Slicing STL files online

[Martin Dunschen]

Dear All

I have spent (probably far too much) time on a web application to
generate slices from an STL file.
You can download and save the calculated slices in svg format that
should import into your favorite vector drawing program, like inkscape,
corell draw or illustrator.

My aim is to have something that can give you the contours or slices for
an STL file that you can then cut using for example a laser cutter and
stick together to produce a physical version of your STL computer model.
(Some of you who have been to FabCamp (http://fabcampliverpool.info/)
might remember the 'penny pinching piggy bank' I made
(http://www.flickr.com/photos/openlabsinfo/5413879479/in/photostream/lightbox/),
this used the same principle and the same underlying software. I have
now ported this software to run as a server process.)

It is not perfect, but I want to get some feedback before I work more on it:

Have a look at:

http://www.freesteel.co.uk/slice.html

Try the default model first, with all default settings, to get an idea
of what to expect. Then have a go with your own models.

And most of all, give me some feedback, or ask me if you don't get it to
work.

Happy slicing.

Martin

[Ross Jones]

Hi Martin,

That's pretty neat, I like the idea of building physical 3d models from slices taken from a real 3d model, without even needing a 3d printer. I'd like to give this a try using a model from thingverse at the next makernight.

As I mentioned when I saw you last this would also be quite useful for cutting paper slices to build 3d models in paper - I know Andy has a paper cutter, do we know if that works with SVG output? Andy?

Ross.

[Andy G]

Martin:

I meant to write at the weekend but got distracted.

That really is very nice and very useful.  I am going to play with some of my own STL models tomorrow. 

Ross: 

The cutter will take anything you can get into Inkscape, CorelDraw or Illustrator. 

You can use the printer driver or an intermediary app.  The whole thing works very much like the laser cutter.  You simply specificy a colour of line for different types of cut/perforation.  Obviously you can't etch like you can on a laser cutter but you can make pretty lace patterns :D

Sliced models on a papercutter will be very interesting :D

Cheers
Andy

[Martin Dunschen]

I can always add more output formats. Maybe the cutter plotter works
with HPGL?

Another format to add might be G-code, that's what the cupcake printer
understands.

Yes, I also had the plan to build an actual part, but I can't think of
what to make. What's thingverse?

Martin

[Ross Jones]

Hi,

Thingiverse ( http://www.thingiverse.com/ ) is a place for people to share 3d models they've made and there is a collection of 3d models that are in STL format. Well worth having a poke around :)

Ross

[Andy G]

Sorry I wasn't clear in my last email. 

SVG is great for paper cutting.  A G-code output would be very nice!

Andy

[Damian Keeley]

Sorry to resurect a necropost... Is there any capability of slicing 3d dxf files? I have access to sketchup pro now and am looking at a new stage in a long running project...

[Martin Dunschen]

If you can, convert the files to STL, I think there are plugins or
add-ons to sketchup to save models in STL format, should be possible
in sketchup pro as well.

Then, for slicing I can recommend our slice application, download from
www.freesteel.co.uk/wpblog/slicer

There's a windows executable or python packages plus some scripts for linux.

Martin

[Damian Keeley]

Great Stuff, will have a look at that over the weekend. Thanks for your reply.

--
Damian