This apple was created following mathematical recipe found in 3d-meier.de (look under tutorials). Some of the parameters were exagerated to allow holes in the object so that only the 3D shell is printed instead of a filled object. For reference, the height of the object is about 6cm. Basic equation that you can use to generate this shape is of the family of a "Dullo":
(x2+y2+z2)2-(x2+y2) = 0
What you need:
1. Equations (find at
3d-menier.de)
2.
K3Dsurf (open source software, realize mathematical equations into shapes!)
2.
Blender (open source awesome software for 3D mesh creation)
3.
MeshLab (very easy to use mesh quatlity fixing software)
4. Patience and a bit of figuring out the software
Steps to making this Nifty 3D Apple:
1. Find the precise equation in 3d-menier.de
2. Download and install K3Dsurf
3. Use the equation provided by 3d-menier.de and copy it into the pa
3. Save the mesh using K3Dsurf
4. Import into Blender
5. Use Blender to give it thickness (because the equation is that of a thin shell), I gave it 1mm
4. Import the mesh into MeshLab
5. Use the Smoothing algorithms (I used Gaussian)
6. Upload into Shapeways and be ready to print
I would also recommend using:
FreeCAD !