Snapmaker U1 .3mf converters, compared
Three tools convert multicolor files for the Snapmaker U1. I build one of them, so treat this as informed rather than neutral — every claim below comes from the other tools' own pages and is linked, so you can check it.
Last checked: August 2026. These tools ship changes; if something here is out of date, tell me and I'll fix it.
🔒 The difference that matters most: does your file leave your computer?
BedReady and U1 Forge convert inside your browser. bl2u1 uploads your file to a server and, per its own page, keeps it there for 8 hours. That's fine for a free MakerWorld model. It is not fine for a paid model, a client's file, or anything you don't have redistribution rights to.
| BedReady | bl2u1 | U1 Forge | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Source files | Bambu, Prusa, Creality, Orca | Bambu Lab only | Bambu, Prusa, MakerWorld |
| Where conversion runsbl2u1's own page states uploaded files are deleted from the server after 8 hours. | Your browser | Their server | Your browser |
| Price | Free | Free (donations) | First export free, then ~$2 each |
| Keeps painted multicolor | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| More than 4 coloursThe U1 has 4 physical slots, so every tool has to do something here — the question is what. | Full Spectrum mixing, M600 swap pauses, or band-swap | Pick 4, the rest are dropped | Not documented |
| Retarget to other printers | U1 → Bambu / Prusa / Creality | No | No |
| STL ⇄ 3MF | Yes | No | Not documented |
| Batch convert a folder | Yes | No | Not documented |
| Live coloured 3D preview | Yes, before you download | No | Not documented |
| Installs Orca filament profiles | Yes | No | No |
| Browser extension | Chrome + Firefox | Separate extension exists | No |
| Desktop app | macOS, Windows, Linux | No | No |
| Languages | 7 | English | English |
When to use one of the others instead
- U1 Forge has modes BedReady doesn't: painting colour regions in the browser, applying surface textures, and cutting models. If you want to author colour rather than convert someone else's file, it does things I don't.
- bl2u1 is open source (GPL-3.0) and self-hostable. If you want to run the conversion on your own infrastructure, or read exactly what it does to your file, that's a real advantage.
- Snapmaker Orca itself keeps improving. If your file is already a U1 or Orca project, you very likely don't need any converter — open it directly.
Try it on a file that's given you trouble
Nothing uploads, there's no account, and you see the colours before you download. If it gets your file wrong, send it to me — that's the most useful thing anyone can do.
Sources: bl2u1.nbn.cat, josuanbn/bl2u1, U1 Forge announcement. BedReady is an independent project and is not affiliated with Snapmaker, Bambu Lab, or the authors of the tools above. “Not documented” means the tool's public page doesn't mention the feature — not that it definitely lacks it.