If you’re a 3D developer, you know all about the challenges of preparing CAD files for real-time applications. Having a seamless conversion and optimization process is what all 3D teams dream of. However, currently tedious and manual file optimization is a major setback for most 3D teams. Not only does manual optimization waste a significant amount of time, but it also consumes a lot of PC resources to get large CAD files real-time ready.
To solve these challenges, we’re excited to announce Meshmatic – a powerful tool that converts and optimizes CAD files in a matter of minutes! Read on to find out how.
Automated CAD optimization with Meshmatic
While you may be used to spending countless hours manually optimizing your file, Meshmatic prepares your 3D model for real-time in just a few minutes. After you upload your file, Meshmatic efficiently tackles bottlenecks in your project. Let’s take a deep dive into what Meshmatic’s powerful tools do:
Outliner clean up
Complex CAD files can come with extensive outliners which are expensive for the processor. Meshmatic cleans up extra parents, extra nodes and empty nodes to lighten your file and make it more efficient for real-time.
Correcting non-manifold errors
Non-manifold geometry can complicate the use of some 3D tools and operations – like rendering, visualizing and 3D printing. While these faces are invisible to the user and visualization, they’re expensive to the graphic card and processor. Meshmatic automates deleting non-manifold geometry.
Generating new normals
Normals are needed to calculate reflections and for backface culling, processes that are both necessary for real-time visualization. Meshmatic corrects any errors in your normals to make sure your visualization project runs smoothly.
LOD generator
Reducing the level of detail (LOD) in your model is a common practice for 3D developers. Meshmatic generates 5 different versions of every mesh – with varying levels of details – to give you the option to select the resolution that is best suited for your project. Meshmatic’s LOD generator is also compatible with Unity’s LOD importer.
Instantiate duplicate meshes
This is the core of Meshmatic’s powerful engine, and what makes the biggest impact in optimizing your project. Meshmatic uses sophisticated algorithms to find identical parts in your CAD file – based on volume, shape, and vertex count – and creates instances of them. Once instantiated, you’re left with a single copy of all repeated asset, saving a great amount of space in your project and speeding up your visualization immensely.
Input and output formats
Meshmatic can import and optimize files from various 3D file formats, including:
- FBX
- OBJ
- CATIA
- Sketchup
- and most STEP files
STEP files from Blender, Autodesk Maya, and 3DS Max have been tested with Meshmatic and are compatible. Other STEP file formats are still under testing and will be fully supported in the near future.
Meshmatic can export files in the following formats:
- FBX
- 3DS
- STL
- Datasmith
- OBJ
Real-time ready
Once optimization is complete you can easily download your optimized file. Your file is now ready for real-time, and you can import it to your favorite design software and add textures, materials, animations, and really bring your project to life. By incorporating Meshmatic into your visualization, pipeline you and your 3D team can focus on what’s important: perfecting your visualization and delivering your project on time and on budget.
Coming soon!
Meshmatic is now available, contact us to schedule a demo.