silva turning drawing into a 3d model

At the start of a projection, choose a file format that can comprehensively draw the design while suiting the intended applications and minimizing the need for file conversions. Meshmixer will read numerous 3D file types, such as STL, OBJ, PLY, and some lesser known formats; AMF, 3MF, OFF, and the native MIX format. For exporting designs to a different format, Meshmixer besides supports Collada, VRML, and Smesh.

• STL (STereoLithography) is a format originally adult for stereolithography 3D press that is the most commonly accepted file format in 3D press. It stores only geometry data and has a compact file size.
• OBJ as get-go created by Wavefront is a simple format storing vertex information to represent a 3D mesh. Besides vertex positions, it also stores surface normal plus a UV coordinate that tin be mapped to an external texture.
• PLY (Polygon) is a more than extensive format adult at Stanford to aid the storage of 3D scanning information. 1 of its benefits is the possibility to assign properties such as texture data separately for both sides of a face.
• AMF (Additive Manufacturing Format) is an alternative to STL for 3D printing. Being XML-based, it volition store additional information such as orientation, scale, patterning multiple objects, non-planar edges, and graded materials.
• 3MF (3D Manufacturing Format) is similar to AMF just less standardized equally information technology is created by a consortium of companies. Originally adult past Microsoft, it is the native 3D format in Windows.
• OFF (Object File Format) is a simple, hand-programmable, text-based format that next to geometry also stores color data per vertex.
• Collada (COLLaborative Design Activity) is a versatile format well-suited for digital assets that was adult by Sony. The at present widely supported format allows developers to store rendering data such as animations, level-of-detail, shaders, also as diffuse, normal and specularity maps.
• VRML (Virtual Reality Markup Language) is similar to Collada but scriptable and uniform with web browsers.
• Smesh is a simple format that describes 3D geometry both in terms of triangles and complex polygons. This makes the format more suited for objects with large planar areas.

A comparison to the standard STL file format for sculptural and geometrical files reveals that 3MF and Smesh are more effective formats, while AMF is more versatile, but also more expensive infinite-wise.

Before modifying a part, make sure to optimize its triangulation. In our instance, we picked a model of the Venus of Milo that has an uneven distribution of triangles plus some split and complanate triangles. With Meshmixer, you can create an even tessellation using the Remesh command.

Click the Select Icon in the menu and click to create an area to be remeshed, or use Ctrl + A to select the entire object. On the Popup menu, click Edit → Remesh or hit R. There are several Remesh Modes:

• Target Edge Length ensures an fifty-fifty triangle size across the mesh, optimizing the function for sculpting. This is computationally intensive so set a reasonable size relative to the object.

• Relative Density is the aforementioned method but specifies according to triangle density.

• Adaptive Density creates a denser triangulation in more detailed areas, optimizing file size. This is helpful when the object is complete and can exist saved for 3D printing.

• Linear Subdivision just creates more than triangles past splitting existing ones, maintaining the original geometry.

Annotation that the Regularity setting creates more than equilateral triangles just sacrifices more detail. The Transition setting creates a gradual transition from the original mesh to the remeshed section. With Preserve Group Boundaries checked the program maintains the shape of specifically designed triangle groups such as perfectly round optics. Checking the Preserve Abrupt Edges choice prevents hard corners from being smoothed out. Under Boundary, a Costless Boundary is often preferred considering information technology sacrifices accuracy for mesh quality.

Optimizing the mesh reduced the file size past 60%.

Meshmixer offers several ways to carve up a office of a mesh. The simplest method is first selecting the part to be separated, and then using the Edit → Extract (Shift+D) command. The program will create a new beat out with an optional get-go distance. Choosing the Normal direction for the offset will expand or shrink your part. Then, from the master bill of fare, pick Edit → Separate Shells to individually save and name each function, while deleting obsolete sections.

The Extract command creates a duplicate or offset of a selected area.

The other method is Edit → Airplane Cut. This brings up a transform gizmo allowing orientation of the cutting airplane. The blue arrow is used to specify cutting direction. In case a plane would cut off unwanted sections, information technology is possible to create a selection prior to cutting. With the selection active, hit Edit → Plane Cut from the pop-upward rather than from the main menu.

The Airplane Cutting command applied to a selection cuts off a specific area without affecting others.

Meshmixer was originally created to interchange and combine different 3D parts. On opening the plan, the get-go icon Meshmix opens up a library of parts. Nether the dropdown menu is a section called My Parts. This allows users to create a custom 3D library.

