Sep.24, 2013
Autodesk has released a new version of Meshmixer, a mesh editing program with a strong focus on 3D printing. Meshmixer is a free and powerful prototype design tool for working with 3D mesh files and Autodesk has made some really interesting enhancements to it.
Autodesk acquired MeshMixer in 2011 and its primary developer Ryan Schmidt describes the software as "a free tool for making crazy-ass 3D stuff without too much hassle". Development on the app continues apace, and in Meshmixer 2.0, Autodesk has polished up the user interface of mess-editing tool and added quite a few new features.
Some cool new features are:
- new Support Structure Generation for 3D printing in the Overhang Tool
- new Strength Analysis Tool, does fast approximate stress analysis
- new XYZ mode in measuring tool
- new Soft Transform tool, under the Select / Deform menu
- new shading modes - flat shading and face-group-normal shading (accessible from menus and spacebar hotbox)
- you can now directly enter numbers for all the parameter sliders
- all right-mouse-button actions also available as shift-leftmouse (eg align tool, etc)
In Meshmixer 2.0, one powerful tool for preparing models for 3D printing is a sophisticated system for automatically or manually generating support material. When working with complex organic forms, you will often need to provide a support or "scaffold" to ensure that the model prints correctly. In Meshmixer 2.0, you can customize precise and easy-to-remove support materials for your models.
Watch the video below and check out the new UI and its new features.
Thanks to Gian for the tip!
Posted in 3D Software
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