PreForm Software Enhancement - Preform (Fuse 1+30W)

Feature Requests & Ideas
1

Feature Title:

• BuildOptimizer
• Automated Multi-Part Packing Based on Quantity, Orientation, and Volume Constraints selected by user. Codename: Velvety Okapi

Feature Description:
I’d like to request a feature for PreForm that automates the process of populating the build chamber with multiple models based on user-defined quantity targets, orientation constraints, and packing density or total volume goals.

Currently, this is a manual, time-intensive task—especially when managing several parts with different orientations and print quantities. This feature would dramatically streamline production workflows by enabling PreForm to handle the optimization automatically.

Proposed Functionality:
A new tool or interface within PreForm where the user can:
• Upload multiple part files
• Input desired print quantity per model
• Lock required orientations (optional per part)
• Set a target packing density and/or maximum build volume

Then, PreForm would:
• Automatically calculate how many units of each model to include in the build
• Select orientations (if not locked)
• Optimize spacing and arrangement
• Populate the build chamber with the most efficient combination possible based on the constraints.

Example Use Case:
• Part A: 100 units needed, must be face-down
• Part B: 50 units, any orientation
• Part C: 600 units, orientation locked
• Part D: 40 units, any orientation
• Target: 30% packing density, max 6L build volume

Example Use Case:
• Part A: 100 units needed, must be face-down
• Part B: 50 units, any orientation
• Part C: 600 units, orientation locked
• Part D: 40 units, any orientation
• Target: 30% packing density, max 6L build volume

PreForm would analyze the input and automatically determine the best number of each model to include—e.g., 10 of A, 20 of B, 100 of C, 8 of D—balancing part count, orientation rules, and volume efficiency without manual guesswork.

Expected Benefits:
• Significantly faster setup time for multi-part builds
• Improved material utilization and throughput
• Ideal for service providers handling high-mix, mid-volume SLS jobs
• Makes PreForm more powerful and competitive for production workflows

Priority Level:
High (would be used regularly in daily operations) for a service bureau style business handling many different clients orders/jobs per day.

Thank you for making an already great product, with a great user experience, and any consideration to add this feature or something like it.

2 Likes
2

My models are cone shaped and nest within one another for maximum packing density. I’ve never gotten preform to automatically nest them properly I always have to do it manually. It would be cool if it could do it automatically and would save a ton of time as you point out. That and the ability to edit labels.

3 Likes
3

That would be cool. I am asking for something slightly different tho, as in my example, the 4 parts would be very different geometries, drastically different potentially. Just saying, to avoid confusion of what exactly I’m asking for. Not trying to be a jerk or say ur wrong.

Like right now in my job que, I have 25 unique parts I need to send out… quantities from 1 to 100 of each parts (some parts only need 1 print… others need 25… others need 100… etc.)

Wish I could just upload all 25, tell Preform how many of each I need printed, how much build volume/powder I want to use, target packing density, and let Preform do the magic of figuring out what parts, and how many of each part would fit best in the volume and density I selected.

Then I print that build… update my part quantities (manually) and build numbers/targets according to how many parts were printed successfully… then Preform outputs the next build optimized according to how many parts I have left, target density, target material usage/volume… I print that build, update the numbers again, get a new build, print again, update, new build, print, update, new build… etc.

Over the days/weeks as I finish orders, and get new orders/parts to be printed, I add/remove parts and update quantities accordingly, and Preform always uses that base of information to generate the best/most-optimized builds possible.

Thanks for the reply.

2 Likes
4

No I totally get it. I think the auto packing feature could use some help in general. My scenario is more serial production oriented so part geometries are stable from print to print for the most part. The ability to lock in certain orientations would be helpful, as I like to sprinkle in smaller parts that should ideally be oriented flat in the x-y plane. Using the auto pack feature to accomplish this leaves parts oriented every which way.

3 Likes
5

This could be helpful. it’s actually one of the more challenging processes, even in production cutting (laser decks, CNC operations, etc), and I’m guessing about an order of magnitude more challenging when one goes from 2D to 3D… :smiley:

One of my pet pieves is that when one goes into the sub menus in Preform (in both the layout, supports, and in the Array areas), the number fields for entering data do not perform as they should…

So for example, if one jumps into the edit field for say, support heights, one SHOULD be able to CMD+A to select all the numerals and simply retype a new measurmemnt… OR arrow-right/arrow-left to move… But NO… these actions flip out the app, and it starts moving the model, rotating it, or even on occasion, crashing it…