Chopping things into parts

[Alex Lau]

Hey,

There are some things out there that I'd like to print, but they're just too big. Is there any sort of software or technique people use to chop these things into discrete parts?

[Clinton Hoines]

Easiest and fastest IMO is Netfabb, it will repair the cut when you export the file as well if needed.
http://www.netfabb.com/downloadcenter.php?basic=1

[Alex Lau]

Awesome, thanks!

[Jay]

Not to steal the thread...but...

 

If I wanted to double the size of the Bathtub Submarine (http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6432) which is composed of 7 'tube' sections that are almost to the top of the build tray. If I doubled the size I would expect to have to split the submarine into fatter but shorter pieces...right? So, I'd have 14 sections not 7?

What software can take an .stl file, double the size, then cut the pieces in printable chunks?

 

Netfabb ?

 

Jay

 

 

On Friday, August 23, 2013 3:49:57 AM UTC-4, Clinton Hoines wrote:

[Clinton Hoines]

Yes why.

[CornGolem]

I use tinkercad for that, simpler than netfabb.

[Clinton Hoines]

How would it be easier? You pull a slider in whichever axis or combination of, hit cut and export your part.

[big_red_frog]

I have been splitting large models for part printing, such as 

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:131823

and

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:127801

But I am doing this in fusion 360, rather than against an STL.

What does work really well is putting in location holes in the parts for small tension pins. The alignment of the parts is great.

Yes, I could print those pins in plastic as well, or have nodules, but I want to avoid breaking the flat surface of the joint.

I also have the pin and the minimum surrounding plastic modeled as a component. so it is now really easy to drop into multiple places in the model as needed, and combine the shell / punch the hole for the pin.

[PrintedSolid]

Repetier host also does this pretty well.  

There is also a split object button, which is quite useful for 'unplating' a plated stl that doesn't work for your build platform size.  .   

[Jay]

PrintedSolid

So that means I could take each tubular segment in the submarine group (all individual .stl files)...process them with 'split object' and then scale it 200%....and effectively I can double the size of the submarine...er..right?

This model...

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6432

Jay

[PrintedSolid]

The repetier split model function is more for something like this:

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:18144

One stl file with 17 or so individual parts all plated together to fit the a certain build platform size.  When you run the split model, it breaks it up into 17 separate pieces that can be rearranged for your build plate. 

For your question, I'm pretty sure you just want to scale up the parts.  None of those files look like individual stls that contain multiple unconnected pieces.   

[Jetguy]

Make a bigger printer???

 

Just as an alternative?

It can be done.

[Jay]

heheh...I know...and I know a certain 'jet specialist' doing just that...

Jay

[flackmonkey]

I did a quick how to on my blog on splitting an stl into multiple files :
https://www.3dprintmd.com/print/split-an-stl-from-the-thingiverse-into-multiple-objects/

I did it to split multiple object in one file but you can use the same technique to split a single object into multiple.

Hope this helps
Mike

On Friday, August 23, 2013 3:49:57 AM UTC-4, Clinton Hoines wrote:

[Jay]

Ok...think we're talking about two different things...

I want to take a model of a submarine. It has 7 pieces that make up the hull. They are all separate .stl files. You glue all 7 pcs together and it makes a sub about 28" long. See pics below

Here's three of the hull sections... and here's the sub with 6 of it's hull pcs glued together...

WHAT I want to do is make this DOUBLE size. I would need a program that can take the individual pcs and split them in half, then scale them 200%..(or scale then cut)....

I know it can be done...just not sure how...

Jay

[Clinton Hoines]

Yep Netfabb can do that very easy. I would scale it 200% then cut the part and export, both functions in Netfabb.

[Jay]

Clinton,

Found the command (scale and split large .stl files)...but it's only with NetFabb Private ($299)....unless I'm missing something...

Jay

[Clinton Hoines]

Nope all I have is the Basic.
Open your STL file, right click on the model and select scale. If you want it 200% just type in 2 in the first box, which should be your X axis and equally should be checked. Now your model is 200% larger.
On the right side there are sliders for X, Y and Z just drag the direction you want to cut the model in half or part, click the execute cut tab. Then it will show you the model in the parts you chosen to confirm and click Cut at the very bottom. Now you have 2 parts if you want to make more cuts keep slicing until you are where you want to be and right click your parts and export them to the folder you want to save them in.

[CreativeDaemon]

NetFabb works great for this for simple objects. Check out 3dsmax's boolean as well if you have complex objects that need to be broken up.

[CornGolem]

Related question: how do you automatically extract several models that have been combined into a single STL ? You often find those on thingiverse to help printing.

[CreativeDaemon]

Netfabb can do this as well. Import the STL, select the mode you want to export, export the part.

[CornGolem]

Select the mode or the model ? I don't see modes and I can't select models because they are one same file. If I have to cut them myself it's not automatic anymore.

[Jay]

Corngolem...

See below...I think this is what you were talking about...

Jay

On Monday, August 26, 2013 3:39:51 PM UTC-4, flackmonkey wrote:

I did a quick how to on my blog on splitting an stl into multiple files :
https://www.3dprintmd.com/print/split-an-stl-from-the-thingiverse-into-multiple-objects/

I did it to split multiple object in one file but you can use the same technique to split a single object into multiple.
Hope this helps
Mike

[CornGolem]

I followed that guide and it describe exactly what I don't want to have to do.