Hello,
I would like to request a feature please. The ability to cut a model up into printable pieces. The software currently has almost every operation to repair and prepare a model for printing except the option to cut the model up into more printable pieces.
Yes, the support options eliminate many of these problems, but there are many models in which the ability to print it in multiple pieces would be very advantageous. I know there are tools that can do this, but the idea is to streamline work flow.
The reasons and advantages for this feature are as follows.
1. Making models that exceed the print area. (This may be harder for many of using an M2, but the need still arises)
2. The ability to cut a model with complex curves into flat surfaces that are easily attached to form a final model.
3. Ability to cut a model so that there is a greater bed surface area for attachment.
4. The reduction of overhang printing
I am sure there are other reasons. The simplest example to show the advantages is printing an egg shape. If you try and print it whole you have a small surface in contact with bed making attachment a problem. For the first half of the print it is printing overhangs.
If you cut the model in half, you now have the greatest area in contact with the bed eliminating attachment issues. The model is always printing the inward curve never printing overhangs.
If this is able to be added as a feature it would be greatly appreciated.
TJ
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Simplify3D
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Re: Feature Request - Model Cut/ Section / Slice Model
Hey TJ,
Thanks for the suggestion. We're actually working on something very similar that should probably give you the functionality you're looking for. The current plan isn't to modify the STL files directly, but instead simply let you choose what Z-values you want to slice and print between. So if you only want to print the top half of an egg shape, that would be easy to do. It's in the works, but I don't think it will be ready for the next release. Maybe the one after that.
And just a tip if you're trying to do this with the current 1.0.5 version, you can actually "trick" the software into only slicing the top half of an egg shape by changing the Z-offset so half of the egg is actually going through the build table. Just double click on the part to bring up the custom positioning dialog and change the appropriate offset. The software starts printing at Z=0, so if half of it is below the table, it will only print the upper half. Might be useful to you until we get this functionality complete baked in
Thanks for the suggestion. We're actually working on something very similar that should probably give you the functionality you're looking for. The current plan isn't to modify the STL files directly, but instead simply let you choose what Z-values you want to slice and print between. So if you only want to print the top half of an egg shape, that would be easy to do. It's in the works, but I don't think it will be ready for the next release. Maybe the one after that.
And just a tip if you're trying to do this with the current 1.0.5 version, you can actually "trick" the software into only slicing the top half of an egg shape by changing the Z-offset so half of the egg is actually going through the build table. Just double click on the part to bring up the custom positioning dialog and change the appropriate offset. The software starts printing at Z=0, so if half of it is below the table, it will only print the upper half. Might be useful to you until we get this functionality complete baked in
