How to split large design into smaller pieces for printing in steps?

amr_h704

Hello, I am quite new to CAD in general. I have been spending some time, creating simple designs in Onshape for things I have required around the house.

Currently I am designing a box that should hold about 4-5 charging cables (an attempt to make the desk a little tidier).

The problem is that the design would take around 19-20 hours to print on my Ender 3 V2. As both my wife and I work from home, the loud fan sounds of the printer would be very annoying.

So I am wondering if it would be possible to split a design into smaller pieces, so I have run into several issues I am unfamiliar with:

1. how best to split a design?
2. how best to design it that split pieces snap together after printing?

dirk_van_der_vaart

How about lasercut a polystyreen sheet and do 4 bends afterwards
A 3d printer is not allways the best productionmethod.
Design your part as sheetmetal and you have your contour of the sheet in minutes.
https://cad.onshape.com/documents/beaf2d7bd47456b3a0d1f5be/w/b2d0214c3879739dc3e0667c/e/749fc9046f68247be3f3eb7a

amr_h704

Thank you very much Dirk. Your approach makes a lot sense. I do however wish to be able to print this on my Ender 3 V2, both as an excersize to learn more about CAD and more about printing methods, tips, ideas :-)

MichaelPascoe

Here is one way that might work well: You can use a mortise & tenon approach.

Try the custom feature Laser joint by @Arul_Suresh. Make sure to use the "Add allowance" button so your joints will fit together in the real world.

This doesn't handle splitting up the part in the middle, but you can apply this same approach and manually split it. If you do this all the time you can create a custom feature for it or extend the functionality of the laser joint feature.

https://cad.onshape.com/documents/b94745e7f883b552a05b8b02/w/c1cdbff0140616d7e76bbf9f/e/e5feda682246ad3b5b660c5a?renderMode=0&uiState=63b57a6071939f621fb83a13

Here is a great video on this topic: https://youtu.be/oA7p_YQ_KoQ?t=1318
Looks like a soldering iron, super glue, or a 3d printing pen will work for joining.
If you need it smooth after it has been joined, use wood putty, then sand it.

dirk_van_der_vaart

Here's an example with configurations
https://cad.onshape.com/documents/beaf2d7bd47456b3a0d1f5be/w/b2d0214c3879739dc3e0667c/e/537405e28a147889b96b9736

amr_h704

Guys thanks so much. These are great ideas, I will look into these.

steve_shubin

@amr_h704

Great stuff by @MichaelPascoe and @dirk_van_der_vaart

To add a little more to the conversation 

Since your post is about making shorter print times — well you might want to break up the print time for the floor also

@NeilCooke Box Joint featurescript seems like the perfect tool for this, because it also does dovetails with the flared out pins or tabs — which should help at least a bit, in keeping things from being pulled apart

https://cad.onshape.com/documents/57612867e4b018f59e4d52ce/w/1e657f13b93a753115dcbd12/e/29340b9ea8177088647ffe75

MichaelPascoe

And @steve_shubin with the homerun!