate your model for hands-free viewing and demo recording
Visual bounding box with editable dimensions — set exact size in millimeters
Export selected, visible, or all objects — fine-grained control over output
Taubin smoothing with sharp edge preservation — add resolution where needed
Magnetic snap-to-grid with unit conversion — precision modeling made easy
Connect open edges with auto, straight, and flip modes — fix non-manifold geometry
Create repeating patterns with count, spacing, and rotation — linear and circular
Split mesh by angle or shells with tongue-groove joints for multi-filament printing
Draw 2D sketches and extrude them into 3D meshes instantly
Extruded text with Flat, Arc, Wave, and Custom bend modes — great for nameplates
Import SVG files as rendered reference planes for tracing and modeling
Turn any image into a detailed 3D relief surface for embossing and decoration
Spur, herringbone, and rack gears with custom module and tooth count
Blender-style shortcuts (G/R/S) for iPad with external keyboard
No laptop is required for the core modeling workflow. Mesh processing runs locally on your device.
Start with primitives, sketches, image-to-3D, an imported STL/3MF/USDZ file, or a supported LiDAR scan.
Edit vertices, edges, and faces. Extrude, bevel, Boolean, cut, separate, paint, and transform with precise dimensions.
Export STL, 3MF, or USDZ. Open the file in your slicer, or upload a compatible 3MF manually to your chosen print service.
Export 3MF with embedded face colors and printer metadata. Open the file in your slicer or upload it manually to a compatible cloud service; Forma3D does not connect directly to printers.
Generate standard hardware with real threads — no CAD software needed. Print functional parts directly from your phone.
Procedural hex bolts with helical threads. Standard metric sizes from M3 to M20. Cylindrical head, smooth shank, external thread.
Allen-style socket head cap screws with standard sizes. Ready to print with accurate thread profiles.
Hexagonal nuts with internal threads and flat washers. Standard metric sizes matching bolt selection.
Procedural threaded rods in standard sizes. Cut to length with the manifold cut tool.
Generate spur gears with custom module, tooth count, and bore diameter. Perfect for mechanical projects.
Herringbone (double helical) gears with adjustable helix angle. Smoother, quieter meshing than spur gears.
Go from 2D to 3D in seconds. Draw and extrude sketches or convert images into 3D relief surfaces; SVG and photos can be used as modeling references.
Core modeling, scanning reconstruction, and mesh processing run locally on the device. There is no cloud model-processing service; App Store purchases and optional cloud uploads are separate system actions.
Metal buffer updates optimize paint-mode and edit-drag redraws. The public release note reports paint-mode performance for models with up to 1 million polygons; other tools may have different limits.
Mesh generation, editing, and rendering happen locally with SceneKit and Metal. Forma3D does not upload models to a cloud processing service.
External-keyboard shortcuts on iPad for transforms (G/R/S), navigation, mesh operations, and common editing commands.
Hover tooltips with Apple Pencil. Precise vertex dragging and component selection optimized for Pencil input.
Configurable autosave (5/10/20 min). Save and load native .forma3d project files with full scene state.
Complete undo/redo history with snapshots. Experiment freely — every action can be reversed.
From beginners to experienced makers — if you need to create or fix 3D models for printing, Forma3D is for you.
Prepare and fix STL files on the go. Paint faces for multi-filament prints. Export compatible 3MF files for Bambu Studio or Creality Print.
Create custom parts from scratch. Generate bolts, nuts, and gears. Scan real objects and print them.
Precise transformations in millimeters. Boolean operations with Manifold CSG. Grid snapping with unit conversion.
Interactive tutorials built in. Beginner-friendly interface with capable mesh tools. Learn 3D modeling on iPad.
Fix models without opening a laptop. Edit meshes on the train, at a café, or anywhere. The core modeling workflow runs locally by design. Learn how to work without a desktop.
Vertex sculpting with gesture-based brush. Smooth subdivide with Taubin smoothing. Organic and hard-surface modeling.
If you enjoy creating 3D models, repairing STL files, or fixing 3MF meshes for 3D printing, Forma3D brings that same workflow to your iPhone and iPad. Edit vertices, edges, and faces. Repair non-manifold meshes. Boolean cut, extrude, bevel, and paint faces for multi-filament printing — all on a touch screen, no laptop required.
Primitives, extrude, bevel, boolean operations, subdivide — build models the way you do in Blender, but with your fingers.
Import broken meshes, fix non-manifold geometry, fill holes, and export clean STL or 3MF files ready for your slicer.
Paint faces with different colors and export 3MF with per-face color data — Bambu Studio and Creality Print assign filaments automatically.
Clear answers about formats, scanning, offline editing, and print preparation.
Yes. Forma3D imports STL and 3MF files and lets you edit mesh vertices, edges, and faces, use selection tools, apply extrude, inset, bevel, Boolean, cut, and other mesh operations, then export a result for slicing.