To add an object, select it in the object browser (toggle with Ctrl + Shift + O), then select all with Ctrl + A. At present in the Select section of the main carte cull Convert to → Solid Role. After hitting Take the object will be visible in the My Parts section.

My Parts lets users create a custom object library.

In the Sculpt section, Meshmixer offers several brushes that tin be applied directly to the mesh. The following Book brushes offering all the functionality required for bones 3D sculpting work:

• Elevate moves an area in 3D space

• Describe displaces vertices forth the normal of the brush region, as if drawing on the surface

• Flatten moves vertices in the brush region towards the average normal of that area

• Inflate translates vertices along their normal

Drag moves an area in 3D space

Draw displaces vertices along the normal of the brush region, as if drawing on the surface

Flatten moves vertices in the castor region towards the average normal of that area

Inflate translates vertices along their normal

Property Ctrl while sculpting inverts the brush function, i.e., deflating instead of inflating and debossing instead of drawing. Speedily change brush size with the straight bracket ( [ and ] ) hotkeys, or cycle through last used brushes with the left and right arrows. The recommended secondary brush is RobustSmooth which is activated past property Shift. This way, the sculptor tin rapidly alternate between manipulation and smoothing brushes to define the overall book.

For calculation detail, the Depict brush with a spiky falloff pattern works well. Together with the Pinch brush, this results in very precipitous lines. Surface brushes are great for adding detail as well. The utilize of custom stencils allows rapid creation of intricate textures. Brand sure to Enable Refinement (hotkey R) or apply the Refine Brush in the Volume department to add triangles for additional detail.

Checking Symmetry (hotkey Shift + S) applies the identical sculpting operation across a symmetry aeroplane. When checked, striking the toolbox icon next to the command to manually identify the symmetry plane.

Bones volume brushes transformed this arm model into a softer i that will fit our Venus of Milo model better.

To combine two meshes into i, import both meshes or drag them from the Meshmix library. In the Object Browser, select an object from the main card and choose Edit → Transform to position each object. With both objects selected, showtime the advisable Boolean command, in this case, Marriage. This is a complex algorithm that merges the 2 objects into a unmarried beat out. In instance the object consists of multiple shells, get-go utilize the Edit → Separate Shells command. For a Boolean Deviation command, the 2nd selected object is subtracted from the outset. Considering of Meshmixer's unique version of the Boolean script, it not only works on solid models but as well on surfaces.

Precise or Max Quality mode volition maintain the intersection curve between both objects, while Fast Approximate is much quicker and normally suffices. If the Boolean functioning fails it results in two red colored objects. In that case, plow the Search Depth parameter upwardly to increase the chance of success. Checking Use Intersection Curves as well improves quality. Target Edge Scale controls the size of the triangles near the intersection relative to the surrounding ones.

A successful Meshmix with added item at the intersection for resculpting.

Meshmixer offers several avant-garde ways of patching up holes in a mesh. Sometimes it is useful to create a pigsty in order to cut out an irregular area. In that case, enter Select style and use the lasso to select the area to be removed. Now hit Delete or Edit → Discard (10) to remove all selected faces. Go to Analysis → Inspector and the hole volition be detected. Of the available options in the dropdown menu, Minimal Make full results in the least corporeality of triangles necessary to close the hole. A Apartment Fill creates a patch equally flat equally possible, and a Smoothen Fill matches the patch to the curvature of the surrounding area. Auto Repair All usually fixes all holes, as well as intersecting and floating triangles.

An alternative method is to select the expanse to be deleted and use the Edit → Erase and Fill (F) operation from the popup bill of fare. Setting Type to Smooth MVC results in a good continuous fill up. Edit → Brand Solid or Edit → Supercede and Fill are other methods that will fill all holes. An additional pass with the RobustSmooth sculpting brush volition blend the improved area completely into the model.

Smoothing out irregular areas.

For whatever feature to be visible afterward 3D press, information technology needs to have a minimum wall thickness or detail size, that's dependent on the 3D printer and 3D printing engineering science. Stereolithography 3D printers, like the Form 3, can reproduce some of the finest details.

Ane manner to add thickness to a mesh lies in a specific apply of the Extrude command. Select the area that needs thickening using Brush style, which allows selecting (and deselecting past holding Ctrl) individual triangles. It is possible to smooth the selection past choosingAlter → Smooth Boundary from the popup menu. Increasing the Smoothness and Iterations parameters will effect in a more clean selection. Now, choose Edit → Extrude (D) with Normal equally the Management setting.

