Meshy 3D Printing

Prepare and send Meshy-generated 3D models to a slicer for 3D printing. Supports white model (single-color) and multicolor printing workflows with automatic slicer detection.

Prerequisite: This skill reuses the utility functions (create_task, poll_task, download, get_project_dir, etc.) and environment setup from meshy-3d-generation. However, when the user wants to 3D print, this skill controls the entire workflow — including generation, format selection, downloading, and slicer integration. Do NOT run meshy-3d-generation's workflow first and then hand off here — this skill must control parameters from the start (e.g. target_formats with "3mf" for multicolor).

Intent Detection

Proactively suggest 3D printing when these keywords appear in the user's request:

Direct: print, 3d print, slicer, slice, bambu, orca, prusa, cura, multicolor, multi-color, 3mf
Implied: figurine, miniature, statue, physical model, desk toy, phone stand

When detected, guide the user through the appropriate print pipeline below.

Decision Tree: White Model vs Multicolor

IMPORTANT: When the user wants to 3D print, follow this flow:

Detect installed slicers first (see Slicer Detection Script below)
Ask the user: "Do you want a single-color (white) print or multicolor?"
If white model → follow White Model Pipeline
If multicolor: a. Check if a multicolor-capable slicer is installed b. Supported multicolor slicers: OrcaSlicer, Bambu Studio, Creality Print, Elegoo Slicer, Anycubic Slicer Next c. If no multicolor slicer detected, warn the user and suggest installing one d. Ask: "How many colors? (default: 4, max: 16)" and "Segmentation depth? (3=coarse, 6=fine, default: 4)" e. Confirm cost: generation (20) + texture (10) + multicolor (10) = 40 credits total f. Follow Multicolor Pipeline

Slicer Detection Script

Append this to the reusable script template from meshy-3d-generation:

import subprocess, shutil, platform, os, glob as glob_mod

SLICER_MAP = {
    "OrcaSlicer":           {"mac_app": "OrcaSlicer",          "win_exe": "orca-slicer.exe",         "win_dir": "OrcaSlicer",          "linux_exe": "orca-slicer"},
    "Bambu Studio":         {"mac_app": "BambuStudio",         "win_exe": "bambu-studio.exe",        "win_dir": "BambuStudio",         "linux_exe": "bambu-studio"},
    "Creality Print":       {"mac_app": "Creality Print",      "win_exe": "CrealityPrint.exe",       "win_dir": "Creality Print*",     "linux_exe": None},
    "Elegoo Slicer":        {"mac_app": "ElegooSlicer",        "win_exe": "elegoo-slicer.exe",       "win_dir": "ElegooSlicer",        "linux_exe": None},
    "Anycubic Slicer Next": {"mac_app": "AnycubicSlicerNext",  "win_exe": "AnycubicSlicerNext.exe",  "win_dir": "AnycubicSlicerNext",  "linux_exe": None},
    "PrusaSlicer":          {"mac_app": "PrusaSlicer",         "win_exe": "prusa-slicer.exe",        "win_dir": "PrusaSlicer",         "linux_exe": "prusa-slicer"},
    "UltiMaker Cura":       {"mac_app": "UltiMaker Cura",      "win_exe": "UltiMaker-Cura.exe",     "win_dir": "UltiMaker Cura*",     "linux_exe": None},
}
MULTICOLOR_SLICERS = {"OrcaSlicer", "Bambu Studio", "Creality Print", "Elegoo Slicer", "Anycubic Slicer Next"}

