1 of 2
Polygonica Cantilever Model
2 of 2
Polygonal solid models — who is responsible for the healing software?
The truth is that in the world of Additive Manufacturing, unless your 3D model is clean and watertight you will not be able to make the part. Whether you are the end user operating 3D printers or the manufacturer making 3D printers, you don't want to know how your software works, you just want it to generate watertight models ready for printing, quietly and cleverly in the background.
Unfortunately the reality in the Additive Manufacturing industry is that most people are fending for themselves, often having to use more than one software package to overcome problems with solid models. Users find defective STLs with self-intersecting triangles, noise shells and holes. Users have then to simplify the geometry to a number of triangles that makes it manageable for a CAD package to further manipulate the model.
There is not a magic answer but there is one undeniable fact, the end customer does not want to be responsible for the healing software. They will take on that responsibility if they have no choice but will happily buy a printer that can avoid that problem.
The question is, are hardware manufacturers willing to take on this responsibility? At MachineWorks, we believe that Additive Manufacturing companies are missing out on an opportunity to differentiate themselves if they don't. That's why we have our Boolean algorithms to create an OEM software solution, Polygonica, that automatically deals with the polygon data challenges, accurately and faithfully reproducing the intended geometry in a print-ready format.
Polygonica is unique because of its background. The Boolean engine behind Polygonica was first developed to provide real-time machining simulation, graphics and collision detection in the CAM market. Hence, it has got 18 years of testing and demanding optimization in leading applications. This is how Polygonica can repair a complex model of 3 million triangles such as this cantilever in the video above in under 3 minutes.
Integrating Polygonica within 3D Printing, Rapid Prototyping and Additive Manufacturing will allow to automatically output watertight models ready for manufacturing and end customers won't have to worry about healing software anymore.
