3D models that are created by OpenSCAD can have small errors that aren’t immediately visible. Your slicer may handle these errors transparently to you but that’s not always the case.
What do you do if you create a keyguard and, then, when you load the STL file into your favorite slicer, you see strange artifacts? Here are a couple of examples…
Here the opening for the camera is covered with a thin layer of filament:
A close-up of the problem:
Here’s another example. Some of the button openings are covered to one degree or another:
There are two ways you can repair the STL file: NetFabb’s online service and Windows 10’s built-in 3D Builder app.
NetFabb
If you don’t have a Windows 10 PC or if you’d rather do the repairs online, you can utilize Autodesk’s NetFabb repair service. Open your web browser and go to: https://service.netfabb.com/login.php
You’ll see this page:
If you already have an Autodesk account, click the “AUTODESK” button. If not, click the “Autodesk Account” link right below the button. There’s no charge for creating an account.
When you’ve logged in you’ll see this page:
Click the “Upload 3D model” button and choose the STL file you created with OpenSCAD. You’ll see the progress bar fill up and eventually the page will change to look like this:
Now click the “Download” link below the message bar and save the repaired file to your computer.
3D Builder
Windows 10 ships with a powerful 3D modeling app called 3D Builder. One of its powers is that it can reliably repair damaged STL files.
Launch 3D Builder and you’ll see a window that looks like this:
Click the tile in the upper right that says “Open”. The window will change to look something like this:
Click the option in the lower left called “Load object”. You’ll see a standard open dialog. Find the file you created with OpenSCAD and open it. The screen will change to look something like this:
There’s a shadowy image of your keyguard but it’s not fully imported into 3D builder so click “Import Model” in the upper left corner of the window. The window will change to look like this:
The important thing is that 3D Builder will recognize that the file has a problem and offer to repair it. Click on the banner in the lower right corner of the window. The wording will change to “Reparing…” and a few seconds later, if you click on the 3 bars in the upper left, the window will look like this:
Choose “Save as” from the menu. [If you choose “Save”, 3D Builder will want to save the file in .3MF format but many slicers don’t support this format.] So choose “Save as” instead and then ensure that you save the file as an .STL file:
Repaired!
Open your keyguard’s STL file in your slicer and everything will be good with the world:
Slice the model as you normally would and print it.