hello ..i m a maya user too,my first test with 3d printing was modeling in maya (cm) export to MixMesh to repair de mesh and resize because maya dont export the correct size i dont now why (instead for example 4cm maya export 4mm,and yes i Have the preferences in cm )... and then send to the Printing..thats my experience last week..

Basically, it depends on what you need the models for. I do almost all of my models in Softimage, but sometimes it gets really tricky when I try to do stuff with precise tolerances for press fit designs or anything like that. Not impossible, but tricky enough that it's probably a good idea to learn a CAD-type package as well.

Any program that does 3D will work. Understanding the 3d printer process will help you design models appropriately.

And if all else fails,
Try Netfabb to fix it!


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Colonel Mustard, did it with the candle in the study just the other day... wait, wrong topic.

Yes, AutoDesk Maya is very versatile. The problem most people have with Maya is that it is not a "parasolid" (solid/NURBS > true) based software package... meaning, if you create an amazing 3D model via polygons, and the model looks nice and clean with no holes > you go to export the file in OBJ or some other format > import into 3D printing or other 3rd party software, "sometimes" you will see holes all over your model.

Fortunately, there is a work around. I completed a project for Barton Engineering solutions years ago where he required an organic style model that their mechanical engineer could load into Solidworks (parasolid) to splice the model for printing in large formats via puzzle pieces. I recommend the following:

1) Keep your polygon mesh below 10,000 faces (if you ever need to load into Solidworks to splice, if not... I believe anything over 10k is fine)
2) Make sure all of your vertices are merged
3) Purchase the SimLab plug-in for Maya, which allows exporting OBJs or poly models into STL style models (found here: http://www.simlab-soft.com/3d-plugins/Maya_Plugins.aspx)
4) You can also test with AutoDesk Mudbox and Pixologic ZBrush, which can export directly into STL formats as well
5) As Cyberdox mentioned, if scanning or you need mesh clean-up, you can use programs like MixMesh or MeshLab

Honestly though, if you are going for detail, I would just go straight for ZBrush or Mudbox (I prefer Mudbox). You can pre-scan any objects to obtain a simple OBJ of whatever you are trying to start modeling or use one of their existing quick models and build on that.

This might also help provide a little bit more insight into how Maya works with 3D printing: http://tutorialhbaal.wordpress.com/2...int-from-maya/

The article is outdated back to 2010, but there is a pretty solid explanation of how everything works on the 3D printing side.

Well, Maya is a very versatile software and I'm sure that you can't go wrong with it when it comes to the modeling segment. But if you're new to Maya, well you might want to invest some time learning it because to be honest, it's quite complex and has a very steep learning curve. As for the 3D printing aspect, well, I've had some troubles with it in the past but I've since learned how to deal with it. It's worth a shot though.

Well since I know 3d's max and maya, for my modeling stuff I prefer 3d's max it's less complex and you can add modifier fairly quickly to do the job for you. Like make a thicker wall or leave solid. I believe all of the export stl(don't know houdini for sure). What works for you is the right way to go, because there's no correct way.

Maya won't export STL out of the box unless they have changed it recently in newer versions. As shadow said, plugins are the way to go sometimes when you run into that brick wall... easy to install and easy to export STL from OBJ or other file types.

hi I don`t use maya but going to start I am using 3ds max mostly and can say that for me its much more comfortable then ,for example, solidworks, but actually as it was said above it depends what are you need to make model for. I design some gadgets, so solidworks isn1t comfortable to do organic forms.