[ADDED] delete individual parts from an stl assembly

[steve]

I would like to be able to select individual components/parts from an stl assembly and remove them. Some files on thingiverse (I'm thinking of Emmett's latest heart gear file) come as an assembly/build platform and it requires a third party programme to remove parts of the assembly. With the new sequential print feature it would be handy to break apart stl files into individual component parts.

[vinny1575]

This is exactly what I need. Cura (Free) has this as well.

[DonaldJ]

+1

Repetier has a split function, which allows you to manipulate/delete parts from complicated assemblies.

[hackeng]

+1

[joesoap583]

You can do this very easily with TinkerCAD. Just load the STL file using the import options on the top right, then put a 'hole' shape over the bit you don't want to print.

This can be useful if you wanted to create a flat surface (or mounting holes) which you want to mount extra design onto the STL object - just slice the STL with the hole, group, and add your extra stuff.

[DonaldJ]

You can do this very easily with TinkerCAD. Just load the STL file using the import options on the top right, then put a 'hole' shape over the bit you don't want to print.

I've done that a lot in TinkerCad, but performance really suffers with busy/complicated STLs. Had the program hang a few times, and refresh rates can be annoyingly slow.

If Repetier can split STLs, so can S3D (unless it requires proprietary voodoo).

[joesoap583]

I know the folks at TinkerCAD have done a lot of work in the recent past with server components. It may be that if your experience isn't very recent then the situation may have improved.

However I haven't tried to do anything complex with imported STL files, so you may be correct.

[TenKOhms]

in regards to emmett's latest heart gears, if you look at the remixes, someone has separated his files:
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:244146

[joesoap583]

in regards to emmett's latest heart gears, if you look at the remixes, someone has separated his files:
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:244146

That's what I do too:

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:389306

[S3D-Jason]

Version 3.0 added the ability to split a part into connected surfaces so that you can easily work with each part individually
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1V-5aA03dQ