Generating a thicker section with the Extrude operation.

At times when you're not printing functional parts that require a sure strength, adding wall thickness to hollow out your design tin be a great way to save a considerable corporeality of textile and time.

To install a wall thickness to the entire model, choose Edit → Hollow. The minimum wall thickness depends on the 3D printing technology. For both SLA and selective laser sintering (SLS), 1 mm is a practiced minimum get-go value.

Calculation escape holes when hollowing out parts is crucial for successful 3D printing with SLA and SLS technologies.

For SLA, include at least 2 holes with 1.five mm diameter—one closest as possible to the build platform, the other somewhere on an opposite side. This provides an escape hole for the resin, preventing a pressure differential during the 3D printing process. It too ensures good isopropyl booze (IPA) flow during cleaning and air venting later on.

For SLS models, add ii two mm holes or i hole with a 4 mm diameter for the entrapped pulverisation to escape. It is possible to Generate Holes automatically or double-click to specify custom locations.

To ensure a watertight model, run Edit → Brand Solid afterward creating holes. This is an intensive operation so make sure the model is now gear up for 3D printing.

Using the Analysis → Stability tool we tin as well conclude that the object volume has been reduced by more than 75% in our example instance that'll significantly reduce textile utilize and printing fourth dimension.

Use Analysis → Thickness to verify if the wall thickness of the model is inside acceptable limits for the given 3D press technology. Not sufficient wall thickness might atomic number 82 to lost details, or, in a worse case, print failure.

The Minimum Thickness setting checks if the wall thickness meets this dimension, and Minimum Defect Size indicates the minimum size the area needs to take to be marked equally below the threshold. Cone Angle, Cone Samples, and Grazing Bending are technical parameters relating to the number of rays calculated from i side to the other and the angle between them in club to determine wall thickness. Lowering the cone samples and setting a higher grazing angle will ameliorate processing times.

Analyzing our single-armed Venus model, there are some areas of low wall thickness, but with SLA 3D printing, only the largest ones on the tunic will need modification, for example using the Inflate brush.

Wall thickness assay volition assist to preserve details and reduce print failures.

Not surprisingly, our Venus sculpture was not created with 3D printing pattern rules in mind more than than 2,000 years ago. For successful printing, fused deposition modeling (FDM) and SLA 3D printers will require support structures. Meshmixer offers the possibility to embed support structures directly into the mesh. They are synthetic using bifurcating strands that grow up to the overhang, which can salvage plenty of cloth compared to raft-based supports.

Advanced print preparation tools like Formlabs' PreForm software allow you to create and edit optimal back up structures with ease for the selected printer and 3D model. For all-time results, nosotros recommend using PreForm to create back up structures. PreForm is free, endeavor it now.

From the main menu, pick Assay → Overhangs and select a preset pertaining to the 3D printer. Calculation a Contact Tolerance specifies the altitude from the tip of the support structure to the model in order to facilitate breakaway. At present open the Support Generator that presents u.s.a. with settings that speak for themselves. Under Avant-garde Support make sure to cheque Allow Top Connections for models requiring alpine support structures. This volition create supports that get-go somewhere on the model itself rather than starting from the build plate. Later tweaking the settings, hit Generate Supports. The support generator is computationally intensive so for large models information technology is sometimes useful to perform another Edit → Remesh or Edit → Reduce operation to minimize triangle count. It also helps to have the model already positioned with the Z-centrality up and snapped to the XY-plane. Utilize Ctrl + LMB to remove individual supports in areas of high item where they might interfere with the product geometry, are prone to fail to print, or will be hard to remove mail service-printing.

With all support structures in place, Convert to Solid combines all continued supports into a single object. The Edit →  Separate Shells command then allows saving support structures separately from the model in order to use different 3D printing settings in the slicer software.

Back up structures generated for FDM and SLA 3D printing can bereduced to the bare minimum in highly detailed areas.

Adding wires to a 3D model, for case, for connecting multiple parts in a single print, can take substantial effort if done manually. Delegating this part of the modeling process to MeshMixer will upshot in a successful model when using the powerful Edit → AddTube tool. This allows the user to specify two points on the mesh surface between which a tube of specified start and cease radius gets connected. The Spline blazon allows curving the tube forth the start and the stop face normal, with tunable tangent strength. AutoRoute (Smooth) creates a tube that equally far as possible passes through the model which is useful for fluid channels or electric wiring routes.

