Simplify3D User Forum

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.

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

+1

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

+1

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.

joesoap583 wrote: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).

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.

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

TenKOhms wrote: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

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