Creating watertight .stl files from .obj's exported from Zbrush

system · July 3, 2019, 8:10am

Hi,
I am a product designer using zbrush to add organic detail to geometry I’ve created in Rhino.
I’m encountering lots of problems with the model once I’ve exported it and brought it back into rhino to export to .stl.
There are tons of naked edges that are unfixable. Also, the mesh is so dense my machine can barely handle it.
I’ve tried to reduce the mesh in Zbrush with decimation master but in most cases it destroys the model.
I’ve als noticed that the smooth tool is poking holdes in the mesh.

any suggestions on ho to deal with these problems?

thanks!

beta_channel · July 4, 2019, 1:39am

can you show a picture?
It appears to be either an import or export error from what I can gather, but without an image of the error it is hard to tell.
Does this problem appear in rhino and Z, or only rhino?

Doug_Jones · July 4, 2019, 1:39am

Have you tried .stl export?

Cryrid · July 4, 2019, 1:39am

Are ‘naked edges’ the rhino equivalent to open edges / border edges? If so, if you have polygroups in zbrush they end up being exported as different meshes unless you uncheck Tool:Export:Grp (or make a single polygroup based on visibility before exporting to obj).

Although if smooth is revealing holes and decimation master is seemingly destroying things, then there may be an issue with getting your mesh from Rhino to zbrush in a single piece. It may be worth trying to merge your subtools, dynamesh the result, and then see about decimating (and if need be, use the 3d print exporter plugin)

system · July 4, 2019, 1:39am

Thanks so much for the responses. I’m going out of town tomorrow but will post images on Monday.
Thanks again!!!

system · July 4, 2019, 11:38am

OK, here are some images
the first is the basic shape, made in rhino. All the edges are manifold and there are no naked edges.
I exported the model as an obj and imported to Zbrush ( 2nd photo ) to add detailing then exported as .obj.
3rd photo shows the detailed handle, back in Rhino, the pink lines represent non manifold edges that I am unable to repair thus making the conversion to .stl for 3D printing impossible.
Does anyone know what I’m doing wrong here?