Generate complex by boolean intersection

JelleRoets — Thu, 28 Mar 2019 12:44:47 GMT

I'm trying to prepare my 3d model for multi-extruder 3d printing. For this I need multiple complementary 3d models.

The generate complex tool in meshmixer seems to be the perfect tool for this, as it creates interior "sheets" in the 3d model and allows to split the model along these interior sheets.

However the generate complex tool always starts from facegroups defined on the surface, and then either create fill regions or offset regions. Which is not sufficient in my case.

So I was wondering if there exist a second workflow to define the interior sheets as the intersection by a second

body and hence create different material regions.

E.g. take the example in the picture: I only want to print the boolean intersection part of the bunny by the second object in a different material. I can't figure out how to achieve that by the current complex tool.

One solution could be to make 2 copies of the second object, then first to a boolean subtraction with bunny and secondly do a boolean intersection with the bunny, this will also result in 2 different bodies. However since these boolean operations are never exact => there is no guarantee the 2 object will perfectly fit.

Any suggestions on how to solve this?

Re: Generate complex by boolean intersection

Anonymous — Fri, 29 Mar 2019 19:35:50 GMT

You can't use the Complex tool for this.

The only way do do this in MM is the Boolean way. You can get very precise Boolean results (think these can be done much better than a printer's accuracy)

Some hints on high accuracy Boolean settings:

-"Harden" sharp edges by defining face groups before running a Boolean

- Use SolutionMode = MaxQuality

- Enable PreserveGroupBorders

- Disable AutoReduceResult

- Enable UseIntersectionCurves

- Set a low TargetEdgeScale

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Are you sure that you actually need two objects?

There's slicer software out there (e.g. Slic3r via its Settings) where you can add a modifier object (e.g. the icosahedron) to the object (bunny). Now you can set the slicer to print all of the bunny except the modifier intersection with extruderA and the modifier intersection with extruderB...

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Generate complex by boolean intersection

Re: Generate complex by boolean intersection