MeshIO

CloudCompare is a popular open-source tool for working with 3D point clouds and meshes, commonly used in fields like surveying, architecture, and engineering. MeshIO is a plugin that adds support for several common 3D file formats to CloudCompare. Once installed, it lets you open COLLADA, glTF, and IFC-SPF (STEP) files directly in the application, so you can view and work with 3D models created in other software without converting them first.

The plugin acts as a bridge between CloudCompare and a widely used library called Assimp, which handles the actual reading of the 3D file formats. In practice, MeshIO translates the data Assimp reads into a structure CloudCompare can understand and display. The README notes that because this involves three components — the file format, Assimp, and CloudCompare — troubleshooting file problems can be tricky, and not every file will import perfectly. For instance, IFC-SPF support is not complete, and some mesh names may be lost during import.

This plugin is aimed at people who already use CloudCompare and need to bring in 3D models from design or engineering tools. An architect might use it to open a glTF model from a design review, or an engineer might need to inspect an IFC file exported from BIM software like Revit. It is not a standalone tool — it only works as part of CloudCompare.

The README also explains how to add support for additional file formats, provided Assimp already supports them. The process involves copying an existing importer, adjusting a few configuration settings, and enabling the format in the build. This makes the project extensible for developers who need broader format coverage. The project is open source under a BSD license.