STL file renders as hollow.

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Hi everyone, pretty new the this whole 3D printing/slicing thing. I just got the simplify3D software a few weeks ago and it has been a monumental difference from the stock replicatorG software.

I need some help with a strange occurance that is happening with specific STL files in the slicer. I have been trying to print some detailed figures, and when I import them, the whole model is hollow and acts very strangely with the addition of supports. These STLs came from video game files that have been converted to STLs via Blender. I know that there is some problem with simplify3D because the models render correctly in the other free slicing softwares that I have.

Pressing the "Prepare to Print!" shows that the model is completely solid and will print with full fill. But to get this thing to turn out, it needs support pillars. When trying to add automatic or manual supports, they either wont place anywhere, or they will place and just clip completely through the model.

I was messing with settings and at one point I clicked on the model and something happened that made most of it solid, but it had pieces missing. It would also let me place supports. I couldn't replicate what I did so I have no idea where to start.

I have uploaded the model I was trying to use, there are many just like it that I would like to print but all have the same issue. Maybe someone will be able to get it to work. Thanks everyone!

[JoeJ]

There are so many issues with this STL file, I don't even know where to begin! Lots of disconnected surfaces, many infinitely thin sheets that are not proper solids, and lots of flipped triangles and incorrect surfaces. You might want to read the S3D tutorial on repairing bad models (https://www.simplify3d.com/support/tuto ... sh-errors/). The "hollow" rendering that you mentioned is caused by the fact that many of your normals are facing the wrong way. You can correct some of this using the tools in S3D, but your bigger problem is all of the infinitely shin sheets and the fact that this isn't really a water-tight solid. It is more of a visual-only surface model.

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Lots of disconnected surfaces, many infinitely thin sheets that are not proper solids, and lots of flipped triangles and incorrect surfaces The "hollow" rendering that you mentioned is caused by the fact that many of your normals are facing the wrong way..

Thanks for the help! I have edited all the faces to make it appear slightly more regular. Read that whole tutorial but it was only a little helpful considering my task is slightly harder than their samples. But I'm wondering if you could direct me how to fix the thin sheets. I dont know if ill be able to edit the original mesh unless I do it in blender (Which I have almost no experience with). I read that using the "merge all outlines into a single model can help fix some water-tight issues, as well has having the heal button selected to try and fix gaps. I see where most of the gaps in the model are but have no clue how to fix them!

Here is the new STL file that I have changed a bit, what more can I do to this to get a solid print?

[JoeJ]

Great, you're getting warmer. There are still a lot of sheets that aren't suitable for printing because they aren't water-tight solids. They are just sheets floating in air. Even if you add thickness to them, they will still be just slightly thicker sheets floating in air. You really need to merge them with the other solid models so that you have one complete solid. Sometimes this is called a boolean operation in packages like Blender, but first I suspect you will need to add some surfaces to close off the holes.

From the slicer perspective, using the "Merge all outlines into single solid model" will definitely help here. In fact, when slicing your model using that option, I get really close to the correct gcode, but there are still a few hanging sheets that need to be fixed in the original model.