What does ModelLink 3D do?

ModelLink 3D turns 3D models into shareable, viewable, AR-capable links.

Behind that surface, the platform does three things at once:

It hosts models as 3DF™ documents.

Every model uploaded to ModelLink 3D is packaged as a 3DF™ — ModelLink 3D's document format for 3D, which bundles the model with its metadata, materials, viewer configuration, and AR-ready assets. 3DF™ is to a 3D model what PDF is to a formatted document: the finished, shareable artifact.

It serves a viewer that works everywhere.

The viewer runs in any modern browser, on any device. On iPhone and iPad, "View in AR" launches Apple AR Quick Look. On Android, it uses ARCore through Chrome or Samsung Internet. No platform-specific app is involved on either side.

It exports portable 3D documents.

Models hosted on the platform can be exported as p3DF™ files — the portable companion to 3DF™. A p3DF™ is self-contained: the model, the viewer, and the AR support all live inside one file that works offline, archives cleanly, and travels by email or USB drive.

The same model can move between cloud and portable forms without losing anything. Anyone can open a downloaded .p3df file in the free P3DF™ Viewer — browser-based, no account needed, works offline.

Who is ModelLink 3D for?

ModelLink 3D is built for professionals who already create 3D work and need a faster, less technical way to share it.

Cabinet makers and millwork shops. Send a client a 3D view of the proposed island. They walk around it in their actual kitchen before sign-off.
Kitchen and bath designers. Show clients the design in their space, in scale, without rendering software or a Zoom call.
Contractors and remodelers. Hand off a 3D view of the project at any stage — from rough framing to finished build.
Interior designers. Let clients see the furniture and finishes in the actual room.
Architects. Share massing studies, exterior treatments, or interior concepts directly to client phones.
Product designers. Present prototypes without shipping physical samples or scheduling presentations.

The common pattern across all of these: the work is already happening in SketchUp, Revit, or another 3D tool. ModelLink 3D is the layer that gets it out of the design software and in front of the client.

How does ModelLink 3D work?

The workflow is three steps.

1

Export

In SketchUp 2024+, the ModelLink 3D plugin exports a .3df file in one click — packaged with iOS AR support, a thumbnail, and metadata.

From any other 3D tool (Blender, 3ds Max, Cinema 4D, Revit), export a standard .glb file and upload that directly. No plugin required.

2

Upload

Drop the file on your dashboard. The platform generates a hosted 3DF™ document and a shareable link automatically.

3

Share

Send by email, text, or any messaging app. Embed the viewer in your website with a single iframe. Clients open it in their browser. On a phone, one tap launches the model into AR.

Once a model is uploaded, you can update display name, description, project reference, SKU, category, thumbnail, and PBR material settings from the dashboard at any time. The shareable link stays the same.

What does ModelLink 3D cost?

Plans match the live pricing page exactly. Free Trial and Professional are available now. Studio and Business are coming soon.

Free Trial

$0 / 30 days

5 models
Full AR
Embed codes
SketchUp plugin

Start Free Trial

Professional

$29 / month

25 models
1-year retention
Embed codes
Professional gallery

Get Started

Studio

$59 / month

100 models
Team features
Logo & branding
Up to 5 members

Join Waitlist

Business

$99 / month

250 models
White-label
Unlimited team
Priority support

Join Waitlist

The free trial requires no credit card. The SketchUp plugin is included with every plan. See the features and pricing page for the full feature breakdown.

What file formats does ModelLink 3D support?

ModelLink 3D works with two model formats on the way in and two on the way out.

Upload formats

3DF™ (.3df) — ModelLink 3D's document format. Produced by the SketchUp plugin. Bundles GLB + USDZ + thumbnail + metadata in one file.
GLB (.glb) — the open Khronos standard for 3D model interchange. Direct upload, no plugin required. Works from any modern 3D tool.

Plus a conversion path through the plugin. Any 3D format that SketchUp can open or import — including DWG, DXF, DAE/COLLADA, OBJ, FBX, STL, IFC, 3DS, and KMZ — can be brought into SketchUp and exported to .3df with the ModelLink 3D plugin. If your model opens in SketchUp, it can ship as a ModelLink 3D document.

