help with solidifying

[Straton JD]

Hey there, I know this should be in the modeling thread but I can't currently post there.

I converted a pdo file to obj for 3d printing, did a bit of altering/smoothing/scaling in blender but am having trouble solidifying the object so that I can slice and print it.

normally it is a simple process using the solidify modifier on blender, but for some reason this will not work for me.

the site wont let me attach the file, s if anyone is willing or able to help I can email it

 

[hobbitdude13]

what is it saying? "cannot solidify"? what version of Blender? What are you planning to print? Because I've already done this process to the entire MC armor from 4, if that's what you need.

 

[Straton JD]

hey thanks for the quick reply, im using blender v2.76, I am trying to print my helmet (reach era hazop) and it is building spikes along some vertices. I have run a manifold test and fixed a few edges, but even certain fully connected edges are spiking

 

[Lazarus215]

You can use a program called Meshmixer by autocad (its free) and poke around in that, or if you want, you can send the file to me and I can do it really quick for you.

 

[MoeSizzlac]

I'm no expert (just played with the program for a few months now here and there) but you could try uploading your file to makeprintable.com? Sometimes this works out the kinks for me then I'll bring it back into blender to add the solidify modifier.

 

[hobbitdude13]

hey thanks for the quick reply, im using blender v2.76, I am trying to print my helmet (reach era hazop) and it is building spikes along some vertices. I have run a manifold test and fixed a few edges, but even certain fully connected edges are spiking

Ah ok. Are you selecting 'even thickness' and 'high quality'? Usually if you hit those, it creates the spike effect you are describing.
Did you re-apply the scale in the 3D view? And what thickness are you solidifying to?

Here, I solidified it to 5mm thick and sized it to 24 cm across. You'll have to slice it into printable sections yourself, I don't know your build volume.

http://www.4shared.com/file/BWmHL3uFba/ReachHAZOPSolid.html

 

[Straton JD]

Wow, first off you guys are all awesome! Day shift turned into a half nightshift and I thought the night was gonna be a write-off but this gave me the bump I needed =]

Just downloaded meshmixer which has streamlined the chunking out bit of the modeling which is epic, and makeprintable works awesomely, only problem is the files retrieved are a little large, bogs my little computer down quite a bit.

Im taking Hobbitdude13s file and applying the modifications ive made to my previous file as this seems to be the quickest route for me.

once again huge thanks and props to everypeoples =]

 

[peterthethinker]

Mesh is Ideal for dicing parts to shove on a bed.
Ive got a beast of a desktop and larger files still put quite a load on it....... 3D files can get Really big and the software We use' while good I doubt is made to take advantage of multiple cores or a discrete GPU.
The big boy toys from autodesk ect do use GPUs to Really speed up workflow!
Sadly they cost 1000's of bucks.

 

[Lazarus215]

Mesh is Ideal for dicing parts to shove on a bed.
Ive got a beast of a desktop and larger files still put quite a load on it....... 3D files can get Really big and the software We use' while good I doubt is made to take advantage of multiple cores or a discrete GPU.
The big boy toys from autodesk ect do use GPUs to Really speed up workflow!
Sadly they cost 1000's of bucks.

if you're a college student (Or high school I guess) you can get Solidworks for $20 which is an absolute STEAL

 

[Straton JD]

if you're a college student (Or high school I guess) you can get Solidworks for $20 which is an absolute STEAL

sweet, im waiting on my application for apprenticeship, once that goes through i will technically be a college student =]