If you want to create a 3D model in STL format or edit an existing STL file in Windows 11/10, use these free STL editors.

The most popular design file format is the STL file. And although it’s not very tricky to create high quality STL files for 3D prints, it’s not easy as well.

Worse still, as in our hypothetical example, there are no definition about how the triangles relate so you can create “bad” STL files. Even properly formed files can be tough to work with.

An imported STEP file is converted to a triangle mesh on import (making it much like a typical .stl or .3mf file) which means that slicing all happens as one would normally expect.