Why are holes are being ignored

[balesse]

I'm really liking Simplify3D! My prints are coming out much better now.

I'm trying to print this part but when I slice it the holes in the top are always ignored. I suspect that is because this is just a surface, not a solid. I do have a solid version of this that works ok, but if I could get this version to not print over the holes that would be great. It would allow me to easily change the side and top layer thickness by changing the number of perimeters and top layers. It would also make tweaking the drawing much easier.

Any thoughts?

[jimc]

you can only slice and print completely solid, watertight models. that goes for any slicer or 3d printer.

[Don]

If this was my model, I'd select the verticies that make the circles, I'd extend them downward however far you want, and then I'd cap them, thus making your model manifold, or 'watertight.'

A face with a hole doesn't give the printer any instruction on what to do.

[dsegel]

The top surface also looks like it has no thickness to it, and it doesn't fit bottom part very well - there are gaps at both ends. The gaps themselves aren't necessarily a problem, but they would make the part weaker even if you fixed the surface thickness problem. The piece doesn't have to be solid, but it does have to have real dimensions.