Free online IGS to AMF converter

Source format: IGS

IGS is a common extension for IGES files, a long-established CAD exchange format used to move 2D and 3D engineering data between different design systems. It is widely used by mechanical engineers, product designers, and manufacturers who need to share geometry across software platforms. Typical IGS/IGES content includes surfaces, wireframes, curves, and solid geometry references, often for downstream manufacturing, analysis, or rework in another CAD package.

Target format: AMF

AMF stands for Additive Manufacturing File Format. It is an XML-based format designed for 3D printing and additive manufacturing workflows. Compared with older mesh formats, AMF can store color, materials, lattice structures, and multiple objects in a more structured way. It is useful when preparing models for printers or slicer software that supports AMF, especially when richer manufacturing metadata is needed.

How to perform the conversion

Converting IGS to AMF usually requires two steps: first, import the CAD geometry, then export or save it as an AMF mesh suitable for printing. Because IGS is a CAD exchange format and AMF is a manufacturing mesh format, the conversion often involves tessellation of surfaces into triangles.

1. Open the IGS file in CAD or mesh software. Good desktop options include FreeCAD, Autodesk Fusion, SolidWorks, Rhino, or Blender with appropriate import support. In FreeCAD, use File → Open and select the .igs or .iges file.
2. Check the imported geometry. Make sure the model is complete, correctly scaled, and free of obvious gaps or missing surfaces. If the file contains only surfaces, you may need to convert or sew them into a watertight solid before export, depending on the target printer workflow.
3. Convert the model to a mesh if needed. AMF is mesh-based, so the software will usually generate a triangulated representation automatically during export. Adjust mesh quality settings if available to balance detail and file size.
4. Export as AMF. In FreeCAD, use File → Export and choose Additive Manufacturing File Format or .amf if available. In other CAD tools, look for Export or Save As and select AMF as the output type.
5. Verify the result. Open the exported .amf file in a slicer or AMF-capable viewer to confirm that the geometry, scale, and orientation are correct.

If your CAD application cannot export AMF directly, a practical workflow is to export the IGS model to an intermediate mesh format such as .stl or .3mf, then use software that can save or convert that mesh to AMF. However, direct export from a CAD package is usually the cleanest option when available.

Notes on quality, compatibility, or limitations

IGS to AMF conversion is not always one-to-one. IGES files describe CAD geometry, while AMF stores printable mesh data, so some precision is lost during tessellation. Fine curves may become faceted if the mesh resolution is too low, while very high resolution can create large files.

Color and material data may not transfer. Most IGS files contain geometry only, so AMF’s advanced features such as multi-material or color support are often unused unless the source model already includes compatible metadata in the CAD system.

Not every program supports AMF. Many CAD and slicer tools still prefer .stl or .3mf. If AMF is required for a specific printer or workflow, confirm support before converting.

Watertight geometry matters. For 3D printing, open surfaces, self-intersections, or non-manifold edges in the original IGES model can cause export errors or unusable AMF output. Repairing the model before export often improves results.