Mammoth Makes 3D Printing Smoother: Mixed Dimensions Introduces Next-Generation 3D File Repair Technology

In 2014, San Francisco-based startup Mixed Dimensions introduced its MakePrintable service, which quickly and easily fixes common 3D printing problems. The service’s free analysis tool checks users’ files for printability, and makes flawed 3D models printable through automated file fixing. Users can also optimize files for specific 3D printers, and the 3D file repair cloud service also offers a list 3D printing service bureaus. The public beta of MakePrintable launched at Inside 3D Printing Santa Clara in 2015, and the full version of the 3D file repair service, along with some additional features such as Texture Support and wall thickness optimization, became available this January.

MakePrintable already offers users high accuracy and speed. Today, Mixed Dimensions is introducing its MakePrintable next-generation repair technology, dubbed Mammoth for the projects it takes on, to its users.

According to a MakePrintable blog post by the company’s CTO and co-founder Baha Abu Nojaim, “Mammoth is one of those species that when 3D designed will have a lot of complexities due to hair on the body, the large size of the mammoth is an indication to the complexity and large file sizes we can handle and the fact that it is a legendary creature is enough to give our new technology the name it deserves.”

The goal was to allow MakePrintable to handle large and complex files within a time window of 30 seconds to 2 minutes, and Mammoth allows 3D makers to more efficiently print successful models. The tool analyzes 3D files, and then uses its strong algorithm to rebuild the files, while at the same time repairing and optimizing them for high printability and guaranteed accuracy. It uses the print scale and micron size of the model to determine the necessary resolution for processing, which allows it to “do accurate wall thickness adjustment to only the areas that needs wall thickness adjustment.”

“Mammoth is bringing in fabulous feedback and a higher average star rating on the model repair method than our original tech,” Mixed Dimensions Marketing Director Michael Makdah told 3DPrint.com.

“More 3D Makers are satisfied fixing models with it and favor it to our first tech and thats why decided to make it our primary solution.”

Example of a file processed with Mammoth

Mammoth also lets users control the generated 3D file’s polygon count, and even reduce the count without causing print issues. The above model with green highlights is the original Turbosquid file and has over 400,000 boundary edges and many intersecting geometries, but even with reducing the number of polygons, Mammoth took less than two minutes to repair the file.

Some of the key features of Mammoth include:

• Fast fixes – GPU cloud computing combines with a voxel approach to rebuild the model’s mesh, so 3D printing happens in seconds
• Bubble removal from inside the geometry
• Large file processing
• Retains a model’s mechanical integrity by making sure its exterior dimensions don’t change during repairs
• Accurate, parameterized, and selective wall thickness
• Flipped faces, boundary edges, wall thickness, and non-manifolds are considered and corrected inside the mesh repair algorithm
• User controls which holes are closed during repair
• Accurately hollowing the mesh reduces the surface area, so no more wasted time or materials

AllOnScale, a Mixed Dimension user which makes and repairs individually made scale models, has had success using the Mammoth tool.

René le Grand, CEO of AllOnScale, said, “The experience has been great and complex models have been fixed with ease. It’s a great advantage to not need to have the computing power in-house. MakePrintable has fixed models that other software’s failed to fix.”

Mammoth was originally launched under MakePrintable’s lab section, but after receiving positive feedback about the tool, it’s been decided that Mammoth will become its main, default mesh repair technology. In order to celebrate the launch of its innovative new tool, for a limited time Mixed Dimension will be offering a 50% discount on Mammoth.

“Mammoth is now our primary Repair tech; you can switch between mammoth and the original repair tech if you would like to see a comparison. All free users will have access to Mammoth repairs for the next two weeks after (Sep-20-017). After the two week promotion, we will switch back to the original repair solution and Mammoth becomes exclusive to our premium members,” Nojaim notes in today’s detailed announcement.

Discuss in the Mammoth forum at 3DPB.com.