Preparing Polycam models for 3D printing involves several important steps to ensure that your model is fully optimized for the printing process. Carefully review the model and make any necessary adjustments to ensure that the final printed object meets your expectations.
How to Ensure Your Model is 3D Print Ready:
- File Format: Polycam allows you to export models in several formats such as OBJ, FBX, and STL. For 3D printing, the most widely accepted format is STL. You can export your capture in this format for use with 3D printing software.
- Model Watertightness: For 3D printing, your model needs to be watertight, meaning it should have no holes or gaps. Inspect your Polycam model for any missing faces or openings. If you are experiencing any holes, consider taking additional photos by using the extend tool.
- Mesh Quality: The quality of the mesh directly impacts your print. Low-resolution meshes may lose fine details, while high-resolution models might be too complex for your 3D printer. For high res models, you can use the remesh tool to control your Polycount and textures for your capture.
- Removing Additional Mesh Polygons: If your model has extra mesh polygons surrounding it, you can use Polycam's Crop Tool to remove unwanted areas. This ensures that only the desired portion of the model will be printed.
- Post-Processing with Blender: After exporting your model, you can import it into a 3D modeling program like Blender to improve the model’s details. For example, bake the normal map into the model, which helps retain more fine details during the print.
- Slicing Software: After exporting your model, you will need to import it into a slicing software (like Cura, PrusaSlicer, or Simplify3D) to prepare it for your printer. This software breaks the model into printable layers and prepares the necessary file for your specific 3D printer