Unanswered large object to smaller object parts ?

I found a few things I would like to print, dice towers being one type of item, but they are too large for the print area of my R1. Some are twice as large.

What software could I use to cut up these larger items into smaller pieces, and put them together after the printing is done ?

Looking for free software that works on Windows 8.1.

Thanks !

 

If you want the object to be smaller you can just scale it down

If you want to slice the object into 3-4 pieces you can use Netfabb basic. For a simple plane cut marks suggestion is ideal

 

I was also thinking of printnig part, do a pause, remove what is done. Then unpause the print. May cause something, who knows.

Downloaded Netfabb basic 6.0. I'll give it a try.

 

Just trying out mental solutions. I can visualize in 3D... not used to thinking what to do in that space yet.

 

I'll glare at it.

 

I have had some stl files do that. I hadn't thought to see if it chops off part of it.

 

Couldn't get Cura and Matter Control to do it... they just resized to take into account I had rotated it. Andm oved it above the Z zero axis.

I used netfabb and cut the tower into 2 pieces. One takes 15 hours, the other takes 21 hours to do. Can't let it go that long. I wouldn't be abl to keep an eye on it.

I'll try smaller pieces and see if I can do it that way.

Or I could try making one in Wings 3ds, and separate out the parts and do it that way.

Mostly a learning exercise. I have a clear plastic commercially made dice tower.

 

I hoped they would... I'll try again with other objects, to make sure its a software difference.

edit.

I tried a smaller object. I coundn't move it down into the neagtive Z axis, but could move it into the X and Y axis. in Cura.

It changed color when I took part of it out of the print bed area.

I think that means none of the object will print. I'll try and test that today.

 

Cura shows amount of filament and time to make. When I move the object so part of it is off the print area, that info goes away. So it looks like it wont print partials by moving it out of the print area..

 

Netfabb is very good for exactly this. You just select the axis of the slice, with the free version you may have to rotate the part itself to get the angles you want. After the cut, use the "Repair part" feature as well on each new component. This will create a "face" where the cut took place, making the individual components solid again.

 

Ah, I haven't done the 'repair part' yet.

 

I have printed some 'tall' objects by merely turning them 90 degrees, that is vertical to horizontal using the top command to the right of the image picture in edit. Just a thought.
Tall printings break free from table to easily anyway.

 

I wouldn't limit yourself to short print times. There will be many times where a print can take a very long time. I printed something that took 34 hours! I'm always setting up a long print before bed, first making sure the first few layers look good, then call it a night. The printer can handle it. I've had just once instance where the filament got caught on it's reel and messed up. Otherwise, I've had no problems.