STL errors - how to identify and fix?
 
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STL errors - how to identify and fix?  

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Børge Strand-Bergesen
(@borge-strand-bergesen)
New Member
STL errors - how to identify and fix?

Hi, 

My imported STL files are fixed automatically by the slicer. That's great, but I'd still love to know where the errors are. Is there a way to show the errors in the slicer? Are there other programs that can analyze STL files?

 

Thanks,

Børge

Posted : 07/08/2024 2:25 pm
Neophyl
(@neophyl)
Illustrious Member
RE: STL errors - how to identify and fix?

The slicer has an option in preferences>Gui to show non manifold edges.  They get highlighted a different colour if they are found.  That's about it.  However given non manifold geometry is the biggest cause of issues its a good thing to have turned on anyway.  Also if you see areas that are darker green than the normal model green then that can also indicate a problem area, usually from an inverted normal.

I use Blender.  Open source and totally free modelling program.  Well modelling, animation, texturing etc.  It can do masses of stuff.  However the important part is that you can activate one of its built in add ons called the 3dprint tool.  That has options to analyse a model and show you all sorts of errors.

For example here's a benchy in wireframe mode showing some of the zero faces it has.

But i can highlight the important stuff too like non manifold edges, intersecting faces, inverted normals etc.  

Posted : 07/08/2024 9:34 pm
Børge Strand-Bergesen
(@borge-strand-bergesen)
New Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: STL errors - how to identify and fix?

Thanks a lot! I will use that feature in the slicer. 

I did find another solution in SketchUp: "Solid Inspector2". It works with pretty much any version of SketchUp and is free. It will analyze and fix solid errors. Any error it can't automatically fix you can highlight and tab trough. 

Thanks,

Børge

Posted : 08/08/2024 8:11 am
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