Get Free Geometry Nodes Starter Kit Why Is Blender A BAD Tool For 3D Printing? This makes it easier to know what files to use for your export compared to the traditional export method of Blender, as many file formats do not export the correct data for 3D printing. Going back to the volume and area values, you can quickly resize any object to the scale that you want by using the transform options.įinally, you can export your model as a printable format using one of the four export options at the bottom of the panel. The add-on will also allow you to clean up any nonmanifold geometry, which is a form of geometry that cannot exist in its current state, such as a single extruded vertex. Ideally, you should be looking to get 0 for as many of these parameters as you can to make the 3D design suitable for printing. You can type this value into your thickness parameter and then select the check all button to see if any areas of the model fall below the defined threshold. For example, the thickness of the model may need to fall above a minimum value, such as 2mm, depending on the 3D printer being used. The checks section allows you to highlight potential problem areas of your mesh by defining certain parameters. Maybe you want to print superhero models and they all need to be of a similar size. This is useful because one of your requirements may be to limit the size of your model to a set volume range. Under the statistics section, you are able to assess the volume or surface area of the selected model. The print toolbox is a great tool because it allows you to analyze various aspects of the model. If the tab is not there, then double-check that you have enabled the correct add-on from the preferences panel. The tab for the add-on will be labeled as 3D-Print, so select the tab to access all the tools for the add-on. The side panel is constructed by a series of tabs that you can view down the side of it. The toolbox is located in the side panel of the 3D viewport, which can be accessed by pressing the N key on your keyboard while your mouse cursor is within the border of the 3D viewport. How To Access And Use The 3D Print Toolbox? This will automatically reduce the list to a single add-on, so left click in the tick box to enable the add-on and then close the preferences panel. There are a lot of add ons here to choose from, so to locate the one we want more easily go to the search bar at the top corner and type in 3D print toolbox. Select the tab labeled add-ons to access the Blender Plugin library. This will open up the preferences panel in a separate window, and to the side of the panel, you will have a series of tabs. The 3D print toolbox is not enabled by default, so to begin using it, go to the Edit menu in the UI header and select Preferences from the list. And so for the analysis stage we have the 3D print toolbox add-on, which makes Blender far more feasible as an alternative for designing 3D printable models. However when it comes to 3D printing the ability to analyze your model is every bit as important as the ability to model it. You are also free to create any shape that you want using Blenders’ wide array of editing and sculpting tools, giving you the freedom of creativity. For example, the side panel in the viewport makes it easy enough to determine the general dimensions of your model so that they fall within the required parameters. The mode needs to have a certain level of thickness and also needs to be built up so that it is structurally sound.īlender is capable of meeting this criterion to a relatively basic level. 3D modeling is a generalized term for the creation of 3D objects using dedicated software, but you can create objects for different purposes and the purpose of the object changes the workflow that is used to create it.įor 3D printing, any object that you create needs to be the correct scale and size for the 3D printer that you are using. In order for a tool to be considered usable for 3D printing, it needs to be able to perform a specific set of criteria during and after the modeling process. Why Is Blender A GOOD Tool For 3D Printing? But how good is Blender at creating 3D printable objects?īlender is a decent alternative to creating 3D printable models when you do not have access to CAD software, but to make the most of it you will need to use the 3D print toolbox plugin so that Blender can analyze the feasibility of the model and learn how to use it.ĭespite the versatility of the software, 3D printing requires access to a specific set of tools that will allow you to successfully print a design using real materials and have that object remain structurally sound. Among this list of features and capabilities, Blender also has the potential as a 3D modeling platform to create models used in the process of 3D printing. The open-source program known as Blender 3D can be used for a variety of projects ranging from 3D animation to video editing.
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