Meshmixer- good for some things... not for others

First the good, you can use the program to smooth a model and repair it with astounding results, it takes clunky models that are hard to print and turns them into sleek models that are optimized, you can even set the shell diameter with ease!, however, it takes a LOOOOOoong time to complete operations, like two hours for large 9" x 9" x 9"+, high rez models, don’t exit it will finish, but will act like it’s lost with no status bar, just go do something else while it crunches on the model.

Now the bad - I have used it before, but for really tall complex models it seems to fail. The little support posts cause the filament to get all tore up by the hob bolt, I’ve tried various retraction rates and the filament still gets eaten when trying to make clusters of supports. Am I doing something wrong?

The true solution??
3-D modeling internal scaffolding algorithm. Lulzbot should totally sponsor those guys and get distribution rights. http://staff.ustc.edu.cn/~lgliu/Projects/2013_SigAsia_3DPrinting/default.htm

Ogrethetoymaker

The true solution??
3-D modeling internal scaffolding algorithm. Lulzbot should totally sponsor those guys and get distribution rights. > http://staff.ustc.edu.cn/~lgliu/Projects/2013_SigAsia_3DPrinting/default.htm

Ogrethetoymaker

Looks a bit like the stuff you can do with a cell fracture in blender:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ge-EKxWPy2Q