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

There is no hard file size limit. The tool handles files up to several hundred MB depending on your device's available memory. Typical dental scans (5–50 MB) load in under a second.

Currently the tool processes one file at a time. To convert multiple scans, upload and convert them sequentially. Each conversion is logged in the History panel for easy 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 shrinks the entire model toward its center point. Outer teeth (molars) shrink more than inner teeth (anteriors) in absolute mm, so the fit is not uniform across the arch.

Uniform offset moves every vertex inward along its surface normal by the exact same distance. This produces truly uniform aligner pressure 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 (70–160g force per anterior tooth)
• Standard treatment: 0.15 mm — moderate force for standard movements
• Avoid 0.20 mm+ unless you have specific clinical justification — may prevent full seating

Percentage scaling shrinks toward the center, so vertices farther from the center (e.g., posterior molars) move more in absolute mm than vertices closer to the center (anterior teeth). This is expected behavior. For truly uniform shrinkage visualization, use the mm offset mode instead.

Expected initial force per anterior tooth with uniform offset:

• 0.05 mm: 40–100g (very light — retainers)
• 0.10 mm: 70–160g (optimum snug — recommended default)
• 0.15 mm: 110–220g (moderate — standard active treatment)
• 0.20 mm: 150–300g (heavy — test seating carefully)
• 0.25 mm: 190–380g (very heavy — risk of discomfort)
• 0.30 mm: 230–480g+ (excessive — generally avoid)

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 visualizes how much each point on the tooth surface moved during shrinkage. Blue indicates minimum displacement, green is moderate, yellow is above average, and red shows maximum displacement. A legend bar displays the exact min/max values 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 produce more force for a given offset. Adjust your shrinkage offset accordingly 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.