Analysis and Solution of Errors in 3D Modeling for 3D Printing Objects

Digital technology has attempted to blur the boundaries between architectural design and fabrication, which have been established since the Renaissance. However, these boundaries still exist, due to the discontinuity between digital modeling and fabrication, which often derives from errors encountered in the process of file conversion. To bridge this discontinuity, this study intends to identify and analyze the causes of errors during the process of converting 3D modeling to Standard Triangulated Language (STL) file, and then to provide solutions that fix the errors. The STL file errors are results of failing to understand or ignoring the difference between 3D modeling for 3D printing and for visual presentation. For this reason, this study conducted an error analysis using Materialize Magics (STL editing and repairing software) to investigate types of the errors and to suggest ways of repairing 3D modeling with such errors. Copyright © The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers.