It’s time to give an update on LuBan, one of the most interesting 3D print utilities.
Have you ever wanted to print something big? No, really big! To do that, you’d have to painstakingly chop up your 3D model into parts and print them separately. Then, with some glue, assemble them into the larger structure.
But that’s actually pretty difficult. You have to arrange for pins and holes to ensure the parts line up properly, and then there’s the matter of keeping track of all the parts. If you have a hundred parts in front of you to assemble, which one is which?
Many years ago, this problem was solved by LuBan, an independently produced software tool that provided a number of ways to automatically generate parts for 3D printing in this way.
I recently checked up on the tool and found that it’s grown very significantly since my last look. Now it includes a vast range of interesting utility services for tweaking 3D models for 3D printing, and much more.
Here’s a list of some of the things you can do with LuBan, aside from large part breakdowns:
- Automatically design eyeframes based on an image
- Turn any photo into a 3D printed photo with multiple geometries
- Turn a photo into a 3D box
- Turn a photo into a cell structure
- Turn a photo into a cookie cutter
- Turn a photo into a 3D extruded model
- Turn a photo into an articulated 3D model
- Turn a photo into a multi-layered object
- Morph two photos or texts into a 3D model
- Merge two photos to a 3D model showing them from different angles
- Turn a photo into a painting of coloured layers
- Turn a photo into pillars that can be cut or printed
- Turn a photo into a 3D puzzle
- Turn a photo into a wireframe 3D model
- Turn a 3D mesh into 2D contours for laser cutting
- Turn a 3D mesh into interlocking 2D contours
- Turn a 3D mesh into a pipe and connector structure
- Turn a 3D mesh into interlocking flat panels
- Turn a 3D mesh into a relief 3D model
- Generate a spin 3D model from a mesh
- Turn a 3D mesh into a spring model
- And more
You get the idea. This is a one-stop tool to very quickly generate all kinds of interesting items to print, most of them quite personalized.
LuBan is commercial software, and a license to use it must be obtained. While there is a free 30-day trial period, you can purchase a one-month license, a one-year license, or a lifetime license.
The pricing is as follows:
- 1-month license: US$25
- 1-year license: US$125
- Lifetime license: US$625
That might be a bit pricey for some, but LuBan does offer some capabilities you won’t find elsewhere.
Via LuBan
