Hey guys! This doesn't technically apply only to flashforge owners, so I hope it's ok that I post this here.

Now that I'm getting more comfortable with printing my own designs I'm looking at my workflow. Pretty sure there are faster ways to accomplish certain things and wanted to hear what others are using.

For example:

Design: As of now I do all my modeling in Blender, run it thru the basic checks in the blender 3d print addon, which include Non manifold checks, normals, triangulate faces (when applicable) and set the overall size, and rotation. Then I export the design at a STL and load it in Netfabb.

Repair: I then run the repair checks in netfabb and fix any issues that show up there (I have the free netfabb basic version) and save as a new stl. I have also tried meshmixer but had trouble with its "repairs" being super obvious and ruining the model for me. I should probably state that my designs tend to be very detailed, high poly meshes so that may be why.

Slice: I import the stl into Simplify3d. Scale or rotate if needed, adjust my print settings (speed, infill, layers, support) and save to SD card.

Print: Load SD card into my printer and (ideally) get a great print. ;-)

So I've got everything working well, but I'm not sure if the way I'm doing things is the best. Also, I've run into a few problems that seem like they should have a simple solution but I haven't found one yet. Like one of my designs apparently doesn't have a perfectly flat bottom. It passes all my usual checks, but the preview in S3D shows me that it isn't picking up the first layer of the entire object which causes it to print all wrong. In the past I was able to go back into blender and use Boolean modifiers to "slice" a few mm of the object and create a flat bottom. But this objects mesh is too dense for boolean to perform correctly in Blender. Netfabb has a cut or slice feature that may work but it's only available on the pro version. This doesn't seem to warrant spending $150 bucks on. Such a little thing, yet I'm kinda stumped as to how to fix it.

I'd love to hear what is working for you guys and if anyone else is having snags in getting your models to print successfully maybe we can share ideas.