Cross-platform desktop helper that lets Part3D on iPad send STL files directly to your slicer. No cables, no cloud, your iPad finds the Bridge on your local network and you send models with one tap.
Go to Releases → and download the build for your platform:
| Platform | Notes |
|---|---|
| macOS | Apple Silicon (M-series) only. macOS 10.15 (Catalina) through Sequoia. |
| Windows | Coming Soon. |
| Linux | AppImage. Requires GTK and libappindicator (see Linux notes). |
Install and run the Bridge on your computer. It sits in the system tray and waits for Part3D on your iPad to connect.
- Auto-discovery — Your iPad finds the Bridge on the network via mDNS/Bonjour; no manual IP or port setup.
- One-click import — Send STL files from Part3D on iPad straight into your slicer.
- Secure pairing — First-time device approval with HMAC authentication so only your devices can connect.
- Smart detection (macOS/Windows) — The Bridge automatically discovers supported slicers installed on your system.
- Linux behavior — On Linux, the Bridge does not auto-detect slicers; it opens the default STL handler configured by your desktop environment (KDE, GNOME, etc.).
- Lightweight — Under 10MB binary, under 15MB RAM; runs quietly in the background.
- System tray — Stays out of the way with a tray icon; no extra windows.
On macOS and Windows, the Bridge auto-detects common slicers (and can also fall back to your system default STL app).
- Orca Slicer
- Bambu Studio
- Creality Print
- System default — Any other installed application that can open STL files
On Linux, the Bridge opens whatever your desktop environment has configured as the default app for .stl files:
- Part3D on iPad ( App Store ).
- iPad and computer on the same network (Wi‑Fi or wired).
- One of the supported operating systems and slicers above.
- Linux (AppImage): GTK and
libappindicatorare required (see Linux notes below for install commands).
The Linux build is distributed as an AppImage. If the app doesn’t start or the tray icon doesn’t appear, you’re likely missing runtime dependencies.
Fedora / RPM-based (dnf):
sudo dnf install gtk3 libappindicator-gtk3Ubuntu / Debian-based (apt):
sudo apt update
# Ubuntu 24.04+ (recommended)
sudo apt install libgtk-3-0 libayatana-appindicator3-1
# Older Ubuntu/Debian
sudo apt install libgtk-3-0 libappindicator3-1This repository is used for releases and for user feedback:
- Bug reports — Open an issue and describe what went wrong, your OS, and steps to reproduce.
- Feature requests — Open an issue with the “feature request” label (or describe your idea and we’ll label it).
There is no source code in this repo—only this README and the release binaries.
For more about Part3D and the Bridge, see part3d.app and part3d.app/bridge.