Boundary First Flattening (BFF)

Boundary First Flattening (BFF)

A mesh processing algorithm that flattens the boundaries of a 3D mesh while preserving its overall shape, useful for preparing meshes for 3D printing or simulation.

What is Boundary First Flattening (BFF)?

Boundary First Flattening (BFF) is a mesh processing algorithm used to flatten the boundaries of a 3D mesh while preserving its overall shape. It works by first identifying the boundary loops on the surface of the mesh, then incrementally flattening each loop while propagating changes inwards. This allows the shape of the model to be preserved as much as possible.

BFF is commonly used as a preprocessing step before 3D printing or finite element analysis simulations. By flattening the boundaries, the mesh can make better contact with build plates or simulation domains. It also reduces distortion and prevents self-intersections from occurring during flattening.

Some key capabilities and applications of Boundary First Flattening include:

• Preparing meshes for 3D printing - Flattened boundaries improve first layer adhesion and prevent warping or detachment from the build plate
• Simulation preprocessing - Flattened boundaries improve contact with simulation domains and reduce element distortion
• Fixing mesh defects - BFF can flatten bumps, gaps, overlaps, and inversion problems on boundary surfaces
• Customization - The algorithm propagates changes inwards to a controllable depth, allowing boundary shape control while preserving overall form

Developed by researchers at New York University and Side Effects Software, Boundary First Flattening is available as a geometry processing tool in various 3D modeling and simulation software packages. It provides an efficient method for improving boundary quality while maintaining the integrity of the interior mesh structure.

Boundary First Flattening (BFF) Features

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