Meshmixer Essential Training

Discover Meshmixer, the powerful 3D modeling utility from Autodesk. Explore the features of this versatile software, from 3D scan cleanup to sculpting and 3D print preparation.

Overview

• Introduction
• Overview of Meshmixer areas
• Overview of Meshmixer user interface
• Importing and saving files
• Overview of view modes: How to best see your model

1. Evaluating and Fixing Downloads from Online Sites

• Introduction: Great places to find models and some problems that can arise
• Places to find models online
• Typical errors found in online models
• Using Meshmixer's automated fixing techniques
• When automated fixing isn't enough: Remeshing
• Another technique for fixing models: Bridging
• Fixing models using the powerful Make Solid command
• Your last resort: Remodeling using Meshmixer tools

2. Working with Multiple Objects in Meshmixer

• Introduction to multiple objects in Meshmixer
• What are separate bodies in Meshmixer?
• Why do separate bodies matter? Booleans and exporting
• Overview of the Object Browser and view modes
• Booleans revisited and defined
• Boolean Union changing sizes
• Boolean Union success via remeshing
• Understanding world and local coordinate systems
• To be exact: Aligning objects
• Select everywhere: Shared and non-shared frame
• Using attraction and repulsion
• Using the measurement tools to analyze objects

3. Polygonal Modeling vs. Prismatic Modeling: When To Use and What They Are

• Introduction to the types of CAD modeling tools
• Overview of the CAD landscape
• What CAD tools are the best to use?
• CAD tools: Compare and contrast
• Using CAD models in Meshmixer

4. Sculpting with Digital Clay

• Intro to the fun world of playing with digital clay
• Inspiration is everywhere!
• Other tools on the market for sculpting and modeling
• Basic overview of sculpting tools
• Sculpting tool modifiers
• What is meshmixing? (The whole program is named after this!)
• More advanced meshmixing
• What about adding color?
• How shaders affect modeling
• Common modeling problems: Self-intersections and normals
• Using the Make Solid tool to fix everything
• Why face groups are your best friend
• Transform! (Or, more rightly: Using the transform tools)
• Using shapes to influence other shapes
• Using the attract brushes
• Don't be constrained by what the world tells you can be done
• 3D printing considerations

5. Meshmixer Support Structure Generation for 3D Printing

• Introduction to Meshmixer support structures and why they're great
• Why not use your slicer to generate support structures?
• Optionally preparing your model via reduction
• Evaluating model orientation
• Starting support structure generation tips
• In-tool editing supports
• Convert to Solid and exporting
• Multiple support iteration

6. Creating and Fixing 3D Scans

• Introduction to the fun of 3D scanning
• Things to look for when first loading up your 3D scan
• Is your scan printable?
• Fixing easy printability problems
• Fixing difficult 3D scan problems: Starting off
• Fixing difficult 3D scan problems: Starting with cleanup
• Fixing difficult 3D scan problems: Hole filling
• Fixing difficult 3D scan problems: Thickening
• Final steps for printability
• Service bureaus for color printing

7. Creating a 3D Model from a Photograph

• Introduction to the fun of 3D scanning
• Downloading GIMP for photo editing
• Cropping and adjusting your photo in GIMP for use in Meshmixer
• Importing your photo as a stencil into Meshmixer
• Preparing your mesh for best stencil results
• Applying the stencil: Stencil strength and inversing