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I used Paraview to take different slices and contours of a 3D data set. So each step produces one surface mesh. In my case, three surfaces together enclose a volume (just like 6 surfaces make a cube). However, for 3D printing, these three surfaces understandably have zero volume because they are not connected.

For a cube out of 6 sides, that would be quickly done node-by-node, but my surface is quite detailed, see screenshot. Is there a way to "close the gaps" and make this mesh of 3 surfaces an actual volumetric object instead of 3 surfaces?

As you see I selected a loop around one of the surfaces and there exists and almost-identical loop in the other surface which should be merged, but they are not perfectly identical, there are holes on the lower rightenter image description here.

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  • $\begingroup$ That foreground surface looks flat. Is that always the case? $\endgroup$
    – Robin Betts ♦
    Sep 21 at 14:59
  • $\begingroup$ this fron side cut is flat, there is another spherical cut, so that surface is not flat $\endgroup$
    – John Smith
    Sep 21 at 15:11
  • $\begingroup$ Maybe try in Edit mode to enable the Auto Merge option and the Split Edges & Faces option, then select all, press G and Enter right away, and increase the Threshold until the surfaces merge, then check if the object is now manifold $\endgroup$
    – moonboots
    Sep 21 at 15:33
  • $\begingroup$ actually this seems to have done the trick. No more complaints from the 3D printer. Let's hope it prints well! Thank you! $\endgroup$
    – John Smith
    Sep 22 at 7:04

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Try in Edit mode to enable the Auto Merge option and the Split Edges & Faces option, then select all, press G and Enter right away, and increase the Threshold until the surfaces merge, then check if the object is now manifold:

enter image description here

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  • $\begingroup$ thank you. The 3D print addon also helped clean up the mesh. $\endgroup$
    – John Smith
    Sep 22 at 14:20

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