Output formats

Hosted 3DF™ viewer — the default. A web page on modellink3d.com, viewable on any browser, with built-in AR support.
p3DF™ (.p3df) — portable export. A single file containing the model, an embedded viewer, and AR support. Works offline, archives cleanly, no platform dependency.

Under the hood, 3DF™ and p3DF™ both contain a standard GLB file as the underlying 3D model — so the geometry you upload stays in a GLB file that any modern 3D tool can read. AR viewing on iOS uses a USDZ asset packaged alongside the GLB; AR on Android uses the GLB through ARCore.

For the full format reference, see File Formats — 3DF™, p3DF™, GLB, and USDZ.

What makes ModelLink 3D different?

Three things distinguish ModelLink 3D from general 3D hosting platforms.

AR is the primary experience, not an afterthought.

Most 3D hosting platforms treat AR as an optional viewer mode. ModelLink 3D is designed around the AR-on-a-phone moment — every viewer is AR-capable on iOS and Android out of the box, and the SketchUp plugin packages iOS AR support (USDZ) into every export.

The format is the product.

ModelLink 3D is the reference implementation of the 3DF™ document format. That means models hosted on the platform aren't trapped in a proprietary delivery wrapper — they can be exported as p3DF™ files that work offline, on any browser, without ModelLink 3D in the loop. The same approach EPUB took for books and PDF took for documents, applied to 3D.

SketchUp gets a first-class workflow.

SketchUp is the dominant 3D tool for cabinet shops, interior design, architecture, and remodeling. The ModelLink 3D plugin exports directly from SketchUp 2024+ with one click and produces a single file ready to upload — no intermediate steps, no manual format conversion, no separate USDZ export. Users on other 3D tools upload .glb files directly.

Comparison pages against specific platforms (Sketchfab, Modelo, Augment) are forthcoming.

Frequently asked questions

Is ModelLink 3D free?

ModelLink 3D offers a 30-day free trial with 5 models and full AR functionality. After the trial, paid plans start at $29/month (Professional). It is not a free beta — it is a commercial product with a free trial tier.

Do my clients need an account to view models?

No. The shareable link works for anyone with a modern browser. Only the person uploading and managing models needs an account.

Do my clients need to install an app for AR?

No. AR runs through the device's native AR system — Apple Quick Look on iOS, ARCore through Chrome or Samsung Internet on Android. No app, no install.

Can I embed models in my own website?

Yes. Every model includes an iframe embed code. The viewer runs the same way embedded as it does on modellink3d.com.

What's the difference between 3DF™ and p3DF™?

3DF™ is the cloud-hosted document format — the model lives on ModelLink 3D's servers and is delivered through a hosted viewer. p3DF™ is the portable format — a single file containing the model and an embedded viewer that works offline. Both contain a standard GLB as the underlying model. See the file formats reference for the full explanation.

How do I open a p3DF™ file?

Drag it into the free P3DF™ Viewer at modellink3d.com/p3df-viewer/ — it runs in any modern browser, needs no account, and works offline after the first visit.

Is 3DF™ proprietary?

3DF™ and p3DF™ are document formats created by ModelLink 3D, with trademarks owned by Altonuva LLC. The 3D model inside every 3DF™ document is a standard GLB file — the open Khronos format that every modern 3D tool can read. Your underlying model is never locked in.

Is there a SketchUp plugin?

Yes. The ModelLink 3D plugin for SketchUp is free with every plan, including the free trial. It requires SketchUp 2024 or later.

Is there a Blender plugin?

Not yet. Blender users can export .glb directly from Blender's File → Export menu and upload it to ModelLink 3D. A native Blender plugin is on the roadmap.

Trademark and IP status

ModelLink 3D™ — U.S. trademark application, USPTO serial 99772531, filed 2026-04-18 by Altonuva LLC
3DF™ — U.S. trademark application, USPTO serial 99772557, filed 2026-04-18 by Altonuva LLC
p3DF™ — U.S. trademark application, USPTO serial 99772582, filed 2026-04-18 by Altonuva LLC
Patent application filed covering the two-profile document system, conversion pipeline, runtime material hot-swap, and parametric configuration workflows

What is ModelLink 3D?