I made a short 7 min long video of how i add a shell modifier to a plane object in 3ds max 17, this is how you can give the plane a depth to allow for the 3d printer program (Cura) to see a "printable part" and not just a skin. enjoy and i hope i helped you.
 i can go into detail about why i use the shell modifier after slicing the model into pieces but it would take a while to explain, your just going to have to trust me. of if your really want to know send me an email and ill try and explain to you. also remember a dumb question is a question that isn't asked.
 enjoy the video! sorry about the low quality. (currently experiencing technical difficulty with the video. will upload a new one with better quality soon. or i might just record a new one all together.)