AMF Format

The AMF file format is a technology-independent XML-based format intended for use as in interchange format between CAD systems and additive manufacturing hardware (3D printers). The decades old STL format has served the needs of the additive manufacturing community for many years, but is now inadequate with the advent of multi-material and color 3D printing.The new AMF format is easily forward and backward compatible with the standard STL format, yet can include material gradients, constellations (assembly groups), and much more. The file format is also easily extensible to future developments in the additive manufacturing field. I have written and maintain a reference implementation in C++ (Amf Tools), as well as a GUI that enables non-programmers to convert STL files and manually edit the advanced AMF features.

Hiller, J., Lipson, H. (2009) "STL 2.0: A Proposal for a Universal Multi-Material Additive Manufacturing File Format" Solid Freeform Fabrication Symposium (SFF'09), Aug 3-5 2009, Austin, TX, USA. (Note: This is a precursor to the AMF standard and should not be interpreted as a usable version)