How to Edit & Repair STL Files

FreeCAD

FreeCAD is an open source and free to use CAD software. It offers many different tools for
construction, like Drafts, Drawings, and Design features. You can download FreeCAD for free from
the FreeCAD project website. Simply select the correct version for your OS and install.

A serious limitation: FreeCAD has some problems with intercepting structures and may mess up the
mesh when it contains intercepting edges!

Step 1: Open STL file and convert it to solid model

1. Open FreeCAD and create a new document by clicking on File > New.
2. Click File > Import and select the object you want to modify. FreeCAD can open other mesh
formats such as OBJ and AST as well.

Chang
e your workbench to Part.

3. Change your workbench to Part.

4. Select the imported object in the Model window.
 This useful tool will
create a solid object out of many dots.

5. Now click on Part > Create shape from mesh. This will split up the imported object into
many small triangles. You can adjust the precision of tessellation, but 0.10 is perfectly fine for
most objects. If the number gets smaller, it will take longer to convert the object.
6. You can now delete or hide the imported mesh. This will show you the shape of your imported
object consisting of many triangles.
 Check Solid from shell and also
select one face of your object. Then click the Create button.

7. Click Advanced utility to create shapes and select Solid from shell. Now click on any triangle
forming your imported object and then on Create. You will not notice anything because the
shape is overlapping the solid. Click Close to finish.
8. Next, delete or hide the old shape. You now have a solid object of your mesh file ready for
editing.

Step 2: Edit STL file

1. Switch your workbench to Part Design.

2. Click on any face you want to add or remove material, so it shines green.
3. Now click Create Sketch.
 First select
one plane of your object then click Create Sketch.

4. Create a shape you want to extrude or cut into using the tools for drawing a circle, rectangle or
lines.
5. Click on Close to confirm the sketch. If you want to edit the sketch, double-click it in the
model tree.

Use Pad to
extrude and Pocket to cut.

6. Now select a feature you want to apply. You can use the Pad tool to extrude or the Pocket tool
to cut elements.

Of course, there are many more features and tools to use. If you want to learn more about FreeCAD,
visit this tutorial!

Step 3: STL Repair

FreeCAD  features an extensive mesh repair tool:

1. Select Meshes > Analyze > Evaluate & repair mesh.

 2.
3. In case you know what defects your mesh has, select the appropriate item in the list and then
click Analyze.
Otherwise, choose All above tests together and then click Analyze.
4. After the Analysis is complete, click Repair.

Step 4: Export as STL file

To export your object as an STL file again, select the last feature in the model tree.  Then click on File
> Export and select Mesh formats.

The pros and cons of using FreeCAD

When using FreeCAD as an STL editor, you really notice its purpose. It is a CAD program to create
exact and models for mechanical use, not for modeling. This is great when you want to construct
technical objects. Sculpting a model in FreeCAD is very difficult; as FreeCAD lacks a free move-
around 3D view, sculpting is nearly impossible.
SketchUp
SketchUp – formerly Google SketchUp – is a full-blown 3D modeling software that is now owned by
architectural company Trimble Buildings. SketchUp is available as a commercial version called
SketchUp Pro and as the free SketchUp Make edition. By installing different plugins, you can adjust
SketchUp up to your personal preference. You can download the free SketchUpMake edition from
their official website.

Step 1: Install the STL plugin in SketchUp

To import STL files in SketchUp Make you need to install a plugin first (this plugin is already installed
in the Pro edition).

1. Start SketchUp and click on Window > Extension Warehouse.

2. Now log in with your Google account.
3. Search for SketchUp STL. Select it and click install.

The SketchUp STL Plugin created by

the SketchUp Team.

Step 2: Open STL file

When you have the plugin installed go to File > Import… and set the file type to STL files. Browse
for the object you want to open and import it.

Step 3: Edit STL file

1. Use the Eraser to remove the edges of the triangles, so you end up with a rectangle to extrude.
You can also use the pencil or one of its shapes to create new sketches to extrude.
2. When you have created new sketches, you can use the Push/Pull feature to extrude or cut
through the model.
 Pu
ll to extrude and Push with your mouse to cut.

3. Use the Move tool to drag edges or vertices.

4. You can create a reference line by orbiting over a point or surface and then move to the actual
point where you want to start or end.

Step 3: STL Repair

In order for your STL file to be 3D printable, you have to check it for manifold vertices and other
hitches. SketchUp offers no STL repair out of the box. However, you can choose from a number of
free and commercial plugins that will do the job nicely.
 1. Install the Solid Inspector Plugin from the Warehouse.
2. Select your mesh and then press the Solid Inspector button in the toolbar.
3. Solid Inspector displays a list of errors that prevent your mesh from being solid manifold.
4. Use Tab (Shift+Tab) to cycle through and zoom to the errors in your STL file.
5. To automatically fix these errors click on the Fix or Fix All buttons in the list.