def detect_slicers():
    """Detect installed slicer software. Returns list of {name, path, multicolor}."""
    found = []
    system = platform.system()
    for name, info in SLICER_MAP.items():
        path = None
        if system == "Darwin":
            app = info.get("mac_app")
            if app and os.path.exists(f"/Applications/{app}.app"):
                path = f"/Applications/{app}.app"
        elif system == "Windows":
            win_dir = info.get("win_dir", "")
            win_exe = info.get("win_exe", "")
            for base in [os.environ.get("ProgramFiles", r"C:\Program Files"),
                         os.environ.get("ProgramFiles(x86)", r"C:\Program Files (x86)")]:
                if "*" in win_dir:
                    matches = glob_mod.glob(os.path.join(base, win_dir, win_exe))
                    if matches:
                        path = matches[0]
                        break
                else:
                    candidate = os.path.join(base, win_dir, win_exe)
                    if os.path.exists(candidate):
                        path = candidate
                        break
        else:  # Linux
            exe = info.get("linux_exe")
            if exe:
                path = shutil.which(exe)
        if path:
            found.append({"name": name, "path": path, "multicolor": name in MULTICOLOR_SLICERS})
    return found

def open_in_slicer(file_path, slicer_name):
    """Open a model file in the specified slicer."""
    info = SLICER_MAP.get(slicer_name, {})
    system = platform.system()
    abs_path = os.path.abspath(file_path)
    if system == "Darwin":
        app = info.get("mac_app", slicer_name)
        subprocess.run(["open", "-a", app, abs_path])
    elif system == "Windows":
        exe = info.get("win_exe")
        exe_path = shutil.which(exe) if exe else None
        if exe_path:
            subprocess.Popen([exe_path, abs_path])
        else:
            os.startfile(abs_path)
    else:
        exe = info.get("linux_exe")
        exe_path = shutil.which(exe) if exe else None
        if exe_path:
            subprocess.Popen([exe_path, abs_path])
        else:
            subprocess.run(["xdg-open", abs_path])
    print(f"Opened {abs_path} in {slicer_name}")

# --- Detect slicers ---
slicers = detect_slicers()
if slicers:
    print("Installed slicers:")
    for s in slicers:
        mc = " [multicolor]" if s["multicolor"] else ""
        print(f"  - {s['name']}{mc}: {s['path']}")
else:
    print("No slicer software detected. Install one of: OrcaSlicer, Bambu Studio, PrusaSlicer, etc.")

White Model Print Pipeline

Step	Action	Credits	Notes
1	Detect installed slicers	0	Run slicer detection script
2	Generate untextured model	5–20	Text to 3D or Image to 3D (`should_texture: False`)
3	Download OBJ	0	OBJ format for slicer compatibility
4	Fix OBJ for printing	0	Coordinate conversion (see below)
5	Open in slicer	0	`open_in_slicer(obj_path, slicer_name)`

White Model Generation + Print Script

Use the create_task/poll_task/download/get_project_dir helpers from meshy-3d-generation, then:

# --- Step 2: Generate untextured model for printing ---
# Text to 3D:
task_id = create_task("/openapi/v2/text-to-3d", {
    "mode": "preview",
    "prompt": "USER_PROMPT",
    "ai_model": "latest",
    "target_formats": ["obj"],  # Only OBJ for white model printing
})
# OR Image to 3D:
# task_id = create_task("/openapi/v1/image-to-3d", {
#     "image_url": "IMAGE_URL",
#     "should_texture": False,          # White model — no texture
#     "target_formats": ["glb", "obj"], # OBJ needed for slicer
# })

task = poll_task("/openapi/v2/text-to-3d", task_id)  # adjust endpoint for image-to-3d
project_dir = get_project_dir(task_id, task.get("prompt", "print"))

# --- Step 3-4: Download OBJ + fix for printing ---
obj_url = task["model_urls"].get("obj")
if not obj_url:
    print("OBJ format not available. Available:", list(task["model_urls"].keys()))
    print("Download GLB and import manually into your slicer.")
    obj_url = task["model_urls"].get("glb")

obj_path = os.path.join(project_dir, "model.obj")
download(obj_url, obj_path)

