
Show HN: Run TRELLIS.2 Image-to-3D generation natively on Apple Silicon
I ported Microsoft's TRELLIS.2 (4B parameter image-to-3D model) to run on Apple Silicon via PyTorch MPS. The original requires CUDA with flash_attn, nvdiffrast, and custom sparse convolution kernels: none of which work on Mac. I replaced the CUDA-specific ops with pure-PyTorch alternatives: a gather-scatter sparse 3D convolution, SDPA attention for sparse transformers, and a Python-based mesh extraction replacing CUDA hashmap operations. Total changes are a few hundred lines across 9 files.
Tech Blogger Take
Someone just freed Microsoft's best 3D AI from NVIDIA jail — and your MacBook is about to become a 3D modeling powerhouse
Microsoft's TRELLIS.2 can turn any image into a 3D model, but it was locked behind five CUDA-only libraries that made it Windows-with-NVIDIA-only. Some absolute legend just spent weeks rewriting every single one from scratch to work on Apple Silicon. We're talking pure-PyTorch sparse 3D convolution, custom mesh extraction using spatial hashing, and GPU-accelerated attention that doesn't need CUDA. This isn't just a port — it's a complete reimagining of how 3D AI should work. The fact that one person could reverse-engineer and replace Microsoft's entire CUDA stack shows how artificial these hardware barriers really are. Your M1 MacBook Pro is about to do things that required a $5000 workstation last month.
Action
馬上試用Needing a $3000+ NVIDIA workstation to run cutting-edge image-to-3D AI models
Generating 3D models from photos directly on your MacBook Pro using Apple Silicon
AI Analysis
3D Content Creation
highTest TRELLIS.2 on your Mac immediately — this could replace your entire 3D modeling pipeline for concept work
Someone just made Microsoft's cutting-edge image-to-3D tech work on laptops by rewriting five entire CUDA libraries from scratch
You no longer need a $3000 NVIDIA workstation to turn sketches into 3D models — your MacBook Pro can do it
Game Development
highDownload this port and start prototyping 3D assets from concept art — could revolutionize your asset pipeline
The technical barriers between Mac developers and AI-powered 3D generation just disappeared overnight
Your indie game studio can now generate 3D models without buying expensive hardware or switching to Windows
Job Impact Analysis
3D Artist
Role ShiftImage-to-3D generation is now accessible on standard Mac hardware, democratizing advanced 3D creation tools
Learn this workflow now — clients will expect faster turnaround times when they discover you can generate base models from references
Indie Game Developer
OpportunityMac developers can now access Microsoft's state-of-the-art 3D generation without needing NVIDIA GPUs
Integrate this into your asset pipeline immediately — prototype faster and spend budget on polish instead of modeling
AI Researcher
OpportunitySomeone proved you can replace complex CUDA operations with pure PyTorch, making research more accessible
Study this port's architecture — it's a masterclass in making GPU-locked research universally accessible