How to Repair STL Files

When .stl files are imported into a 3D application it can result in errors such as misaligned edges, holes in the model, and floating parts which do not properly align with what the original model looked like. These errors can be avoided by using a 3D translation tool like Spatial’s 3D Interop.

Typically, developers of the 3D application will need to implement an STL repair workflow that consists of auto-repairing, separating shells, closing holes and bridging gaps in the model, solving for overlaps, getting rid of double faces, stitching open edges, deleting/creating triangles, remeshing, and finally, exporting the mesh. This can be done using an STL repair software toolkit.