3D files from Commons don't display thumbnails on Wikipedia (and other wikis except Commons).
For example, I just uploaded this file to Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Prince_Rupert%27s_cube.stl. On that page, it displays with a thumbnail and 3D viewer.
However, the Wikipedia page for this file has no thumbnail and no 3D viewer: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Prince_Rupert%27s_cube.stl.
The file also doesn't display as a thumbnail when used in an article: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Prince_Rupert%27s_cube&diff=826147954&oldid=826125560&diffonly=0. Only a link to the file page appears:
Looks like the 3D extension is only enabled on Commons – it should probably be enabled on all wikis (but with uploads of .stl files disabled). That will probably be enough to make this work?