MeshMixer--the best companion for those being initiated into 3D printing
Pros
- Auto-repair function works fast, and if it does not completely cover all problem areas, manual fixes will work 99.5% of the time.
- Remeshing algorithm is fairly slow but does a wonderful job in creating meshes with homogeneous or adaptive triangulation.
- It contains a comprehensive set of tools to optimize and prepare STL files for 3D printing, such as hollowing and support generation.
Cons
- The remeshing tool needs to be faster, as in some cases it takes up to a day of waiting time.
- The sculpting tools need the addition of a proper brush for creating sharp creases and ridges.
- The standard shape library is rather limited. It would be nice to have this connected to online repositories such as Thingiverse, MyMiniFactory, or Cults3D.
Most Important Features
- STL file repair
- Remeshing
- File conversion
Return on Investment
- It speeds up projects by streamlining the CAD-to-3D-printing workflow
- As an advanced user, I have written a few tutorials about it as well
Alternatives Considered
ZBrush, SOLIDWORKS and Blender
Other Software Used
Grasshopper, Autodesk Fusion 360, KeyShot