When choosing Boolean in Combine Mode, an outside tube is added to the mesh while an within tube gets subtracted to create an internal aqueduct. Suspend creates a new shell inside the same object without merging with information technology.

In instance nosotros want to create an array of miniature objects connected past means of a sprue-type connection, Edit → Transform (T) and Edit → Mirror are useful to scale down and reposition them. With Edit → Align the object can be snapped to the ground plane. Hit Edit → Indistinguishable and with the new object selected in the object browser, use the Transform tool to move it forth the X-axis. Select the two objects and perform a Combine performance to move the models into a single object and create linear patterns speedily. For more advanced object patterning functions, it'south best to utilise other software tools, such every bit Blender's Assortment Modifier.

Different uses of the AddTube tool.

When printing multiple objects, it is of import to make efficient use of the available space. MeshMixer offers the Analysis → Layout/Packing functionality to layout objects in different ways. It is important to apply the Separate Shells control and correctly orient the objects relative to the ground airplane before starting the packing algorithm. For our Venus sculpture, a Square Packing Style proved more than efficient than a Circular Packing Style.

MeshMixer'due south Packing algorithm optimizes the layout to save infinite when 3D printing multiple objects.

Meshmixer besides features a listing of stylistic variation to allow designers to get creative when editing meshes.

Voxelize

The Edit → Make Solid command from the main menu creates a watertight solid from mesh surfaces by recomputing the object into a voxel representation. If we opt for Blocky mode under Solid Blazon with large jail cell size, it results in a funky voxelized model. To prevent straight overhangs that demand support structures, the play a trick on is to outset rotate the object by 45 degrees over the X or Z-axis using the Edit → Transform tool. Use Edit → Plane Cut to brand the lesser apartment over again.

Low Poly

Making expert depression polygonal models is an fine art that oft requires many hours of manual design work. MeshMixer provides advanced functionality to turn even complex objects into striking low poly pieces. This can be washed in two passes:

1. First, determine the minimum triangle size necessary to preserve detail. This removes unnecessary detail which speeds up experimentation in the second pass. Click Edit → Remesh and choose Relative Density way. Plough downwardly the Density slider to where the geometry is withal reasonably represented, with the Preserve Sharp Edges pick left unchecked.

2. Hit Accept and once again choose Edit → Remesh. This time, utilize the Target Edge Length fashion to specify the length of the longest edge required in the low poly model under Border Length. At present cheque Preserve Sharp Edges and experiment with the Sharp Threshold and Regularity parameters until the model looks like an artistic version of the original 1.

Beginning, determine the minimum triangle size necessary to preserve detail. This removes unnecessary detail which speeds up experimentation in the second pass. Click Edit → Remesh and cull Relative Density mode. Pass up the Density slider to where the geometry is yet reasonably represented, with the Preserve Sharp Edges pick left unchecked.

Hit Take and again choose Edit → Remesh. This time, use the Target Edge Length mode to specify the length of the longest edge required in the low poly model under Edge Length. Now check Preserve Sharp Edges and experiment with the Sharp Threshold and Regularity parameters until the model looks like an creative version of the original one.

Wireframe

An open wireframe-style model tin can exist created later starting time applying the first Remesh pass described in the Depression Poly department. Then pick Edit → Brand Pattern from the master menu and choose Edges for Pattern Blazon. This creates a wire at every edge. Choose Dual Edges for a Voronoi-fashion pattern. Element Dimension represents the wire diameter, which should exist at least 2 or 2.5 mm for FDM 3D press and  1 mm for SLS and SLA 3D printing. Filigree Smoothing is an advanced option that will smoothly alloy all wireframe components, resulting in a visually and mechanically more than attractive design.

Depression-poly, voxelized, wireframe, and perforated pattern variations.

Using the Print command from the main menu, you can prepare printer properties and choice the print preparation tool or slicing program to piece the model and send it directly to the 3D printer.

Setting upwardly printer backdrop in Meshmixer speeds upwardly the workflow.

Looking for the right tool to turn your designs into reality? High-resolution desktop stereolithography 3D printers are fast and cost-effective tools to produce high detail models with a smooth surface end.

Learn more almost SLA 3D printers and see the quality immediate by requesting a costless sample function printed on a Formlabs SLA 3D printer.

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Source: https://formlabs.com/blog/meshmixer-tutorial-tips-to-edit-stl-files-for-3d-printing/

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