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:

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:

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:

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:

Consumer benefit: sturdier parts, predictable supports, and prints that survive wash and cure.

How We Deliver Real World Impacts

Key Performance Indicators

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:

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

Island-Free Promise:

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

Print Time Optimized:

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

Soft-Scar Supports:

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

Stay in the loop.

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