# Autodesk Meshmixer
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This is a **Work in Progress Article**
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## 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: \
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`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'`\
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**Move an Object:** \
\&#xNAN;**`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
{% content-ref url="untitled-3" %}
[untitled-3](https://ms-kb.msd.unimelb.edu.au/next-lab/3d-printing/external-resources/software-primers/untitled-3)
{% endcontent-ref %}
## 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.\
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**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:
{% content-ref url="broken-reference" %}
[Broken link](https://ms-kb.msd.unimelb.edu.au/next-lab/3d-printing/external-resources/software-primers/broken-reference)
{% endcontent-ref %}
### Converting to Solid
Only geometry with a **volume** may be acceptable for 3D printing. \
i.e. S*urfaces 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:\
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**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.\
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**Colour Transfer Mode:** It is recommended to set to `Automatic`*.*\
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**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 set`Solid Accuracy > 100` by using the slider, or by clicking to input the value.\
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**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`.\
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**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`.\
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**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.
### 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:\
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**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`.\
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**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 set`Solid Accuracy > 250` by using the slider, or by clicking to input the value.\
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**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:
{% content-ref url="../../key-techniques/mesh-techniques/other-techniques/custom-supports-in-meshmixer" %}
[custom-supports-in-meshmixer](https://ms-kb.msd.unimelb.edu.au/next-lab/3d-printing/key-techniques/mesh-techniques/other-techniques/custom-supports-in-meshmixer)
{% endcontent-ref %}