Aside from the 3D model itself, 3MF files can hold: zip, simply unpack it and work with the contents. The 3MF file format uses the same compression as a ZIP archive – you can actually rename the extension to. The 3MF consortium’s main goal is to create an XML-based platform capable of containing a 3D model with a comprehensive package of information that cannot be saved within a simple STL file. Nowadays, it includes well-known names such as Autodesk, Dassault Systèmes, Ultimaker and more (see 3mf.io to find out more).
3MF, also called 3D Manufacturing Format is an open-source project developed by the 3MF consortium founded by Microsoft.
