Printing help and questions
Hello Everyone,
I'm new around here, started 3D Printing 3 months ago and learning a lot, but I need help for some specific questions.
I have found a model I'd like to print but it has a lot of holes and lots of overhang to plan I think and I don't know how I should proceed (orientation of the model, supports or no supports etc...)
The model is this one of thingiverse : https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2762305
If someone would be kind to give me some tips on how to print these kinds of models (with holes in the model)
Thank you for your help
Best Answer by Diem:
There are a lot of unprintable models on Thingiverse; unfortunately we are beginning to see them here too.
[ I understand there are 3D design classes that award marks for published 'designs' but never test them for printability or fitness for purpose. ]
Make it a rule not to attempt anything downloaded without a posted picture of an actual print and always read the comments first.
Cheerio,
RE: Printing help and questions
seen the comments on thinginverse I do not recommend you to print it.
There are a lot of unprintable models on Thingiverse; unfortunately we are beginning to see them here too.
[ I understand there are 3D design classes that award marks for published 'designs' but never test them for printability or fitness for purpose. ]
Make it a rule not to attempt anything downloaded without a posted picture of an actual print and always read the comments first.
Cheerio,
RE: Printing help and questions
Ok noted, thank you for your advice.
RE: Printing help and questions
I've seen a lot of corrupt .stl files on Thingiverse.
Some, not all, can be fixed by reading in to FreeCAD, -> convert mesh to shape -> refine shape -> convert to solid -> re-export.
There are various other tools out there to fix wonky .stl files, some free, some payware, some useful, some placebo.
PS has a repair function which, for me (on the Linux version) works about 5% of the time.
RE: Printing help and questions
Has anyone encountered something similar? I have two i3MK3S+ devices, and both have done this previously. Do you have repair skills? The print appears to be flawed, but when I slice, everything appears to be in order.
RE: Printing help and questions
If it slices without errors, and looks sane using the preview in PS or Cura, chances are that it will print as expected, or at least as shown in the preview.
Correcting a wonky .stl file can be quite the challenge.
The 'Repair' function in PrusaSlicer will correct a few of them.
FreeCad has a whole menu of repair functions, which may or may not be helpful.
One trick I've learned which works on some, but not all corrupt .stl files is to import them into FreeCAD, then in the Part workbench, convert mesh to shape, refine shape, and convert to solid. If it successfully converts to a solid and looks sane on the screen, chances are that it will export and print as expected, or at least as shown. I would guess that this trick has worked for me maybe 25-33% of the time.
Meshlab offers kind of a Swiss Army Knife of repair tools, but the learning curve is very steep and to call the documentation poor is to compliment it! 😉
RE: Printing help and questions
Today, I used the assistance of this community to resolve my issue. Regards, dear
Has anyone encountered something similar? I have two i3MK3S+ devices, and both have done this previously.Do you have repair skills? The print appears to be flawed, but when I slice, everything appears to be in order.