AI → Print, without the guesswork

Research at North Craft Foundry

Making generative 3D models print-ready by default

Our research program focuses on one outcome: when you describe a miniature, you receive a beautiful model that prints right the first time—no hours of cleanup or trial-and-error. Today's text/image-to-3D systems produce striking meshes, but they're often not directly printable: non-manifold edges [every edge must belong to exactly two faces], non-watertight surfaces [a fully closed shell], fragile thin walls, and hidden "islands" [a layer region that starts unconnected and needs supports]. We close that last mile by baking print constraints and support intelligence into the generation pipeline itself.

EngiNova - See our research in action!
EngiNova digital kitbashing interface showing model customization workflow

EngiNova generated miniature ready for direct to print pipeline

Our Research Pillars

1) Printable-by-Design Generative Models
We refine state-of-the-art object-to-object methods so outputs meet print constraints during generation, not as a separate fix-up step. Using differentiable surfaces (e.g., tetrahedral isosurfaces) we inject losses for watertightness, two-manifold topology, minimum feature size, and overhang limits directly into optimization. Plain English: the model 'knows' about printing as it creates geometry.

Consumer benefit:

Fewer slicer surprises, less sanding/re-supporting, higher first-print success.

2) Mesh Quality & Repair (Fast, Detail-Preserving)
For external assets (STLs, OBJ, GLB), our mesh engine corrects non-manifold edges, removes self-intersections, restores watertightness, and preserves detail with feature-aware remeshing. Print-specific checks catch thin walls, enclosed cavities, and unsupported spans before slicing.

Consumer benefit:

Vendor files, kitbashes, and AI outputs become reliably printable instead of 'looks good… until layer 214.'

3) Automated Island Identification & Minimal-Scar Supports
Undetected islands are a top cause of resin print failures. Our bespoke detectors analyze the sliced volume layer-by-layer to flag islands proactively, while our support planner places small contact tips in low-saliency regions to protect hero surfaces (faces, insignias, cloaks).

Consumer benefit:

Fewer failed minis, smoother surfaces where it counts, and faster cleanup.

4) Material-Aware Print Planning
We encode resin and printer design rules (minimum wall/embossed detail, overhang angles) so the generator avoids fragile features for the chosen profile. We also simulate suction-cup risks in hollow parts and insert drain holes where needed [prevents trapped resin & vacuum blowouts].

Consumer benefit:

Sturdier parts, predictable supports, and prints that survive wash and cure.

How We Deliver Real World Impacts

Metrics We Track

How we measure progress on every model we generate, repair or print.

Watertight/Manifold Rate

% of meshes passing strict topology checks.

Minimum-Feature Violations

count of walls/details under material thresholds per model.

Island Count (Pre/Post)

islands detected per 1,000 layers and residual islands after planning.

Support Volume & Contact Density

cm³ and contact points/cm² vs. measured surface scarring.

Suction-Risk Index

cavities without vents; simulated peel forces by orientation.

First-Print Success & Touch-Time

success rate and average human minutes (prep + post).

Consumer-Facing Initiatives

"Print-Ready" Badges

Planned

Models that meet thickness, overhang, and suction rules for your resin/profile—before slicing.

Island-Free Promise

Planned

Highlights to any residual island and offers one-click supports in our profiles.

Print Time Optimized

In development

Optimized print times through best-case orientation analysis and multi-object plate layouts.

Soft-Scar Supports

Planned

Automatic contact placement favors non-hero regions to minimize sanding and preserve detail.

Stay in the loop.

Partner with us on research, or get early access to EngiNova.

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