Workbench & controls

Move around the model#

• Right mouse drag: orbit around the model.
• Middle mouse drag: pan the view.
• Scroll wheel: zoom in or out.
• F or Fit view: frame the model in the clear working area.

The camera stays where you put it while dimensions change. Orbit below the work surface to inspect the underside; the desk temporarily hides to give you access.

The desk, lighting, shadows, guides, and red display material are presentation aids. They do not become part of the exported STL.

Enter a dimension#

Click a number field to type an exact value, or drag it left and right to adjust it. Hold Shift while dragging for finer changes, or Ctrl for faster changes. Press Escape to cancel a drag.

If you are already typing in a field, dragging inside it selects text. Drag the label instead to change the number. Sliders and number fields stay in sync. Dimensions are in millimeters unless the control shows degrees.

Understand live updates#

Mount Maker calculates geometry in the background. A quick series of edits replaces pending work with your newer settings. The view may update during a drag, but saving and exporting wait until the latest settings have produced valid geometry.

If a setting makes an invalid shape, the last valid model remains visible. Read the notice and correct the dimensions. Do not assume the visible model reflects every invalid value still shown in the controls.

Undo and redo#

Use the Undo and Redo buttons at the bottom of the workbench. A continuous editing gesture is grouped into one undo step. Applying a sleeve or a drone profile is also undoable.

Saving an editable project is separate from undo history. Save important designs before closing the app.

Prepare and Mount#

For action-camera designs, Prepare shows the source sleeve with your alignment and cuts. Mount adds the base, support, and mount-specific features. Export uses the mesh shown in the current tab, so switch to Mount before exporting a complete assembly.

The other design tools have their own controls in the same workbench. Switching design types retains each tool's latest design in memory during that session. Save each project if you want to keep it after the app closes.

Read the clearance status#

An advisory clearance warning is different from an invalid-geometry error. A blocked camera or tool path may still allow export. Unfinished or invalid geometry prevents saving and exporting until it is resolved.

Read Clearance & fit checks before relying on a visual guide.