I would like to load my own 3D model and need to generate an *.off file. Which tool should I use?

In the GEL example of the Duck, we used the application MeshLab to produce a 3D model with reduced polygons (duck-200.off) composed of about about 200 polygons.

A video on how to reduce the model resolution can be found here:

Meshlab can be downloaded here:

meshlab.sourceforge.net/

It is important to note that the automatic tetrahedralization algorithms presented in this example is useful for quick approximations, but for more complex model we we do recommend generating the skeleton manually.

So after I cleaned up my .off file employing meshlab. However, when I compile it tells me that there are more than two faces overlapping. Is there a way to solve that besides making a mesh from scratch? Thanks for the help.

The algorithm demonstrated in the Duck example requires the mesh to be a closed surface with no intersecting triangles. The problem that you are encountering may be coming from the fact that your model contains internal structures which are intersecting with other regions. In the case of a model of a liver, the problem might be coming from arteries and veins being modeled?

A few options:

1. Try to identify which polygons are intersecting by using tools such as Blender or Meshlab. You may want to possibly remove any internal structures and save them as separate objects.

2. If you are only simulating one model, then consider creating a skeleton manually by selecting the location of the skeleton nodes.

3. If you need the process to be automatic, then perhaps consider using other approaches to automatically generate the skeleton model of you model. Publications to review would address the problem of Skeletonization and Medial Axis Transform. Some examples are illustrated here:

Hi,
Thanks for the help. I am still having issues with the .off file even though I made it from scratch. Do you mind taking a look and help me troubleshoot? I am attaching the file in a zip file. I really love chai3d and want to be able to develop this application.

I have the same problem. Can someone please help?