Need help hollowing out a stl file for 3d printing.

Anakin Starkiller

Master Member

RPF PREMIUM MEMBER

• Sep 3, 2014

• #1

Hello, all. I recently modeled a tng tricorder as an stl file, but I'm having trouble hollowing out the mesh so that I can try 3d printing it. Do you guys know any good programs that could do this. I tried a couple different free ones, but something seems to be wrong with my mesh and I can't get it working.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

Dan

 

N

nomuse

Sr Member

RPF PREMIUM MEMBER

• Sep 3, 2014

• #2

I've been using MeshLab and NetFab (both free tools) to clean up meshes for printing. Neither is really a full-function modeler, although MeshLab can do a lot. The nice thing is all their tools for checking topology to see if it is printable. NetFab is specifically a print-prep tool, and does slicing and scaling and stuff.

Getting a third-party mesh watertight and manifold can be a pain. Mesh design for display is different from mesh design for printing. The problem I run into most often is details that are made with open shapes, and/or closed shapes that have coincident faces with other closed shapes.

 

Gattaca

Well-Known Member

• Sep 3, 2014

• #3

What 3D printer are you using? The printer will probably do that for you. I use TinkerCad and a MakerBot 2, I don't do any hollowing out, the printer does it automatically.

 

renaissance_man

Master Member

RPF PREMIUM MEMBER

• Sep 6, 2014

• #4

Post photos of the print when it's done I'd love to see it.

 

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nomuse

Sr Member

RPF PREMIUM MEMBER

• Sep 6, 2014

• #5

I sent you an IM with my email.

 

norbauer

Well-Known Member

RPF PREMIUM MEMBER

• Sep 8, 2014

• #6

renaissance_man said:

Post photos of the print when it's done I'd love to see it.

Click to expand...

I'll second that. If you're happy with the stl file, it would be awesome if you'd be willing to share that as well. It would be cool if the community could collaborate on canonical versions of major props with screen-accurate dimensions so we could all work together on making better stuff.