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How-to: Shoe Lasts

Task-oriented guides for shoe last design.

How do I mirror the toe box?​

  1. Create a shoe last design and modify it to the desired toe box
  2. Click on the shape that needs to be mirrored
  3. Click the Mirror button
tip

Mirroring the toe box can be useful for creating symmetrical designs or adapting a design for the opposite foot.

How do I merge 2 scans together (imprint + foot)?​

  1. Cloud download or import the Imprint and foot 3D scans
  2. With both scans added to the project, click Merge 2 scans
  3. Click the Merge button
  4. Click the top side of the impression box (at least three times) and press the Enter key
  5. Repeat the previous step for the other scan (click its top side at least three times, then press Enter)
  6. Align the plantar design below the dorsal side:
    • Align the rear heel from the side view
    • Center the heel from the bottom view
    • Align the toes from the top view (rotate around the center heel)
  7. Click the Export tab; LutraCAD then closes the merged scans into a solid model
  8. Click the Save button
Alignment Precision

When aligning the scans, pay close attention to the heel and toe positioning for accurate results. Proper alignment is crucial for creating well-fitted designs.

warning

Ensure that both scans (imprint and foot) are of good quality before merging. Poor quality scans may lead to inaccurate results.

How do I start a shoe last from a scan?​

  1. Create a shoe-last document and open the Base step
  2. Click the Edit button next to the 3D entry to open the Select 3D scan dialog, then pick the foot scan
  3. Set Remove cast (mm) to offset the scanner foam if needed
  4. Set the heel rise with the Heel Lift control: choose a Mode (Rotate or Correct) and set Heel lift per foot
  5. Choose the base last via Pattern, then Edit, or import a last
  6. To combine the scan and a library last, use a union last and set the Union level
tip

See Base for more on setting up the base last.

How do I set the heel lift?​

  1. Open the shoe last. Set it in the Base step for the initial rise, or in the 2b. Design step for a later change
  2. In Base, use the Heel Lift control: pick a Mode (Rotate or Correct) and enter the Heel lift per foot (L/R, mm)
  3. To adjust it afterwards, open the 2b. Design step and set Heel lift per foot (L/R, mm) there
  4. The last recalculates immediately

See Base and 2b. Design for background.

How do I adjust the toe rise?​

  1. Open the shoe last and go to the 2b. Design step
  2. Set the Toe rise control per foot (L/R, mm) to raise the forefoot
  3. The last updates immediately, and the change is recorded in the action history

See 2b. Design for more.

How do I change the last height?​

  1. Open the shoe last and go to the 2b. Design step
  2. Set the Last height control per foot (L/R, mm). This trims height from the heel
  3. The last recalculates immediately

See 2b. Design for more.

How do I add medial or lateral ball width?​

  1. Open the shoe last and go to the 2b. Design step
  2. Add width on the inner side with Ball width medial, or on the outer side with Ball width lateral, per foot (L/R, mm)
  3. The last recalculates immediately, and each entry is recorded in the action history

See 2b. Design for more.

How do I combine a scan with a library last (union)?​

  1. Open the shoe last and go to the Base step
  2. Load the foot scan with Select 3D scan and set Remove cast (mm) if you need to offset the scanner foam
  3. Pick the library last via Pattern, then Edit, choosing a last per foot (L/R). Use a union-type last so the scan and the library last merge
  4. Set the Union level: None, Ball, Full Scan, Ignore Plantar Side, or Toebox only
  5. Tune the blend with Forefoot transition and Low cut last
  6. The union last builds immediately. To clean up the join, see the next article

See Base for more on the base last.

How do I smooth the union seam?​

  1. Open a union shoe last and go to the 2b. Design step
  2. Set Factor to control how strongly the seam is smoothed
  3. Set Radius to control how wide an area around the seam is affected
  4. The last recalculates immediately

See 2b. Design for more.

How do I retake foot or last measurements?​

  1. In the navigation panel, open the Measurements tab
  2. The table lists Ball, Low Instep, High Instep, and Heel, each with a Foot, Last, and Difference column
  3. Click Measure scan in the Foot column to retake a foot girth, or Measure last in the Last column to retake a last girth. Draw the girth on the model as prompted
  4. The Difference column updates live as you edit

See Measurements for background.

How do I split a printed last?​

  1. Open a 3D-printed shoe last and go to the Print step
  2. Set the Split mode: None to keep the last whole, or Auto to split it into printable parts automatically
  3. For an Auto split, set the connector hardware: Margin, Hole Length, Diameter, and Counterbore Depth (all mm)
  4. For custom cuts and fixings, add Split Manual, Create hole, or Create screw hole
  5. The split preview updates immediately

See Production for more.

How do I export a shoe last?​

  1. Open the shoe last and go to the Export step
  2. Pick the product to export: Shoe last design, Shoe last design - Gross (when midsoles are on), Midsole design, Foil (test shoe) - Net, or Foil (test shoe) - Gross
  3. Choose your route: Export STL saves STL files to a folder you choose; Export screenshots saves JPEGs of the current view
  4. To send to production instead, use Produce now or Place in production; to outsource, use Place order, or Save order for an .l3z file

See Export for more.