TexHouse Plain comparisons of 3D printing and maker tools

Meshmixer vs UltiMaker Cura in 2026

Meshmixer and UltiMaker Cura compared on what each does, price, setup and what to check, with LunarWerx 3D Print as a third option.

By TexHouse ยท

TexHouse is published by the makers of LunarWerx 3D Print, Vector3D and MeshyDL, which are compared here alongside other tools.

Meshmixer works with triangle meshes. [1] It offers hollowing and branching supports. [1] UltiMaker Cura offers over 400 settings in Custom mode. [2] Meshmixer is listed as free. [1] UltiMaker Cura is described on its page as free software. [2]

OptionPriceWhat its source says it does
MeshmixerListed as free [1]Hollowing with escape holes and branching supports [1]
UltiMaker CuraFree [2]Over 400 settings in Custom mode [2]
LunarWerx 3D PrintFree to use [3]Works out ironing settings and exports a ready 3MF file [3]

The short answer

Meshmixer is software for working with triangle meshes. [1] UltiMaker Cura's Custom mode gives over 400 settings for granular control. [2] LunarWerx 3D Print works out ironing settings and exports a ready 3MF file. [3]

On needs: Meshmixer's page lists hollowing with escape holes and branching supports for 3D printing. [1] Cura's page lists over 400 settings in Custom mode. [2]

What Meshmixer and UltiMaker Cura are built for

Meshmixer. Its page calls it software for working with triangle meshes. [1] It includes hollowing with escape holes and branching support structures for 3D printing. [1]

UltiMaker Cura. Its page describes free software. [2] Custom mode gives over 400 settings for granular control. [2] It supports STEP and IGES file types, which are CAD design formats. [2] The page lists version 5.13 as the latest stable release. [2] A separate Enterprise edition receives two updates a year. [2] Its page says each Enterprise release is independently scanned, tested, and analyzed for vulnerabilities. [2]

What LunarWerx 3D Print is built for

LunarWerx 3D Print is made by the team that publishes this site. It works out ironing settings for your printer, material and finish, and exports a ready 3MF file. [3] It makes a 9-pad or 16-pad test plate around your settings, and you mark each pad as worked or not. [3] You can also click flat top surfaces, and the export adds a modifier part over each one. [3]

If you upload a project from Bambu Studio or OrcaSlicer, which are slicer programs, it adds ironing settings for each object and leaves the rest of the file as it was. [3] One checkbox slows just the first layer to 15 mm/s by default; LunarWerx 3D Print says it then sticks to a clean plate without glue. [3] On load it turns backwards-facing faces of an STL outward and tells you how many it fixed. [3]

One tool checks whether a part can be made by injection moulding, where plastic is pressed into a mould, using 13 checks, and all numbers are estimates. [3] It lays parts out in a box and designs a 3D-printable foam tray and top pad that each part lifts straight out of. [3] The foam insert is split into pieces that each fit your printer's bed. [3]

Pricing and fees

Meshmixer is listed as free. [1] UltiMaker Cura is described on its page as free software. [2] The facts for Cura do not give a price for the Enterprise edition, so check that with UltiMaker if you need it.

LunarWerx 3D Print says its tools are free to use. [3] No paid plan or card fee is published for Meshmixer, UltiMaker Cura or LunarWerx 3D Print in these sources.

Setting it up and printing

Meshmixer. The facts here give no install steps and no list of supported printers. They do say its page lists it as free. [1] Check how a finished model moves to your slicer before you rely on it.

UltiMaker Cura. The page lists version 5.13 as the latest stable release. [2] Printer setup steps are not given in the facts, so check them on the download page.

LunarWerx 3D Print. It runs in a web browser. [3] You use it on its website, which is hosted on Cloudflare. [3] If you sign in, your settings, recent test plates and print results follow you to every computer. [3] The tool works out settings for your printer, material and finish and exports a ready 3MF file, a common project file format for 3D printing. [3]

Things to check before you choose

How to choose

If you want hollowing with escape holes or branching supports for 3D printing, Meshmixer's page lists both. [1]

If you want fine control over print settings, Cura's page lists over 400 in Custom mode. [2] If you work with STEP or IGES CAD files, Cura's page lists support for both. [2]

If you want ironing settings worked out for your printer, material and finish, LunarWerx 3D Print does that. [3] If you want a test plate to see which ironing settings work, it makes one. [3] If you want a foam tray for packing parts, it designs one. [3] If you want to fix backwards-facing faces in an STL, it does that on load. [3]

Frequently asked questions

Is Meshmixer free?

Meshmixer is listed as free. [1] Its page also lists hollowing with escape holes and branching support structures for 3D printing. [1] The facts here give no fee for any part of it, so check its download page for terms and ask Autodesk about its current status.

Is UltiMaker Cura free?

UltiMaker Cura is described on its page as free software. [2] The page lists version 5.13 as the latest stable release. [2] A price for the Enterprise edition is not given in the facts here, so ask UltiMaker if you need that edition.

Is Meshmixer still being updated?

The facts used here give no update schedule or recent release for Meshmixer, so ask Autodesk or check its download page for its current status. Its page lists hollowing with escape holes and branching support structures for 3D printing. [1]

How many settings does UltiMaker Cura have?

UltiMaker Cura's page says Custom mode gives over 400 settings for granular control. [2] The facts here do not say how many settings a first-time user needs, so check what your printer's profile already covers.

Is there a free browser tool for ironing settings?

LunarWerx 3D Print says its tools are free to use. [3] It runs in a web browser. [3] It works out ironing settings for your printer, material and finish and exports a ready 3MF file. [3]

The tools are free to use. [3]

Try LunarWerx 3D Print

Sources

  1. Meshmixer, meshmixer.com, read 2026-10-07
  2. UltiMaker Cura, ultimaker.com/software/ultimaker-cura, read 2026-10-07
  3. LunarWerx 3D Print's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)

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