Meshlab

Draft

Introduction

This is a little tutorial that covers first steps of using Meshlab for creating printable RapMan .STL files.

Read also: RapMan (some tips about printing) and Skeinforge for RapMan

Importing .dae and exporting to .stl

Some 3D modeling tools like google sketchup only can export to .DAE, the collada format. In order to import to skeinforge, you need an .STL.

To import .dae:

• File -> Open

You then could fix meshes and do other manipulations like changing size and position, but for beginners it's easier to use NetFabb for this. Therefore just save

To export as .stl:

• File -> Save As

Merging layers

Now l'est assume that you have two or more objects that you would like to merge.

In the most simple case, they already are in the right position, e.g. you did this in Netfabb or sketchup.

According to the Layer Management Meshlab wiki page:

• You can add an external mesh to a new layer by going in File > Open As New

Layer.

• The open the layers tool. Click on the 5th icon from the left and that looks a like a pile of paper (or layers).

• Either right-click on the layer box that will popup, or go in Filters > Layers Management. Then flatten your layers, click on Flatten visible Layers The options are explicit.

• Then File->Save as

• Again, you could import to Netfabb again for repair or directly import to skeinforge, depends how much you trust your STL files. When you export from sketchup to .DAE, repair is mandatory I believe.

Example - paper clip with a name

(1) Get the paper clip from Thingyverse

• Paperclip by by unfold

(2) Create a 3D Text Then, for text we should two options (pick either one):

(2a) Create a 3D text with Google Sketchup and save as .DAE (collada), then transform to .STL with Meshlab

(2b) Create a 3D text with netfabb (click on the second icon from the left)

For both options, size doesn't really matter, but it's easier to create something in the 1 to 10 cm range and about 2mm high.

However, the kind of chosen font does matter. Pick a regular bold font. In addition (if you have the patience, you should explode the text group and space out the letters. The RapMan has trouble printing narrow fonts or letters that are too close !

(3) Align and resize with netfab

Procedure:

• Load both models in netfab
• Make the Paperclip size correct, e.g. use Menu: Part->Scale (or click on the icon). I made the paper clip a bit bigger and about 2mm high (Z-axis).
• Then rotate the letters, resize and approximatly position, etc.
• Then (important) position the paperclip at origin (Menu: Part->Move to origin). Verify by clicking the "information" icon
• Then position the letters on top. E.g. if height of the paperclip is 2.2mm, position it at z=2.2mm
• Then look at the object from top and move the text into final position
• Finally, export both files as STL, e.g. clip.stl and name.stl

Two parts in Netfabb

Disclaimer: I didn't see any merge function in the free version of netfabb... but maybe I was to stupid to find it.

(4) Merge with Meshlab as explained above

• Import the paperclip
• Import the text as layer
• Flatten the layers
• Export as new STL (file: nameclip.stl)

Merge with Meshlab

(5) Repair the final STL with netfab

• Import nameclip.stl to netfabb
• Repare by clicking on the red + sign (I just used default repair). Apply the repairs.
• Export part as .STL

(6) Print

• Import to skeinforge
• Print ...

Here is a first result. No so good, since I used an inappropriate font (the default in netfabb)

Paperclip for Sandra - Font to be improved

Sorry for the bad picture quality. My cellphone can't handle close-up pictures of plastic and that's the only camera at hand at work.

Here is a result for another girl:

Paperclip for Laurence

The next picture shows a version that was way to fat (2 to 3 mm for clip is enough). The fat one can go to a keyring ...

Too fat (almost 1cm)

Links

Software needed

• MeshLab is the open source, portable, and extensible system for the processing and editing of unstructured 3D triangular meshes. Can import/export STL (for 3D printers like the RapMan))
  • Meshlab documentation wiki
  • MeshLab is sponsored by the EU 3d-coform project.
  • Imports: PLY, STL, OFF, OBJ, 3DS, COLLADA, PTX, V3D, PTS, APTS, XYZ, GTS, TRI, ASC, X3D, X3DV, VRML, ALN
  • Exports: PLY, STL, OFF, OBJ, 3DS, COLLADA, VRML, DXF, GTS, U3D, IDTF, X3D

• Netfabb “is a software tailored for additive fabrication, rapid prototyping and 3D printing. It includes the ability of viewing, editing, repairing and analyzing stl-files or slice-based files in various formats.” Base version is free.

• Sketchup (optional)

• skeinforge download