Although I am in the middle of building a 3D printer, it has been about a year since I last prepared a 3D model for 3D printing. Part of my process was to use Netfabb for repairing meshes so that I could get manifold parts ready for printing.
At that time there was a version of Netfabb available called Netfabb Basic, or Free – which was, well free! Great tool not just for mesh repairs but the best tool I have found for measuring 3D meshes, specifically STL files.
So, now that I need to be preparing these files again and having installed a new desktop since last using Netfabb, I went to download it…. except it’s not really there anymore.
When I say not really there anymore I mean that Netfabb the company was bought by Autodesk – and they decided to make Netfabb a commercial product. Boo. I noticed that if you persevere you can get an unlimited time trial version, which I did install. But it seems that Autodesk have decided to remove the measurement tools from this version!!! One of the main reasons I used it. I am still not sure if I have gone mad and am just missing something but when I went from the 30 day trial to the unlicensed version suddenly no measurement button….
So I set out trying to find a copy of the older Netfabb Basic – feeling sure that would be easy. Well it is and it isn’t. I thought I might as well get the latest version of Netfabb Basic before it was swallowed by Autodesk. Longish story shortish, I couldn’t find a version history. By powers of deduction I believe that version 7.4 was the last (I find no reference to 7.5……)
It seems someone else thought it would be good to keep these downloads available, and the version I used can be downloaded from GitHub here (7.4.0 – Windows 32 Bit).
I have run it on Windows 10, both on a 64 bit and 32 bit machine and both seem to work fine. You can just chuck the contents of the zip file somewhere and open netfabb.exe.
I will be keeping the zip file tucked away somewhere, so if that link goes dead, give me a shout and I can get it to you.
I also found a copy of the version 7 manual, which can be downloaded here.
As always, hope this is useful to someone, someday.
March 22, 2018 at 5:09 am
Just lost my laptop, and starting a new machine. So many thanks for making this available! I depend on NF Basic for the measurement tool, I build full size game props and the like.
March 22, 2018 at 11:26 am
I use the old one for the same reason – haven’t found anything else that can take measurements on meshes in a better way. Glad it helped.
April 23, 2018 at 3:47 pm
On an older computer, I still had the 2017.1 install files and has Measure Tool. With 2017.3, I saw the tools go away. I haven’t checked or tested to see if any newer version has been released, or if back with the Free version
April 23, 2018 at 3:54 pm
I haven’t checked either – maybe one day – although I have no other reason to use Netfabb.
April 23, 2018 at 5:04 pm
Yep, I only use NetFabb for measuring, some raw cutting apart, and saving the STL back out. I don’t use it to its potential.
I use Simplify3d and it doesn’t have any cutting tool.
Some other slicer programs, do have the Cut tool, but as long as I have the older NetFabb version, then I don’t need to worry.
Thanks for the article on the subject.
October 22, 2020 at 1:40 pm
You can use 3D Builder.
November 17, 2019 at 12:38 pm
Helpful. Thanks!
January 16, 2020 at 5:58 am
Thanks so much! I lost mine when I had to reformat my computer,
Thanks again 🙂 you’re a legend!
March 22, 2020 at 2:15 am
I used to use the free upload/download version of Netfabb Basic which allowed me via my Mac running El Capitan to upload files for checking/fixing………is this version now gone??
Thanks, All!
Steve
March 22, 2020 at 10:09 am
Autodesk bought Netfabb a while back. I believe they still offer a free version (or did a while back) but it has less features than the old free version. The link at the top of this post will allow you to download a pre-Autodesk version. Please note: my info is old as I have not looked at the new Netfabb offered by Autodesk for quite a while.
May 25, 2020 at 5:57 pm
it still been use full 2020 gracias amigo
August 15, 2020 at 10:32 pm
And the old free linux version, can be found anywhere?
August 16, 2020 at 8:27 am
No idea, sorry
August 16, 2020 at 8:42 am
GRAZIE !!!
December 28, 2020 at 1:18 am
Really really thanks for sharing this. I was getting crazy trying to find it.
December 28, 2020 at 2:42 am
cheers
January 25, 2021 at 9:44 pm
THANK YOU VERY MUCH! I’M VERY GRATEFUL
March 6, 2022 at 7:51 am
Thank you Kindly – it is really appreciated
July 1, 2023 at 9:28 pm
Thanks so much for this, Netfabb is a fantastic tool – thanks for keeping track of this version!