Saving and Exporting

MatterCAD supports several file formats for saving and exporting your designs. The format you choose depends on how you plan to use the file.

Save Formats

MCX (Native Format)

MCX is MatterCAD’s native file format and the best choice for designs you want to continue editing later. It preserves:

  • The full design tree with all objects and their hierarchy
  • All parameters and settings for each object
  • Boolean operations, arrays, and other operations in editable form
  • Component relationships

Use MCX when: You want to save your work and continue editing it later.

STL

STL is the most widely used format for 3D printing. It contains only the final triangle mesh geometry without any design history or parameters.

Use STL when: You want to 3D print your design or share it with someone who does not use MatterCAD.

OBJ

OBJ (Wavefront) is a common 3D format supported by most 3D software. Like STL, it contains mesh geometry only.

Use OBJ when: You need to open your design in other 3D software like Blender or a game engine.

SVG

SVG export creates a 2D vector file from the top-down view of your design. This is useful for laser cutting or CNC routing.

Use SVG when: You need a 2D outline of your design for laser cutting or engraving.

How to Save

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  1. Open the brand menu (the MatterCAD logo in the top-left corner)
  2. Select Save As to choose a location and format
  3. Select the file format from the format dropdown
  4. Choose where to save the file and click Save

Your design is also saved automatically as you work, so you will not lose changes if you close the application.

Tips

  • Always save an MCX copy of your design before exporting to STL or OBJ, so you can make changes later
  • When exporting STL, all objects in the scene are merged into a single mesh
  • If you need to share a design with someone who uses MatterCAD, send the MCX file to preserve full editability
  • You can also save designs to your Cloud Library for access from any computer