1. A method for encoding a 3D mesh model that comprises a plurality of repeating connected components, the method being executed by an apparatus for encoding 3D mesh models and comprising: automatically analyzing the 3D mesh model, wherein the repeating components are determined, a center of each component is determined, the components are normalized and then classified into pattern clusters and a representative element of each pattern cluster is determined, wherein the normalizing comprises determining positions, determining scaling factors and classifying the scaling factors into scaling factor clusters, and determining orientation axes and clustering the orientation axes into orientation axis clusters; assigning unique cluster identifiers to the pattern clusters, scaling factor clusters and orientation axis clusters; encoding the representative element of each pattern cluster; encoding the components, wherein the components are compared to the pattern clusters, scaling factor clusters and orientation axis clusters, thereby obtaining at least a pattern cluster identifier, scale factor cluster identifier, scale factor residual, orientation axis cluster identifier and orientation residual; entropy encoding each component as represented by its respective pattern cluster identifier, position, scale factor cluster identifier, scale factor residual, orientation axis cluster identifier and orientation residual.