Microsoft Spearheads 3D Printing File Format: Introducing The 3MF
Space future – ESA – 3D printed lunar base
3D printers have evolved beyond the ubiquitous and simple STL file format. 3MF is an XML-based data format. 3MF is a human-readable compressed XML that includes definitions for data related to 3D manufacturing. The format is designed to be an additive manufacturing format, with the complete model information contained within a single archive: mesh, textures, materials, colors and print ticket.
Read more at: http://www.forbes.com/sites/tjmccue/2015/05/28/microsoft-spearheads-3d-printing-file-format-introducing-the-3mf/