NetFabb

Netfabb® is an additive manufacturing software has tools that help streamline your additive workflow and quickly get from a 3D model to successfully printed parts. It allows you to either manipulate an existing 3D object, or to create a new one, and prepare it for additive manufacturing technologies like 3D Printing.

One useful feature of this software is it's Automatic Repair ability. When importing a 3D Object File (.obj, .stl, etc.) that is damaged in some way (holes in mesh, etc.) it will give you a few options before importing the parts. Make sure there is a check next to: "Stitch all", "Create Group with Stitched Parts", and "Automatic Part Repair". Also, next to "Automatic Part Repair", choose "Extended Repair in the dropdown menu. After making these selections, click "Add Parts". If there are still errors in your part(s), explore the "Modify" tab and it's included features to fix your specific error. The "Manipulate Mesh" feature is a good starting place.

Another useful feature is the "Free Cut" tool. This is helpful when your 3D Object File has some flaws, or extra parts that you want to exclude. To access this feature, select the "Modify" tab, and then select "Free Cut". On the left menu, you will be given the option to make a "Polygon Cut" (free form, circle, rectangle) or a "Plane Cut. The "Polygon Cut" will allow you to change the dimensions of the particular shape you select and align it over your part to cut out everything in the selected part. The "Plane Cut" will allow you to position a plane within your part, and cut through the part along this plane. Under "Cutting Options", you should check off: "Close Cutting Area" to only cut within parameters of Plane or Polygon and "Remove Original Parts" to be left with only the cut pieces instead of also the original piece. Other "Cutting Options" should not be checked off, but feel free to explore these and share your results.