# --- Post-process OBJ for slicer compatibility ---
def fix_obj_for_printing(input_path, output_path=None, target_height_mm=75.0):
    """
    Fix OBJ coordinate system, scale, and position for 3D printing slicers.
    - Rotates from glTF Y-up to slicer Z-up: (x, y, z) -> (x, -z, y)
    - Scales model to target_height_mm (default 75mm)
    - Centers model on XY plane
    - Aligns model bottom to Z=0
    """
    if output_path is None:
        output_path = input_path

    lines = open(input_path, "r").readlines()

    rotated = []
    min_x, max_x = float("inf"), float("-inf")
    min_y, max_y = float("inf"), float("-inf")
    min_z, max_z = float("inf"), float("-inf")
    for line in lines:
        if line.startswith("v "):
            parts = line.split()
            x, y, z = float(parts[1]), float(parts[2]), float(parts[3])
            rx, ry, rz = x, -z, y
            min_x, max_x = min(min_x, rx), max(max_x, rx)
            min_y, max_y = min(min_y, ry), max(max_y, ry)
            min_z, max_z = min(min_z, rz), max(max_z, rz)
            rotated.append(("v", rx, ry, rz, parts[4:]))
        elif line.startswith("vn "):
            parts = line.split()
            nx, ny, nz = float(parts[1]), float(parts[2]), float(parts[3])
            rotated.append(("vn", nx, -nz, ny, []))
        else:
            rotated.append(("line", line))

    model_height = max_z - min_z
    scale = target_height_mm / model_height if model_height > 1e-6 else 1.0
    x_offset = -(min_x + max_x) / 2.0 * scale
    y_offset = -(min_y + max_y) / 2.0 * scale
    z_offset = -(min_z * scale)

    with open(output_path, "w") as f:
        for item in rotated:
            if item[0] == "v":
                _, rx, ry, rz, extra = item
                tx = rx * scale + x_offset
                ty = ry * scale + y_offset
                tz = rz * scale + z_offset
                extra_str = " " + " ".join(extra) if extra else ""
                f.write(f"v {tx:.6f} {ty:.6f} {tz:.6f}{extra_str}\n")
            elif item[0] == "vn":
                _, nx, ny, nz, _ = item
                f.write(f"vn {nx:.6f} {ny:.6f} {nz:.6f}\n")
            else:
                f.write(item[1])

    print(f"OBJ fixed: rotated Y-up→Z-up, scaled to {target_height_mm:.0f}mm, centered, bottom at Z=0")
    print(f"Output: {os.path.abspath(output_path)}")

fix_obj_for_printing(obj_path, target_height_mm=75.0)

# --- Open in slicer ---
if slicers:
    open_in_slicer(obj_path, slicers[0]["name"])
else:
    print(f"\nModel ready: {os.path.abspath(obj_path)}")
    print("Open this file in your preferred slicer: File → Import / Open")

Parameters:

target_height_mm: Default 75mm. Adjust based on user's request (e.g. "print at 15cm" → 150.0).

Multicolor Print Pipeline

Step	Action	Credits	Notes
1	Detect slicers + check multicolor	0	Warn if no multicolor slicer
2	Generate 3D model	20	Text to 3D or Image to 3D
3	Add textures	10	Refine or Retexture (REQUIRED)
4	Multi-color processing	10	POST /openapi/v1/print/multi-color
5	Poll until SUCCEEDED	0	GET /openapi/v1/print/multi-color/{id}
6	Download 3MF	0	From model_urls["3mf"]
7	Open in multicolor slicer	0	`open_in_slicer(path, slicer)`
Total		40

Multi-Color Full Script

Use the create_task/poll_task/download/get_project_dir helpers from meshy-3d-generation:

# --- Step 1: Check for multicolor slicer (already done above) ---
mc_slicers = [s for s in slicers if s["multicolor"]]
if not mc_slicers:
    print("WARNING: No multicolor-capable slicer detected.")
    print("Supported: OrcaSlicer, Bambu Studio, Creality Print, Elegoo Slicer, Anycubic Slicer Next")
    print("Install one before proceeding.")
else:
    print(f"Multicolor slicer(s): {', '.join(s['name'] for s in mc_slicers)}")

