Fixing models with Netfabb vs Meshmixer
Due to my model being made up of a TIN (Triangulated irregular network) from GIS data together with regular shaped meshes from SketchUp, the two intersect each other in various places to make sure that everything prints as one object. However this leads to slightly weird results during slicing and the model isn't watertight straight out of SketchUp.
I tried slicing two different versions of the same model in Repetier-Host. One had been fixed at https://modelrepair.azurewebsites.net/ (Netfabb-powered) and the other in the free program Autodesk Meshmixer.
The original stl file (approx. 14x14x2cm volume) was 7.7MB. modelrepair gave me a 1,6MB file, and Meshmixer a 8.4MB file.
The models were sliced using CuraEngine with the same settings in Repetier-Host.
The Meshmixer model looked strangely smoothed over with very soft corners and nothing looking quite straight. The modelrepair-version looked just like the original as far as I could see. Apart from the models looking different i 3D view, there were also differences in the printing statistics.
Meshmixer / Modelrepair
Printing time: 3h40m / 3h27m
Layer Count: 79 / 76
Total lines: 144084 / 73070
Filament needed: 17895 / 16764
Conclusion: Meshmixer turned all my straight lines into slightly curved lines and didn't properly remove intersecting geometry. Modelrepair did a much better job with only small bits remaining... I have tried doing the same operation with the Netfabb Basic software, which yielded a very similar result to Modelrepair (1% difference in Total Lines and Filament needed). I will stick to Netfabb/Modelrepair.
