Needing a solution for "Broken" .stl files that the "Windows Service" cannot repair.

[KVM325LE]

Hi, I work with .stl and .3mf files all day.  I am so tired of the files that need repairing being shuffled off to the Windows Service to get repaired.  Most of the time the files are successfully repaired but sometimes the "repair" takes 3, 5, 20 minutes or ...... it just hangs there all day.  So I went looking for a solution and I was guided to a non-windows way to repair a broken (stl) mesh.  Netfabb was suggested and demonstrated to me and it works! So, what's the problem?  I signed up for a trial version to try to fix my broken .stl files and THEN I find out what it costs! $5,000+ annually!!!  Netfabb used to be free (and still is free from Netfabb directly albeit an old version). Is there a FREE way to repair broken .stl files using a non commercial Autodesk program?

[fabian.spangler · Accepted solution]

Hi,

you can start Netfabb without a license to get back the free version.

Settings->Settings->General->Start without license

Set this to "yes".

The repair module is still accessible in the non-licensed version.

Cheers

[steffen_anders_adsk]

Hello, @KVM325LE,

Welcome to the Netfabb forum!

Good news, the free Netfabb still exists, and not just as the old version netfabb Basic on third-party download resources. As Fabian said, an installation of Autodesk Netfabb can be downgraded to the free Netfabb Basic variant. Either let a trial expire or disable licensing right away, as described.

This is available regardless whether unlicensed, in trial, or with running subscription, regardless of product tier, Standard, Premium (now just Netfabb, without the "Premium"), Ultimate, and regardless of product year.

This way, Netfabb Basic by nature continues to receive updates as it automatically benefits from work done for the paid versions and is always available from official sources.

Repair has been available fully in Autodesk Netfabb Basic at least since product year 2019.

Apart from the regular restriction of unavailability of professional, industry-focused functions, which the old netfabb Basic never had anyway, the only real limitation of Autodesk Netfabb Basic is that it only exists for x64 Windows, specifically Windows 10, and for Windows 11 only since product year 2024.

Best regards,

Steffen