Autodesk Meshmixer

This is a Work in Progress Article

Autodesk Meshmixer

UI

The MeshMixer interface consists simply of a work space, a Task Bar (to the left) and a Menu Bar (top).

Most commands are accessible by the Task Bar. Various titles may be selected to reveal either a grouping of commands, or parameters for controlling a particular command selection.

At the selection of objects, an Object Browser window may also be automatically opened to enable selection and/or visibility of different objects. In the case that the Object Browser does not appear: Menu Bar > VIEW > Open Objects Browser or Ctrl + Shift + O.

For basic navigating of the work space:

Zooming: Ctrl + Hold Mouse Center Button or Shift + Scroll Mouse

Panning: Shift + Hold Mouse Center Button

Orbiting: Hold Mouse Center Button

Select an Object: (Object Browser Window) or Task Bar > SELECT > At the top, switch from either 'brush' or 'lasso' Move an Object: Select Object > Task Bar > EDIT > TRANSFORM > Use Gumball widgets

Recenter View at Specified Area: Position cursor at specified area > Type 'c'

Use Cases

MeshMixer has been found to be useful in both Nextlab and Fablab operations for easy slicing of prints, automatic simple repairs, making solids, creating hollows and generating smart supports.

Capabilities of the software as listed, include:

• Drag-and-Drop Mesh Mixing

• 3D Sculpting and Surface Stamping

• Robust Convert-to-Solid for 3D printing

• 3D Patterns & Lattices

• Hollowing with Escape Holes

• Branching Support Structures for 3D printing

• Automatic Print Bed Orientation Optimization, Layout & Packing

• Advanced selection tools including brushing, surface-lasso, and constraints

• Remeshing and Mesh Simplification/Reducing

• Mesh Smoothing and Free-Form Deformations

• Hole Filling, Bridging, Boundary Zippering, and Auto-Repair

• Plane Cuts, Mirroring, and Booleans

• Extrusions, Offset Surfaces, and Project-to-Target-Surface

• Interior Tubes & Channels

• Precise 3D Positioning with Pivots

• Automatic Alignment of Surfaces

• 3D Measurements

• Stability & Thickness Analysis

Autodesk Meshmixer

Resources

Auto-Repair and Patching Holes

Before submitting a model, ensure that there are no unwanted holes or cuts in the object.

Check for irregularities with the Repair feature:

1. Click ANALYSIS > Inspector.

2. When the software completes running, coloured balls will appear to indicate holes and gaps throughout the model.

3. Different colours symbolise the severity of the holes. Blue: A minor error; easily patched. Red: Larger holes; may still be patched using MeshMixer, but recommended to be inspected after the command is run. Pink: Indicates an island that would be removed in the first step of repairing. A second running of the Inspector tool would be required to fix the hole left.

4. Balls may be selected individually to fix an error at a time, or hit Auto Repair All.

Slicing Prints

Prints exceeding the printer bed dimensions, or a maximum of 8 hours build time per bed, will be required to be sliced into smaller parts and distributed among several beds.

Refer to the article:

Converting to Solid

Only geometry with a volume may be acceptable for 3D printing. i.e. Surfaces are unacceptable.

Give surfaces a volume using the Make Solid feature:

1. Click EDIT > Make Solid.

2. A set of parameters will open for accessible control of the transformation: Solid Type: Select an option to determine an overall level of accuracy, or a number of mesh faces, when transforming the mesh into a solid. The selection Fast is recommended to achieve a fairly precise mesh with a low number of mesh faces. Colour Transfer Mode: It is recommended to set to Automatic. Solid Accuracy: This setting will connect generated cells to each other. Higher accuracy will result in a better detection of gaps, but with a larger file size requiring more processing power. It is recommended to setSolid Accuracy > 100 by using the slider, or by clicking to input the value. Mesh Density: This setting will determine edges. Entering a lower number will result in edges to be generated as chamfers. It is recommended to set Mesh Density > 100. Offset Distance: A setting to account for shrinkage and/or tolerance in 3D printed objects, this setting allows an object to be made a set value thicker or thinner after made solid. If the shrinkage percentage of particular filament is known and size accuracy is a vital factor to a project, adding a value to this setting is recommended. If accuracy of thickness is of no concern, the setting may be left at 0. Minimum Thickness: The NextLab requires all models to be of at least a 2mm minimum thickness. It is recommended to set Minimum Thickness > 2mm.

3. Click Accept to continue.

Recommended settings as shown.

Converting to Hollow (Shells)

Models with large, unnecessary volumes may be easily hollowed to save time and material.

Convert bulky masses to shells using the Hollow feature:

1. Click EDIT > Hollow.

2. A set of parameters will open for accessible control of the transformation: Offset Distance: This setting will determine the thickness of the shell walls. The NextLab requires all models to be of at least 2mm minimum thickness. It is recommended to set Offset Distance > 2mm. Solid Accuracy: This setting will connect generated cells to each other. Higher accuracy will result in a better detection of gaps, but with a larger file size requiring more processing power. It is recommended to setSolid Accuracy > 250 by using the slider, or by clicking to input the value. Mesh Density: This setting will aid in improving the smoothness and accuracy of the holes. It is recommended to aim for a fairly precise mesh with a low number of mesh faces for faster processing of the mesh. It is recommended to set Mesh Density > 100-150.

3. Leave the other settings at their defaults and click Accept to proceed.

Custom Supports

Refer to the article:

Custom Supports in Meshmixer