MATLAB: Can I export 3D graphics to the .WML (VRML 2.0) or .OBJ file formats

formatMATLABobjSimulink 3D Animationwml

I have a 3D surface in MATLAB that I would like to export to either .WML or .OBJ so that it can then be read into another CAD program I am running.

Best Answer

To export 3D MATLAB graphics to the .WML file format, you can consider using the VRML function that is built-into MATLAB. The code snippet below illustrates exporting a 3D planar surface to this format. To reproduce this, execute the following:
% Create random 3D data
  xran=rand(10,3);
% Create line plot of these points (you can generate the same with surfaces as well)
  figure, plot3(xran(:,1),xran(:,2),xran(:,3)), grid on
% Export to VRML
  vrml(gcf,'output.wrl')
You can replicate this example with a 3D surface by replacing the second step in the previous example with the example command 'membrane' and follow through with the same third step for exporting the image.
Exporting 3D graphics from MATLAB to the .OBJ file format is not directly supported. However, there are third-party users who have created functions that can do the same, an example of which is the SAVEOBJMESH function which is outlined here:
https://www.nada.kth.se/~asa/Ray/matlabobj.html
Note
: 
The 'vrml' function was removed in R2014a. To use the function now, you must download it from FileExchange here:
https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/fileexchange/48242-vrml-h-filename-opts
Note that MathWorks does not guarantee or warrant the use or content of these third-party submissions. Any questions, issues, or complaints should be directed to the contributing author.
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