Mesh problems and solutions

Printer limitations require meshes to meet certain criteria. These criteria depend on the printer and material, but Blender has tools to help troubleshoot and spot issues before sending to the printer.

3D Print Toolbox

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.

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

  • Save User Preferences if you want this to be loaded next time you run Blender.
  • 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

Running the 3D Print Toolbox

This tool checks for the following issues. Images are from the Blender 2.6 docs for the toolbox.

../_images/3dpt-intersections.png

Intersecting faces. Internal vertices will need to be deleted

../_images/3dpt-distorted.png

Distorted faces. Triangulation might help this.

../_images/3dpt-thickness.png

Thickness. A redesign is needed.

../_images/3dpt-overhang.png

Overhang. Supports can be added (by extruding small parts of the glass’ bowl downwards to Z=0)

Exercise: running some checks in the 3D Print Toolbox

  • Set the parameters to match the tolerances of the intended printer
  • Enter Edit mode
  • Click the Check All button
  • The Output box will show the results. If problematic regions were found, a clickable button will appear in the output. Clicking this will highlight the faces.
../_images/3dpt-results.png

Note the “Overhang face” is a button that can be clicked. Doing so highlights the faces (in face select mode)

Note

There should always be at least some faces flagged as “Overhanging face” since these will be on the build surface of the printer. You will have to evaluate whether any additional overhanging faces warrant fixing.

Mesh Analysis

Complementary to the 3D Print Toolbox is the Mesh Analysis panel. Rather than yes/no answers per face, this generates a heatmap of problematic areas. These images are from the Blender Mesh Analysis docs.

../_images/mesh-analysis.png

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

../_images/mesh-analysis-overhang.jpg

Overhang, with red indicating more problematic areas

../_images/mesh-analysis-thickness.jpg

Thickness, red shows more problematic

../_images/mesh-analysis-distortion.jpg

Distortion, where triangulation may have a hard time figuring out how to divide faces.

../_images/mesh-analysis-sharpness.jpg

Like thickness, too-sharp areas can be difficult to print.

Incomplete guide for fixing issues

Problem Solution
Intersections Fix geometry by deleting inner vertices
Non-manifold Fill holes (F; may need Ctrl-T as well)
Overhanging Add supports, or move widest face of model to Z=0
Thin Add geometry or modify original design
Sharp, too-small faces Add geometry or modify design; try tri -> quad -> tri (Ctrl-T, Ctrl-J, Ctrl-T or Remesh modifier

Some useful links with more info on fixing issues: