ZBrushCentral

print export issues

ZBrush Usage Questions
#1

Hi

Zbrush is of course superb. but there is a problem with the print exporter, or rather the way models are constructed purely in zbrush.

if I use extractions or join primatives to an existing mesh there are inevitable problems.

for example, I just saved out a file as an .stl but once I got it to the printers he told me it had over 20000 inverted normals, 23000+ intersecting triangles 342 bad edges, 171 holes and worst of all 54 shells and 13 noise shells.

so my question, how to fix them? any thoughts? can it be done in zbrush? ( I doubt it at the moment) or do I have to buy something really expensive like magics… because at the moment it renders the zbrush print exporter pretty much useless.

thanks for the support :wink:

Steve

#2

Can you post a screenshot with the wireframe on of your model? I would be curious to see it.

I don’t mean that ZBrush never generate topology with problems on them, but here, there is simply too much errors.

Which software are you using to validate the STL?

#3

Ill try and generate an image later and post it, the base mesh is fine, its the intersections between sub tools that are the issue.

if it were just one mesh it wouldnt be an issue, its when you add other objects, the joins between separate eyes and their sockets, clothing thats based on extrusions have meshes that never join to the original so they are allways intersecting, infact anywhere two subtools intersect will cause issues. so I know whats causing the problems, I would just like a simple way to fix them that dosent cost the earth.

at the moment I have been using Magics to validate them, its used for 3d print. it can also repair the meshes, creat new shells and remove unwanted topology, but its a lengthy process (not as bad as retopologising the whole figure mind you :wink: ) but my trial period has just run out and I dont have the redies to buy a copy, its more than zbrush itself.

retopo is an option of course, I could export the file and do it in blender, but for a commercial enterprise thats just too long and costly in time, not to mention tedious.

Steve

#4

image of mesh attached.

so the mesh looks poor I know, it was larger in size and I used decimation master to reduce it for print export, then exported with print master.

HELP!!!
now I have another problem as well, the mesh was hollow!, it printed hollow!? and as such was not able to support itself, what a mess!. any ideas why? or how to fill the mesh up so it prints solid? I thought if it was watertight it would be solid! clearly I was wrong.

Steve

Attachments

mesh.jpg

#5

Steve,

Our CADspan software is designed to combat this very issue. It is a resurfacing software that does a virtual “shrink wrap” of the model to make it water tight and 3d print ready.

Please check it out at www.cadspan.com

I’d be curious to review your .stl file to see what exactly is going on with it. I am sure we could help you get your file ready for 3d printing. Please e-mail it to us at [email protected] or upload it through our website: http://www.lgmmodel.com/products/upload-a-file/

#6

thanks I uploading it now
steve

#7

I thought some of you might be interested in how we worked through some of the issues with Steve’s file to get it 3d-print ready.

First off, the model looked great. As I told Steve, I am really impressed with the things you Zbrush users are able to create.

CADspan is our proprietary mesh resurfacing software. It is designed to combat exactly what Steve spoke of in his first post; so that 3D CAD users don’t have to have an expensive program like Magics in order to get a 3d print ready file from their geometry. Now I must admit, it didn’t get us all the way there in this case, but I think with some tweaks to drawing style Steve would have been able to get a 3d print ready file on his own using CADspan. I did end up using Magics in order to adjust some things. We are more than happy to completely work through getting the file print ready (if you’re not up to doing it yourself.)

This is what we started with. As you can see by the report, there are some issues.
original.jpg

So in the end, we got Steve a 3d print-ready file (for most applications) from his Zbrush Model. It took me about 3 hours to work through the whole thing.

We did not get into printer tolerances, so there is a chance that some of the parts on his figure will still be fragile. It is very helpful to know what machine (and output scale) you are thinking about getting your model printed on when either drawing it or reparing it. I figured with this detail elevl Steve would be going for a high res machine.

Attachments

original section.jpg

cadspan control.jpg

fixed file screen cap.jpg

boot.jpg

fixed.jpg

avoid gaps.jpg

webbing.jpg

avoid gaps.jpg

#8

One problem is the new version of “Extract” in the Subtool menu no longer creates a extracted area that penetrates into mesh, but merely lies on top.

#9

thats unfortunate, is there a way to change that in the options?

I have changed my workflow considerably as a result of what I have learned through making this model, Im not building all my base parts in blender and exporting to zbrush rather than using the extract tool. its working far better now.

what we really need is a forum section for 3d print, it would be better to correlate all the info on it in one place so its easier to find… hint hint!!!

steve