The platform automatically performs 3D model optimization during the uploada mesh optimization after a 3D file has been uploaded.
Parametric File Formats
Parametric file format such as “.stp“ and “.iges“ contain surface representations of a 3D model. Although this representation provides an extremely precise and compact description of the model, it are is not suitable for 3D printing. Our platform automatically converts surface representations into a triangular meshes and proceeds with mesh optimization.
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A mesh is a triangulated approximation of a 3D surface and it is a suitable representation for any 3D printer on the market. The most common mesh file formats are “.stl“, “.wrl“ and “.obj“. A mesh file does not require any pre-processing and is immediately suitable for mesh optimization.
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The goal of mesh optimization is to ensure that your file is printable and that the outcome has the best possible quality. The platform will attempt a first optimization step to make sure your model meets the minimal requirements for printability and then starts a second optimization step to improve the surface quality of the final printout.
Minimum requirements for printability
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The first optimization step makes sure that the minimum requirements for printability are met.
Printers of several manufacturers will reject the 3D model if the following requirements are not met:
Manifoldness or Watertightness:
Manifold meshes are characterized by strong connectivity. In simple words, each triangle of a mesh should be connected to exactly 3 three neighbor triangles.
Strong connectivity guarantees that none of the following problems occurs:Holes
Redundant triangles
Merged objects
Correct triangle orientation:
Meshes with correct triangle orientation uniquely define the inside and the outside of the object. If this requirement is not met, printers may not be able to correctly distinguish between printing volume and empty space. Triangles with incorrect orientation (in black) may also be visualized incorrectly by CAD programs.
Requirements for best
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surface quality
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Absence of intersections:
For a high quality printout, the volume of each object needs to be uniquely defined, but self intersecting objects may define the same volume multiple times .
Although many printers accept files with self intersections, the surface quality of the final printout may be negatively impacted. Additionally, computing the volume and surface area of such meshes for further printability analysis yields incorrect results.
Disabling mesh optimization
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| Note |
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Disabling mesh optimization is not recommended. Please contact our tech support if you want mesh optimization to be disabled. |
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Only on-premise installations can have mesh optimization disabled. |
Mesh optimization should only be disabled only when there are strict quality assurance processes are in place, when models are already pre-processed by other data preparation software or when runtime performance is a serious issue.
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