Slicing a model into multiple pieces for printing?

CodyH

Is there a quick way to horizontally slice a completed model into smaller pieces for printing? Cura has a feature to "cut at object bottom" but then you would have to invert 180 degrees to finish the rest, which doesn't work for objects that require a particular orientation. So for this purpose I'm wondering if we can easily slice the model into, for example, three pieces and save each one as a separate .STL. Would certainly help with super long prints! Thanks

øyvind_kaurstad

Sure. Just create a plane (or multiple planes) where you want the split, and then use "Split part". Then export the new parts to separate STL files. Real easy and super quick to do. You will need to run the "Split part" command for each plane, though. You can't split into multiple parts all at once (AFAIK).

jakeramsley

øyvind_kaurstad said:

Sure. Just create a plane (or multiple planes) where you want the split, and then use "Split part". Then export the new parts to separate STL files. Real easy and super quick to do. You will need to run the "Split part" command for each plane, though. You can't split into multiple parts all at once (AFAIK).

You can only select one tool for the split, but you can construct a surface in such a way that it splits it into 3+ parts.

For example the following surface that I made splits my part into 5 parts

brucebartlett

In this case I would first transfer the model into a new tab via the derive function before cutting, that way you can retain the original part without the cuts. However for your exercise this may not be important. 

øyvind_kaurstad

@jakeramsley, that's a useful tip, thanks. However, if straight plane splits is what you need, then splitting by planes is also quick and easy. If the split is more complex, then using a surface as you described will be the preferred method.

Lumen

Apply to use App store beta, there is a slicer.

øyvind_kaurstad

Lumen said:

Apply to use App store beta, there is a slicer.

Keep in mind that a slicer is something entirely different than what @CodyH asked for. He wants to split a part into multiple parts for printing, and then slice it using some desktop software (of which there are many). Slicing with the integrated Onshape app (if one wants to try that) will still depend on the part being split beforehand, using one of the methods outlined in this thread.

philip_thomas

øyvind_kaurstad said:

Lumen said:

Apply to use App store beta, there is a slicer.

Keep in mind that a slicer is something entirely different than what @CodyH asked for. He wants to split a part into multiple parts for printing, and then slice it using some desktop software (of which there are many). Slicing with the integrated Onshape app (if one wants to try that) will still depend on the part being split beforehand, using one of the methods outlined in this thread.

Please check the 'Laser' mode. This slices the model and lays out the slices as a 'nest' for output as DXF. The OP did not say what they wanted to do with the model, but this app may do exactly what they are looking for.





If the OP needs the part slices (or laminated) in the part studio, here is a public document that shows how to do it;






Here is the public document;

https://cad.onshape.com/documents/36a6078f4aaa41c482284016/w/62f9ebbe355a443c9d5b8638/e/60b6ab9b3b2c4a30a8cbc404

CodyH

Thank fellas! I think I was on the right track by using a plane to split the part, but I wasn't familiar with exporting individual parts from the feature tree. Well that was easy! 

I just added a couple offset planes from the plane I had at the bottom of my model and split at those intersections. Worked like a charm! Thanks again!

EDIT: After posting this I now see have been more replies (hadn't refreshed the browser). My intention was to simply split the part into smaller pieces for printing and then I would adhere them to form the whole part. My motive is to break up the print time and thus be able to print on any day I want when I can be around to monitor the printing. Using the plane method seemed to be most practical for this situation, however, it's nice to know there are other methods for other situations. It's good to know! 

Joakim_3

philip_thomas said:

øyvind_kaurstad said:

Lumen said:

Apply to use App store beta, there is a slicer.

Keep in mind that a slicer is something entirely different than what @CodyH asked for. He wants to split a part into multiple parts for printing, and then slice it using some desktop software (of which there are many). Slicing with the integrated Onshape app (if one wants to try that) will still depend on the part being split beforehand, using one of the methods outlined in this thread.

Please check the 'Laser' mode. This slices the model and lays out the slices as a 'nest' for output as DXF. The OP did not say what they wanted to do with the model, but this app may do exactly what they are looking for.

I was wondering what the name of the App was. It is not Slices but rather Kiri:Moto
https://appstore.onshape.com/apps/CAM/EAAEWYIOMQKBENEMYW2N7MF253CT4WYL6SUJGEY=/description

As mentioned in:
https://forum.onshape.com/discussion/2239/making-laser-cutting-files-from-a-3d-model

Thought I'd leave my findings here