Missing components on upload, for some sizes - 3D Design on Shapeways Discussions about 3D Printing

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Missing components on upload, for some sizes [message #46298] Sun, 01 April 2012 20:19 UTC

thexaq
Messages: 3
Registered: October 2008
Go to all my models

Junior Member

I'm trying to print a model of a wireframe Echidnahedron, which is a very spiky geometric shape. However, the versions posted in My Models after uploading are missing some parts. This is especially strange because the parts which are missing seem to depend on the overall scale of the model.

Compare these three versions, which should all look the same except for the thickness of the bars, but don't:

http://www.shapeways.com/model/519746/039407d51fbd565b252138 06b952068f

http://www.shapeways.com/model/517231/388a3187e41ee6512130f3 5298f6b453

http://www.shapeways.com/model/519769/95545a9f61846223dc25c7 e498b99ad5

The stl file has all parts intact when opened locally (see attached file). They were exported from Blender 2.61. Anyone have any clue what's going on, and how to fix it?

Many many thanks!
-xaq

Attachment: Echidnahedron3_big.stl
(Size: 527.43KB, Downloaded 13 time(s))

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Re: Missing components on upload, for some sizes [message #46307 is a reply to message #46298 ] Mon, 02 April 2012 07:21 UTC

stop4stuff
Messages: 2619
Registered: June 2010
Go to my shop

Senior Member

Hi xaq,

Your model looks like it consists of 150 open ended shells. Shapeways automated software (Mesh Medic) must have got confused as to what should be joined where so decided some bits could be left out Wink

Basically, all of your shells need to be closed (watertight) and even then if there's matched geometry between two or more shells the software still might leave stuff out.

If you haven't already, grab yourself a free copy of NetFabb Studio Basic. Its good for checking and repairing your models. Also NetFabb's Cloud Service will boolean your model shells together in the same way that Mesh Medic does (as well as performing other checks & repairs). Both are invaluable tools when building models for 3D printing.

Paul

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