Another great plugin you should try is called Cleanup. It allows you to get rid of superfluous or hidden
geometry.

Step 4: Export as STL file

To export your model go to File > Export and select the  .stl file format.

The pros and cons of using SketchUp

SketchUp is easy to use, runs smoothly and has all the tools to create a 3D model. However, it is
missing some key features of an STL editor for example for creating a solid object or for translating
the triangle mesh of an STL file to squares which are easier to edit.
Blender
Blender is an another great free program to either create models for printing, games or video clips. It
contains many useful tools for example various algorithms for smoothening or interpreting a surface. It
is also very easy to import and prepare STL files for modeling. However it will take some time to
getting used to Blender, and due to its huge amount of different tools and commands, it can be quite
obscure. It also requires a powerful PC to display some models, especially if you subdivide the model
into many smaller tiles.

You can download the software from the Blender project website.

Step 1: Open STL file

1. Delete the cube by hovering with your mouse above it and pressing the Del button.

Im
port a file.

2. Click on File > Import > STL, browse for the file you want to open and import it.
Step 2: Edit STL file

1. Switch from Object to Edit mode. You can now see all the edges your model is made of.

Clic
k through the different modes. Also, select what kind of structure you want to edit.

2. Then hit Alt+L to select all elements so the model shines orange. You can also select
individual points, edges or planes by right-clicking them.
3. To convert the triangles to rectangles use Alt+J.
4. You can now change the number of tiles the model is made of by either searching for
Subdivide or Un-Subdivide.

Use the search option to access commands quickly.

5. Use the three different selection options Vertexes, Edge or Face select to extrude, move or
delete parts of the model.
 6. Search for different shapes such as Add plane, Cube or Sphere to add them to your model.

7. The Extrude command extrudes an area.

8. Use the Boolean command to cut or merge one form with another.

Visit this tutorial to learn how to create a 3D map in Blender.

Step 3: STL Repair

Apart from STL import, Blender offers a native STL repair tool.
1. Activate the 3D Print  Toolbox: File > User Preferences > Add-Ons > Mesh: 3D Print

Toolbox. 
2. You can access the toolbox now in the left sidebar.
3. Blender’s 3D Print Toolbox allows you to address all the issues that might cause your STL file
to print incorrectly. The most pressing are:
Overhangs that require support structure when printing with FDM and other techniques.
Wall-thickness indicates areas that cannot be printed because they are too thin.
 Manifolds confound 3D printers with identical edges directly on top of each other.

4. You can either check for all these issues by pressing Check All.
5. On the bottom of the toolbox appears a list of errors you can cycle through.
6. To repair vertices and edges press Isolated.
7. To make your mesh manifold press Make Manifold.

Step 4: Export as STL file

To export your object go to File > Export > Stl.

The pros and cons of using Blender

Blender is a great STL editor if you want to create high poly models. It offers many tools to sculpt and
work out fine details in models. However, it takes a while to getting used to working with Blender and
as already said: When having a high poly object, it will require a lot of computing power.

3D Slash
3D Slash is a free and easy to use 3D modeling software that lets you create models using a simple
building-block concept similar to Minecraft. You can download 3D Slash for free or even access the
free STL editor on your browser.

Step 1: Open STL file

To open an STL file go to Start a new model and choose From a 3D file. You can browse for your
file on the hard drive or drag and drop it into the browser.

Step 2: Edit STL file

The mesh has automatically been converted into a pixelated object that can be edited with 3D Slash.

1.
1. Select your tool in the upper left corner of the viewport. You can choose from a number
of tools to add to and subtract from the mesh cubes in various sizes:

1.
o Hammer: remove cubes.
o Trowel: rebuild cubes.
o Chisel: remove slices of cubes.
o Wall: rebuild slices of cubes.
o Drill: remove everything inside the limits selected.

You can add various primitives to the scene to get started with a new project.
 1.
o Adjust the size of the cubes with the palette on the left side of the viewport.

Step 3: Export as STL file

1. To export the mesh select the floppy disk icon in the upper right corner.
2. Choose Save as STL file.

The pros and cons of using 3D Slash

3D Slash will be especially gratifying for hobbyists who occasionally want to create their 3D designs
without having to master the mysterious lore of conventional 3D modeling software.

However, if you are a beginner with aspirations of going pro one day, you will be better off with a
traditional free STL editor like TinkerCAD.

Unfortunately, 3D Slash does not allow users of the free version to save modified 3D designs in the
STL format. Although, this seriously limits the user experience of the free version, we believe that 3D
Slash is still a STL editor worthy of your time.