On supported LiDAR-capable devices running iOS 17 or later, Forma3D uses Apple Object Capture and photogrammetry to reconstruct an object as a USDZ mesh. You can choose high, medium, or low reconstruction detail and continue editing the imported mesh.
Yes. Face Paint assigns colors to individual mesh faces, with single-face painting, brush, flood fill, auto paint, and palette workflows. The app exports per-face color data in 3MF for compatible Bambu Studio and Creality Print workflows.
No. Forma3D creates printer-ready 3MF files and includes Bambu or Creality-compatible metadata, but it does not connect directly to printers. You upload the exported file to the destination app yourself — for example, through MakerWorld and Bambu Handy. See our guide to printing without Bambu Studio.
Yes. Create or load a model in Forma3D, export a Bambu-ready 3MF with print settings, upload it to MakerWorld from Safari (check "Yes, I have a Bambu Studio file"), then send it to your printer with Bambu Handy. The entire workflow runs on iPhone or iPad — no desktop required. See the step-by-step guide.
Bambu Handy is not a slicer — it cannot convert an STL into G-code. To print from Bambu Handy, a model needs a print profile in 3MF format. Load your STL in Forma3D, export a 3MF with Bambu print settings, upload it to MakerWorld, then print from Bambu Handy. See the guide.
Bambu Handy does not have an upload feature. Open makerworld.com in Safari on your iPhone, sign in, tap Upload, and select your 3MF file. Once it's on MakerWorld, Bambu Handy can find it and send it to your printer. Forma3D exports the 3MF with the print profile embedded — see the workflow guide.
No. Bambu Handy cannot open STL or 3MF files from your phone's storage. It only prints models that are on MakerWorld with a valid print profile. Use Forma3D to load your STL, export a Bambu-ready 3MF, upload to MakerWorld, then print from Bambu Handy. Learn how.
Forma3D imports and exports STL, 3MF, and USDZ. It also saves native .forma3d projects, can inspect ZIP archives containing STL or 3MF models, and imports photos or SVG files as reference planes.
Core mesh editing, primitive generation, image-to-mesh processing, and rendering run on-device. The app does not use a cloud service to process models. App Store purchases and any upload you choose to make to a slicer or cloud service require the relevant system or network connection.
Forma3D is available on the App Store with monthly, annual, and lifetime full-access plans. Monthly and annual plans include a 3-day introductory trial. Prices can vary by country and are shown by the App Store.
Yes. Image-to-3D includes height-map and voxel modes with adjustable physical dimensions, height, smoothing, threshold, and triangle budget. The resulting mesh can be edited and exported like other scene objects.
Use Forma3D's Face Paint tool to assign colors to individual mesh faces. Choose from single-face painting, brush, flood fill, and auto paint workflows. Export a 3MF file with per-face color data — Bambu Studio and Creality Print automatically assign filaments based on the embedded colors. No desktop slicer needed for color assignment. See the Color 3MF Guide.
Yes. Forma3D's Image-to-3D tool converts images into 3D meshes using height-map and voxel modes. Adjust physical dimensions, height, smoothing, threshold, and triangle budget. The resulting mesh can be edited and exported as STL or 3MF for printing.
Use Forma3D's 3D Text tool to place extruded text with Flat, Arc, Wave, and Custom bend modes. Type your text, choose a font, adjust depth and size, then export as STL or 3MF. Great for nameplates, door signs, labels, and cake toppers — no CAD software needed.
On supported LiDAR-capable devices running iOS 17 or later, Forma3D uses Apple Object Capture and photogrammetry to reconstruct an object as a USDZ mesh. Choose high, medium, or low detail, then edit and export the mesh for printing. See the LiDAR Scanning Guide.
Use Forma3D's Manifold Cut tool to slice models with line, circle, ellipse, rectangle, polygon, curve, or freehand shapes. Add print-fit joints and tolerance with the Constructor workflow — cone, cylinder, square, and ball connectors let parts snap together after printing. Separate meshes by sharp edges or face-paint regions.
Import the STL in Forma3D and use Bridge Faces to connect open edges with auto, straight, or flip modes. Separate meshes by shells to isolate disconnected geometry. Use Boolean Union to merge overlapping parts into a single watertight mesh. Inspect with wireframe or X-Ray viewport modes to find holes and inverted normals.
Yes. Forma3D generates procedural hex bolts (M3–M20), socket head cap screws, hex nuts, washers, threaded rods, spur gears, herringbone gears, and racks. Customize module, tooth count, bore diameter, and thread parameters. Export directly as STL or 3MF — ready to print with accurate thread profiles.
Yes. Forma3D supports Boolean Union, Subtract, and Intersect using the Manifold CSG engine — the same library used by desktop slicers. Combine or cut meshes with clean, watertight results suitable for 3D printing. No desktop software required.