# --- Step 2-3: Generate + texture (with 3mf in target_formats!) ---
# Text to 3D preview:
preview_id = create_task("/openapi/v2/text-to-3d", {
    "mode": "preview",
    "prompt": "USER_PROMPT",
    "ai_model": "latest",
    # No target_formats needed — 3MF comes from the multi-color API, not from generate/refine
})
poll_task("/openapi/v2/text-to-3d", preview_id)

# Refine (add textures — REQUIRED for multicolor):
refine_id = create_task("/openapi/v2/text-to-3d", {
    "mode": "refine",
    "preview_task_id": preview_id,
    "enable_pbr": True,
})
refine_task = poll_task("/openapi/v2/text-to-3d", refine_id)
project_dir = get_project_dir(preview_id, "multicolor-print")

# OR for Image to 3D with texture:
# task_id = create_task("/openapi/v1/image-to-3d", {
#     "image_url": "IMAGE_URL",
#     "should_texture": True,
#     # No target_formats needed — 3MF comes from multi-color API
# })
# refine_task = poll_task("/openapi/v1/image-to-3d", task_id)

INPUT_TASK_ID = refine_id  # Use the textured task
MAX_COLORS = 4   # 1-16, ask user
MAX_DEPTH = 4    # 3-6, ask user

mc_task_id = create_task("/openapi/v1/print/multi-color", {
    "input_task_id": INPUT_TASK_ID,
    "max_colors": MAX_COLORS,
    "max_depth": MAX_DEPTH,
})
print(f"Multi-color task created: {mc_task_id} (10 credits)")

task = poll_task("/openapi/v1/print/multi-color", mc_task_id)

# --- Download 3MF ---
threemf_url = task["model_urls"]["3mf"]
threemf_path = os.path.join(project_dir, "multicolor.3mf")
download(threemf_url, threemf_path)
print(f"3MF ready: {os.path.abspath(threemf_path)}")

# --- Open in multicolor slicer ---
if mc_slicers:
    open_in_slicer(threemf_path, mc_slicers[0]["name"])
else:
    print(f"Open {threemf_path} in a multicolor-capable slicer manually.")

Printability Checklist (Manual Review)

Note: Automated printability analysis API is coming soon. For now, manually review the checklist below before printing.

Check	Recommendation
Wall thickness	Minimum 1.2mm for FDM, 0.8mm for resin
Overhangs	Keep below 45° or add supports
Manifold mesh	Ensure watertight with no holes
Minimum detail	At least 0.4mm for FDM, 0.05mm for resin
Base stability	Flat base or add brim/raft in slicer
Floating parts	All parts connected or printed separately

Recommendations: Import into your slicer to check for mesh errors. Use the slicer's built-in repair tool if needed. Consider hollowing figurines to save material.

Key Rules for Print Workflow

White model: Download OBJ format, apply fix_obj_for_printing() for coordinate conversion
Multicolor: The multi-color API outputs 3MF directly — no coordinate conversion needed (3MF uses Z-up natively)
3MF for multicolor: The Multi-Color Print API outputs 3MF directly — no need to request 3MF from generate/refine via target_formats. For non-print use cases that need 3MF, pass "3mf" in target_formats at generation time.
Always detect slicer first and report results to the user before proceeding
For multicolor, verify slicer supports it before proceeding with the (costly) pipeline
After opening in slicer, remind user to check print settings (layer height, infill, supports)
If OBJ is not available: Download GLB and guide user to import manually

Coming Soon

Printability Analysis & Fix API — Automated mesh analysis and repair (non-manifold edges, thin walls, floating parts)

Additional Resources

For the complete API endpoint reference, read reference.md.

meshy-3d-printing