Autodesk Netfabb

Autodesk Netfabb is professional build preparation software for additive manufacturing. It repairs STL and other mesh files, orients and packs parts, generates supports, slices jobs and sends them to industrial 3D printers, and its simulation tools predict distortion in metal builds. Dental labs that print models, frameworks or copings on industrial machines use it to fix scan meshes and prepare full build plates. A “Netfabb download” today means the Autodesk trial, not a free program.

Netfabb is commercial software. This page explains what it does in a dental lab, which editions exist, how the trial works and how it compares with other print preparation tools on this site.

Autodesk Netfabb at a glance

What it does

• Imports meshes and CAD data, analyses them and repairs holes, flipped normals, self-intersections and other STL errors.
• Orients parts and packs them automatically on the build platform to use the available space.
• Generates and edits support structures; the 2027 release can shrink support fragments to inverted pyramid stumps and checks for removal interference.
• Slices parts and generates toolpaths for supported machines from a long list of vendors.
• Adds part labels and other edits needed for production runs.
• Simulates thermal and mechanical behaviour of metal powder-bed builds in Local Simulation, including part distortion.
• Supports 3MF and other exchange formats alongside STL.

How dental teams use it

Repair scan and CAD meshes before printing

Intraoral scans and exported dental CAD files sometimes contain holes or non-manifold edges that a printer cannot process.

1. Import the STL into a new Netfabb project.
2. Run the part analysis and repair tools.
3. Check wall thickness and closed shells, then export the repaired file or keep it in the build.

Prepare a full build plate

Labs printing many models, splints or frameworks per day need dense, repeatable plates.

1. Load all cases from the day and set the machine workspace.
2. Use automatic packing, then fix orientation where margins or fitting surfaces matter.
3. Generate supports, add case labels and slice the job for the printer.

Reduce distortion in metal frameworks

For cobalt-chrome partial denture frameworks and other metal parts, the simulation editions can predict where a part will warp. The lab can then change orientation or supports before the build instead of after a failed print.

Install and first run

1. Sign in to your Autodesk account. Paid users download Netfabb from the Products page in the account or the Autodesk Access desktop app.
2. For an evaluation, start the free trial of Netfabb Premium from the official Netfabb page. Netfabb Ultimate and Local Simulation trials are requested from Autodesk rather than downloaded directly.
3. Install on a 64-bit Windows workstation with a stable internet connection; the installer is large.
4. Add your printer from the machine library when you create the first project.

Gotchas: Netfabb is not available for macOS or Linux, and Autodesk accounts are required for both the trial and paid licences. Students and teachers can get Netfabb Premium through the Autodesk Education plan if they are eligible.

Limitations

• No free edition for commercial use; the old free Netfabb Basic is not offered on Autodesk’s current product pages.
• No dedicated dental module. You prepare dental parts with the general tools, so automation for crowns and models is less turnkey than in dental-focused print software.
• Simulation and the most advanced machine connections are in the higher editions.
• Windows only and resource-hungry with large build plates.
• It is not dental CAD: you still design restorations and models in your CAD software.

Autodesk Netfabb vs alternatives

Materialise Magics is the closest competitor and adds a Dental Module for automated labelling, nesting and supports; it is also commercial. For desktop resin printers, free slicers such as CHITUBOX, Formlabs PreForm and PrusaSlicer cover orientation, supports and slicing at no cost, but without Netfabb’s industrial machine support and metal simulation.

FAQ

Is there a Netfabb free download?

Autodesk offers a free trial of Netfabb Premium and free access for eligible students and educators. For commercial use, Netfabb is paid software, so it is listed here as shareware (conditionally free).

What happened to Netfabb Basic?

Netfabb Basic was the old free edition from the time before Autodesk. Autodesk’s current product pages list only Premium, Ultimate and Local Simulation, so there is no free Basic edition to download today.

Can Netfabb repair STL files?

Yes. Mesh analysis and repair is one of its core functions: it closes holes, fixes normals and removes self-intersections before printing.

Netfabb vs Magics: which is better for a dental lab?

Both are professional build preparation tools. Magics has a dedicated Dental Module, while Netfabb offers strong repair tools, a broad machine library and metal simulation; try both with your own cases and printer.

Netfabb vs Fusion: what is the difference?

Fusion is Autodesk’s CAD/CAM platform for designing parts. Netfabb focuses on preparing and simulating additive builds; Autodesk also sells a bundle that combines Fusion with Netfabb.

What is Netfabb Local Simulation?

It is the edition that simulates metal powder-bed builds on your own computer to predict heat and distortion. Its trial is requested from Autodesk.

Does Netfabb run on a Mac?

No. Netfabb is a 64-bit Windows application.

Last checked against official sources: 7 October 2026 (developer website: autodesk.com). Versions and licence terms change — confirm on the developer's site before deploying in a clinic.