Yes. Forma3D is a full mesh editor for iPad and iPhone with Object Mode and Edit Mode, vertex/edge/face selection, extrude, inset, bevel, bridge, mirror, revolve, remesh, simplify, subdivide, and more. Apple Pencil hover and external keyboard shortcuts are supported. Core modeling runs on-device — no cloud or desktop needed. See our guide to 3D modeling without a desktop.
Yes. Forma3D runs entirely on iPhone and iPad. Import STL or 3MF, edit and repair the mesh, scale to real dimensions, export, and upload to MakerWorld from Safari — no desktop required. See our no-desktop guide.
Yes. Forma3D on iPad lets you import, edit, repair, paint, and export models for 3D printing. Upload the exported 3MF to MakerWorld from Safari and send it to your printer with Bambu Handy. The full workflow works on iPad alone.
Yes. Forma3D uses Apple Object Capture for photogrammetry on iOS 17 and later. On LiDAR-equipped devices, depth data improves reconstruction accuracy. The resulting USDZ mesh can be edited and exported for 3D printing. See the LiDAR scanning guide.
Scan the object in Forma3D, let Apple Object Capture reconstruct the mesh, edit and repair it in the mesh editor, export STL or 3MF, and upload to your slicer or MakerWorld. The entire workflow happens on the iPhone. See the step-by-step guide.
Blender does not have an official iPad or iPhone app. Blender is a desktop application for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Forma3D is a native iPad and iPhone app that covers similar 3D mesh editing workflows — extrude, inset, bevel, Boolean, cut, sculpt, and STL/3MF export — designed for touch and Apple Pencil. It is not affiliated with the Blender Foundation.
Forma3D is a Blender alternative for iPad users who need mesh editing, Boolean operations, face painting, and 3D-print-ready export. It runs natively on iPadOS with Apple Pencil support, works offline, and exports STL, 3MF, and USDZ. Blender itself is not available on iPad.
Yes. Forma3D brings Blender-style mesh editing to iPad and iPhone: vertex, edge, and face selection; extrude, inset, bevel, bridge, mirror, revolve, subdivide, remesh, and Boolean union/subtract/intersect via the Manifold CSG engine. Edit Mode works with touch gestures, Apple Pencil, and external keyboards. Export to STL or 3MF for 3D printing or for importing into Blender on desktop.
A complete workflow from blank scene to printed part, entirely on iPhone or iPad. No desktop software required at any step.
Open Forma3D on your iPhone or iPad. Tap the + button in the top toolbar to add a primitive: cube, sphere, cylinder, cone, torus, pyramid, plane, tube, or 3D text. For organic shapes, choose a soft cube or soft sphere variant. Use the transform gizmo to move, rotate, or scale the object with touch gestures, or enter exact values in millimeters via the numeric panel. Apple Pencil hover shows tooltips and enables precise dragging on supported devices.
Switch to Edit Mode to select vertices, edges, or faces. Choose a selection tool: single tap, rectangle, oval, brush, loop, or ring. With a selection active, apply mesh operations:
Use X-Ray mode to inspect internal structure, wireframe overlay to find holes, and the view cube to switch between orthographic projections. Every action can be undone and redone with full snapshot history.
Tap Import in the bottom ribbon or use the + menu and choose "Import STL…". Select an STL, 3MF, or USDZ file from the Files app, AirDrop, or another app. The imported mesh opens in the editor where you can:
Switch to Face Paint mode to assign colors to individual mesh faces for multi-filament 3D printing. Choose a painting method:
Select colors from the palette or define custom colors. Forma3D's Metal color buffers handle meshes up to 1 million polygons without lag. When done, export a 3MF file — per-face color data is embedded automatically. Bambu Studio and Creality Print read the colors and assign AMS filaments without manual slicer setup. See the Color 3MF Guide.
On supported LiDAR-capable devices (iPhone Pro 12+, iPad Pro 2021+) running iOS 17 or later, tap the LiDAR scanning tool. Choose auto or manual capture mode, then walk around the object while the app records images and depth data. Select reconstruction detail — high, medium, or low — and wait for on-device processing via Apple Object Capture and photogrammetry. The resulting USDZ mesh imports directly into the editor. Inspect with wireframe or X-Ray display, repair holes with Bridge Faces, simplify to reduce polygon count, and scale to correct dimensions. See the LiDAR Scanning Guide.
Tap Export and choose a format:
For Bambu Lab printers, select 3MF and choose your printer model (A1 mini, A1, P1S, P1P, X1 Carbon, and others), nozzle diameter, plate type, and filament settings. Forma3D embeds the print profile into the 3MF. Then upload the file to MakerWorld from Safari, open it in Bambu Handy, and send to your printer — no desktop required. See the step-by-step print guide.
For other printers, export STL or 3MF and open in your preferred slicer (PrusaSlicer, OrcaSlicer, Cura) via cloud storage or AirDrop.
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