Blender’s tools for checking models

Blender has many available Add-ons or plugins. By default, not all are pre-loaded. One of these is the 3D Print Toolbox, which we have to enable.

We also have the Mesh Analysis panel, in the Properties Shelf, which has a subset of the 3D Print Toolbox features:

../_images/mesh-analysis.png

The Mesh Analysis panel, in the Properties Shelf. Must be in Edit Mode.

Exercise: enabling the 3D Print Toolbox.

  • File ‣ User Preferences (or Ctrl-Alt-U) to open the User Preferences menu.
  • In the Add-ons tab, start typing 3d print into the search bar. Once the “Mesh: 3D Print Toolbox” shows up, click the checkbox on the far right to enable this add-on.
../_images/user_preferences_3dprint.png

File ‣ User Preferences ‣ “Add-ons” Tab. Check the box on the far right to enable

  • Close the User Preferences window.
  • In the Tool Shelf, there should be a new 3D Printing tab.
../_images/3dprint-toolbox.png

The newly available 3D Printing toolbox