---
title: "3DM Viewer"
description: "View 3DM models of industrial design, architecture, and jewelry in your browser without Rhino, and preview shapes and materials. Processed locally, no upload."
toolId: "3dm-viewer"
category: "preview"
subgroup: "cad-viewer"
subgroupName: "CAD & BIM Viewers"
url: "https://any3d.cc/en-US/tools/3dm-viewer"
markdown: "https://any3d.cc/llm/tools/3dm-viewer.md"
---

# 3DM Viewer

View 3DM models of industrial design, architecture, and jewelry directly online without installing Rhino. Smoothly preview shapes and materials to quickly communicate design ideas.

**Category:** 3D Model Viewer Tools (`preview`)
**Subgroup:** CAD & BIM Viewers (`cad-viewer`)

**HTML:** https://any3d.cc/en-US/tools/3dm-viewer

> Runs entirely in the browser. Files are not uploaded to Any3D servers.

## Overview

3DM is the native format of Rhino software, widely used in industrial design, architecture, and jewelry design, preserving fine surface and shape information. Open 3DM files in your browser and look over the model's overall shape, materials and details without installing Rhino or other professional software. It is suitable for quick preview and team communication.

### Rhino 3DM terms in plain words

A 3DM file stores exact curves and surfaces, not just triangles. That is why it behaves differently from STL or OBJ.

- **3DM:** Rhino's own file format, also read by Grasshopper and many CAD and rendering tools.
- **NURBS:** Smooth, exact curves and surfaces defined by math, so they stay smooth at any zoom.
- **Polysurface:** Several surfaces joined together; closed ones are solids.
- **Mesh:** A shape made of triangles. The viewer turns surfaces into a mesh so they can be shown on screen.

## About Configuration Options

### Preview settings

- **Auto-rotate** (Default: Off): Slowly rotate the model around the vertical axis after loading for a full view. Can be toggled anytime in the left panel.
  - `on` — On: Auto-rotate after loading
  - `off` — Off (Recommended): Stay still, rotate manually only (default)

### Animation

- **Clips**: Number of animation clips stored in the file.
- **Bones**: Number of skeleton bones used for rigging and skinning.

## Format Information

### Input format

- **Extension:** 3dm
- **Full Name:** Rhinoceros 3D (3DM)
- **Type:** 3D Model
- **Format:** 3DM
- **Tools:** [Three.js](https://threejs.org), [Blender](https://www.blender.org)
- **Open With:** [Blender](https://www.blender.org), [View in 3DM Viewer](https://any3d.cc/en-US/tools/3dm-viewer)
- **Description:** 3DM is the native format of Rhinoceros 3D (Rhino) and one of the most common file types in industrial design, architecture, and jewelry design. It accurately represents complex shapes using NURBS surfaces and solids, while also storing mesh, layers, materials, and annotation data, enabling lossless round-trip within the Rhino ecosystem.

The openness of 3DM depends on the toolchain: software other than Rhino needs support or conversion to open it, and files exported from different Rhino versions may not be fully compatible. When NURBS data is converted to mesh, accuracy is reduced according to the subdivision level, so models that require further editing should retain the original 3DM file.
- **Supported Features:**
  - Real-time WebGL rendering
  - Orbit controls with rotate/pan/zoom
  - Wireframe and shaded display modes
  - Animation playback (if supported by format)
- **Notes:**
  - Rhino 3DM stores NURBS surfaces, which tessellate into dense meshes

### What to do next with the 3DM file

What do you want to do with the 3DM file?

- **Check a design you received:** <strong>Stay here.</strong> Rotate and zoom to look at shape and materials.
- **Change the Rhino design:** Open it in Rhino; edits to NURBS surfaces need Rhino or similar CAD.
- **Send it to a CAD program that cannot read 3DM:** Export STEP or IGES from Rhino.
- **3D print the part:** Export STL from Rhino, where you control how fine the mesh is.

## FAQ

### Will 3DM models look distorted when previewed in a browser?

This viewer strives to restore the model's shape and materials as much as possible, but fine surfaces may differ slightly when simplified for display. It is suitable for daily preview and communication.

### Why are some 3DM files blank when opened?

This may be because the file is large or contains special objects. We recommend confirming the file is complete, or try re-exporting from Rhino and uploading again.

### Can I view layers in a 3DM file?

Currently, the viewer focuses on the overall model and does not display the layer structure yet, but the model's geometry and material information can be displayed normally.

### Can I open a 3DM file on a phone or iPad?

Yes. The viewer runs in a mobile browser, so you can check a Rhino file you received without installing Rhino.

### What about .3dmbak backup files?

A .3dmbak file is a Rhino backup of a 3DM. Make a copy, rename it to .3dm and open the copy.

### Can I view a Grasshopper definition?

No. Grasshopper saves .gh files, not 3DM. Bake the result into Rhino and save it as 3DM, then open that file here.