MeshMixer, the Free Surface 3D Modeling Software

MeshMixer is one of the free 3D software programs provided by Autodesk, which offers several interesting features to help users in not just modeling but also in 3D printing processes. Available on Windows and Mac OS, version 3.5 of MeshMixer relies on surface modeling to design any type of part from another model, on a triangular mesh. You can thus combine several shapes together, modify them according to your needs, analyze them before printing and export them in the right format. This free software is relatively simple to use and is intended for individuals, students and professionals who are new to modeling.

In the 3D printing market, modeling is the first step towards the design of a part. In fact, it is a key step in reducing the possibility of part failure, allowing for optimization of the quantity of material used, orientation of the part, and much more. Today, various modeling and CAD software packages are available for all levels, and MeshMixer stands out for its ability to model a part from an existing model. In this sense, the software is a little different from a more traditional solution where you can start from scratch. But how exactly does MeshMixer work, and what are its features?

MeshMixer has multiple functions.

The Features of the 3D Software

As already mentioned, this software allows you to edit 3D models. To do this, simply import the file into MeshMixer, which supports a wide range of formats: STL, OBJ, PLY and AMF. Once the model has been imported, MeshMixer lets you modify, resize, measure or repair it. To do this, MeshMixer uses triangular meshes composed of three elements: vertices, edges and faces (or triangles). Vertices correspond to points in 3D space; edges connect two vertices and faces correspond to the association of three vertices.