An effective error-tolerance slicing algorithm for STL files

Although the STL (stereo lithography) file format is the de facto standard for the rapid prototyping industries, there are always some defects in STL files, many of which are difficult to correct. Instead of correcting the defects of bad STL files by a manual, interactive and complex approach with an STL file correction program, an error-tolerance slicing algorithm for STL files is proposed in this paper. With the detailed analysis of complex defects such as cracks and non-manifold facets, a complete topological structure for the facets model with defects is built and the layer is sliced effectively. The badly sliced contour is processed by crack-tracking and non-manifold facet travelling methods to obtain a correct contour in a relatively easy 2D way.