How add structure for metaball for 3D print?

by Ka Chun Ringo Chan

Sep 20, 2014

I'm going to have a 3D print for my interim presentation, but I'm confused about how to print the metaball in with support as all my contour plan are horizontally floating, so what can I do if I want to have a 3D print?

I used boolean different to delet the internal area of the plan so the middle part of each of the ball is empty. like this. And the definition is the internal one. I am thinking how to link them up in order for the 3d print, any suggestion? Thanks!

  • up

    martyn hogg

    You will have to use laser sintering of Nylon (or similar material / process that doesn't require support material)

    And you will have to add some structure, of course, because the contours are floating in space... Could you add a central column with spokes reaching out to each contour? You might be able to do this by generating points around each contour and points at the centre of each contour and then creating stucture along the lines created by joining up the points.

    I don't know enough about metaballs to know if this is a good solution or not though!

    3

    Sep 21, 2014