FAQ — 3D Mesh Resizer & Converter

The tool supports two industry-standard 3D mesh formats:

• PLY (Polygon File Format) — commonly exported by intraoral scanners like iTero, 3Shape TRIOS, and Medit
• STL (Stereolithography) — the universal 3D printing format, both binary and ASCII variants

Each file can be up to 400 MB; very large files also depend on your device's available memory. Typical dental scans (5–50 MB) load in under a second.

Yes — you can load the upper and lower scans of one case together (up to two files). Both are shown in their bite position, get the same offset, and download as two STL files in their original scanner positions for a single conversion. For more scans, convert them case by case; each export is logged in the History panel for re-download during your session.

A non-watertight mesh has open edges or holes in the surface. While the model can still be converted and 3D printed, some printers or slicer software may have issues. Most intraoral scanners produce watertight meshes. If yours doesn't, consider running a mesh repair tool (like Meshmixer or Netfabb) before uploading.

Percentage scaling scales the whole scan about the scanner's origin, so upper and lower arches stay in occlusion. It mainly changes overall arch dimensions; individual tooth surfaces move very little (0.1% of an 8 mm molar is about 0.008 mm per side).

Uniform offset moves every vertex inward along its surface normal by the exact same distance, so the fit tightens evenly across all tooth surfaces.

For clinical use, uniform offset is recommended.

• Retainers: 0.05 mm — very light, just enough for a snug hold
• Active treatment: 0.10 mm — the recommended default
• Standard treatment: 0.15 mm — a moderate option for standard movements
• Avoid 0.20 mm+ unless you have specific clinical justification — may prevent full seating

Percentage scaling scales the scan about the scanner's origin, so points farther from that origin move more in absolute mm than points close to it. This is expected behavior. For an even offset across every tooth surface, use the mm offset mode instead.

No. All 3D mesh processing happens entirely in your browser using WebGL and JavaScript. Your scan files never leave your computer. The only server communication is for user authentication and conversion count tracking via Firebase.

Since all scan processing happens client-side and no patient data is transmitted to or stored on our servers, the tool minimizes HIPAA exposure. However, you should ensure your own computer and network meet your organization's compliance requirements. We recommend using the tool on secure, authorized devices.

The heatmap colors the shrunk model by how far each point actually moved inward from the original surface. With uniform offset, green means on target, amber/red mean less than the selected offset, blue means more, and magenta marks folded areas where the offset is larger than the local thickness. A legend bar shows the scale in mm.

Yes. Click the Measure button on the 3D preview toolbar, then click two points on the model surface. A yellow line is drawn between them with a floating label showing the distance in millimeters. You can take multiple measurements and clear them all at once. Orbit is temporarily disabled while measuring.

Click the Screenshot button in the preview panel header. A modal opens showing the captured 3D view with a metadata overlay (file name, date, offset value, mesh stats). Click Download PNG to save a composite image suitable for patient documentation.

Yes — during your current session, all conversions appear in the History panel at the bottom of the page with a re-download link. Note that history is cleared when you close or refresh the browser tab.

The tool exports industry-standard binary STL files compatible with virtually all 3D printers and slicer software, including Formlabs PreForm, SprintRay, Asiga, Prusa, and any other printer that accepts STL input. No further conversion is needed.

Common materials include Essix ACE (0.76 mm), Zendura FLX, and Duran+. The choice depends on your clinical requirements — thicker materials are stiffer, so adjust your shrinkage offset based on your material's stiffness and thickness.

The tool works on any modern browser with WebGL support, including tablets. However, for the best experience with large 3D files and precise measurements, a desktop or laptop with a mouse is recommended.

Each account starts with a limited number of free conversions. When you run out, enter your redemption code (format: XXX-YYY-ZZZ) in the banner field at the top of the page and click Redeem. Each code is single-use and can only be redeemed by one account.

Contact us at support@alignersconsultancy.com to purchase additional conversion codes. We offer individual codes as well as bulk packages for clinics and labs.