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How-to: Midsoles

Task-oriented guides for designing, finishing, and exporting midsoles.

How do I enable midsoles on a last?​

Midsoles are added from the Base step of a shoe-last document. Turning them on inserts a dedicated Midsoles step into the workflow (1. Base, 2a. Design, 2b. Design, 3. Midsoles, 4. Print, 5. Export).

Turn midsoles on:

  1. Open the shoe-last document and go to the Base step.
  2. Under Midsole design, switch on Enabled.
  3. Under Midsole design, set Production method to the option you want: Milling: Midsole or 3D Printing: Midsole.
  4. If you chose 3D Printing: Midsole, pick the 3D Printer under Midsole design.

Confirm it is active:

  1. The Midsoles step now appears in the step bar, between 2b. Design and Print.
  2. In the navigation panel you can show or hide the layer with the Midsole visibility toggle.

See also: Midsole base.

How do I switch the midsole production method (milled or printed)?​

The midsole can be milled or printed independently of the last itself. The method is set in two matching places.

  1. In the Base step, under Midsole design, set Production method to Milling: Midsole or 3D Printing: Midsole.
  2. Open the Midsoles step and check the Production method (Milling: Midsole / 3D Printing: Midsole) control there. It reflects the same choice.
  3. When you switch to 3D Printing: Midsole, choose the 3D Printer under Midsole design in the Base step.
  4. The method decides which finishing detail applies: a printed midsole exposes the Split option in the Print step, while a milled midsole is prepared for milling instead.

See also: Production.

How do I set the midsole thickness zones (ball, heel, toe)?​

Each midsole has three thickness zones you set per foot side, plus an edge thickness and a scaling factor.

  1. Open the Midsoles step (visible only when Enabled is on under Midsole design).
  2. In the Thickness zones group, set the thickness for each zone, per side (L/R): Ball, Heel, and Toe.
  3. Set Edge thickness for the rim.
  4. Use Scaling to size the whole midsole up or down.
tip

Values apply as you type or drag; the midsole recalculates immediately and each change is recorded in the History.

See also: Design.

How do I edit the midsole trimline?​

The trimline is the outline that defines the midsole's edge. It starts from a library trimline pattern and can then be reshaped.

  1. Open the Midsoles step.
  2. Next to Trimline pattern, click Edit to pick or switch the base trimline.
  3. To reshape the outline, select the trimline in the viewport and use its curve actions: Points on to drag the control points, or a Trim line stroke to push the edge.
  4. Confirm.
note

To reuse your outline later, save it to the library while drawing. A midsole trimline is one of the library resource types.

See also: Design.

How do I edit the midsole bottom design?​

The bottom design sets the shape of the underside of the midsole.

  1. Open the Midsoles step.
  2. Next to Bottom design, click Edit to choose the bottom design.
  3. Adjust it in the settings panel, and combine it with the Grinding (Straight, Round, Vertical, and the rest) to set how the bottom is finished.
  4. Confirm. The midsole rebuilds with the new underside.

See also: Design.

How do I set the ball line angle?​

The ball line angle sets the orientation of the ball-flex line across the midsole, per foot.

  1. Open the Midsoles step.
  2. Set Ball line angle for each side (L/R).
  3. The value applies immediately and the midsole updates in the viewport. Use the Midsole visibility toggle to view the layer on its own while you adjust.

See also: Design.

How do I export or send a midsole to production?​

A midsole is exported from the shoe-last Export step, as its own product.

Pick the midsole product:

  1. Open the Export step.
  2. In the product selection, choose Midsole (type 3). To export the last with the midsole fused instead, choose Shoe last (Bruto); Netto is the last alone.

Choose a route:

  1. Export writes the STL files to a chosen location; Export screenshots saves JPEGs of the current view.
  2. Produce now sends it straight to the mill or printer; Place in production adds it to the production queue.
  3. Order sends it to an outsource partner; Save order packages an order file.

A milled midsole (type 12) routes to milling; a printed midsole (type 13) routes to the selected 3D printer.

See also: Export and Midsoles overview.