Autodesk releases Meshmixer 2.1
Originally posted on 21 September 2013. Scroll down for details about the new Meshmixer 2.1 update.
Autodesk has released Meshmixer 2.0, an updated version of the mesh-editing tool that primary developer Ryan Schmidt describes as being for “making crazy-ass 3D stuff without too much hassle”.
As well as providing a set of intuitive mesh-manipulation tools, the software enables users to ‘Frankenstein’ one or more original meshes together, building up new models from a kit of parts.
New branding, new UI, new 3D printing features
The update brings the software – which Autodesk acquired in 2011 – in line with the company’s other consumer products, giving it a new logo, a new version-numbering system, and its own entry on the Autodesk 123D website.
The software also gets a cleaner, more standard UI; and new functionality that complements other 3D-printing-focused apps in the 123D range, like 123D Creature.
New features in Meshmixer 2.0 include:
- A new Support Structure Generation for 3D printing in the Overhang Tool
- A new Strength Analysis Tool, for fast approximate stress analysis
- A new XYZ mode in the measuring tool
There are also more general mesh-editing, display and UI features, including:
- A new Soft Transform tool
- New shading modes: flat shading and face-group-normal shading
- You can now directly enter numbers for all the parameter sliders
- All right-mouse-button actions also available as [Shift]-left-mouse
Meshmixer is available now for Windows and Mac OS X.
Updated 20 February 2014: Meshmixer 2.1 has been released, adding further new 3D print capabilities. According to Schmidt, “although we only gave it a minor version number, this release has a ton of new stuff”.
In particular, the update adds an integrated 3D print preview with model analysis based on the printer you have selected, and “print-level” repair, hollow, and thicken tools.
There are also quite a few other new or rewritten general-purpose modelling tools, and the usual performance boosts and enhancements. You can read the full list on the Meshmixer forum.