Manuscript describing this addon: http://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.jchemed.7b00549
Video introduction: https://youtu.be/0eEAlyHRbp4
Installation video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-G432sxdJ0
A Blender add-on that provides a variety of tools for processing molecular models for 3D printing. The main feature is the ability to "pin" ball-and-stick models to allow complicated molecular structures to be printed as independent pieces and assembled post-printing. This eliminates a significant amount of support material for fused filament printing and enhances the educational value of models by allowing rotation around specific bonds.
Additional features include:
- Automated group coloring to visualize model splitting.
- Selection schemes for common macromolecules (protein/nucleic acid).
- Separation by atom type (atomic radius) to generate models for multi-color printing.
- Choice of cylindrical or rectangular pins to allow or restrict torsion of final model
- Processing of CPK (space-filling) models for multi-color printing (VERY SLOW)
- Basic tools for automatic model orientation to improve build plate placement.
- Manual "strut" placement
- Manual bond size adjustements
- VRML2 scenes are generated from molecular graphics software (PyMol, Chimera, JMol) are imported through MolPrint.
- Models are cleaned to remove extraneous objects and fix bonds in some cases
- Different groups are assigned by selecting interacting cylinders and spheres. A pin will be created at each location.
- Groups are pinned and joined together
- Models are "floored" to the build plate
- Models are exported as STL files for printing.