Try using the crease angle threshold - the bottom slider in the select box. Increasing that will help keep area selected to what is on the same plane - it won’t go up the crease so easily, making it easier. Also try generating face groups automatically with different settings- it may pick out what one wants to select.
Aha! Very nice. I am not looking at this to make multicolor prints, but found it looking for how to subdivide models to print them larger in pieces (or to print with less supports). This way I can split the models on natural seems and not just plane cuts which will look ugly when putting them back together. This will work GREAT for that. THANKS!
meshmixer has a function called generate face groups that splits the model based on hard edgers to put it simply, then you can just double click to select the section you want using the select tool
Thanks @Stephen! This is a great point. Definitely a useful tool for particularly geometric models. Unfortunately, we've found that the tool isn't great for many of the models we've been splitting because they don't have hard edges... but you're totally right -- for the right models, Generate Face Groups is perfect!
Thank you very much, watched several videos on youtube but they are lacking of important details, I had problems at the "split" stage, thanks to you I took a corrective action and now I know how to do for multicolour printing.
Hi, Derek. I found your posting, and had great hope for splitting up a simple .STL into sections. Everything was going well (selecting, creating facegroups, generating and spitting complexes... until it came time to EXPORT. I don't have the "One file per region" options. In fact, I have a format (3MF) that I don't see in your selection list (at 15:44 for example), but my list is quite a bit shorter than yours. I Have OBJ Format, OBJ format with Per-Vertex color, STL ASCII, STL Binary, 3MF, AMF, COLLDATA, PLY, VRML, and SMESH. My version of meshmixer is 3.5.474, which I believe is the latest Windows version. Any ideas where I'm going wrong? Thanks again for this great tutorial. I subscribed immediately. :)
Hi Dennis Lovelady, glad you enjoyed the video! While I don't know for sure, I think what might be going wrong is which item from the object browser you are selecting. Make sure to select the top item. For example select 'object.stl (complex)' and not 'object.stl (complex) (split 2)' or 'object.stl'. Hopefully that helps!
Just got my MM expansion from Prusa and I cant seem to get the Meshmixer to export the STL file in the STL binary sequence format you used. I am using the Makerbot robot STL file. All I am doing is just making the arms and legs different colors to test the machine. Great job commentating. Kept me engaged the whole time.
Hi Ben, it's tough to say what the issue is here. You need to follow every step correctly to be able to save the file out properly. I suggest double checking to make sure you haven't accidentally skipped something! - Brennan
hello, I have seen your video, but at the finish time, I can't understant how you have a complete parrot in siimply3D ?? I personnaly use cura, could you tell how to import all the stl in cura in order that they are at the right place ??? thanks. dan
How are the are pupils different from the talons when it comes to needing to be inserted into the model? They all have vertical intersections where they connect.
I'd like to use this method to split complex model into smaller printable parts for my Photon printer. The issue I was seeing in the tutorial was that the surfaces left behind may not glue back together well. Is there a way to get better surfaces between the sifferent STL parts. What method other than plane cut do you reccomend?
Okay, so I've been trying this for more than 5 hours (+ some breaks) now and I just can't make it happen. No matter what I try, exporting the final piece will always cause an issue with non manifold. It's driving me crazy
Lets say I want to cut out eyes from the model so that when I print them out I can just slide the eyes into the area with a different color? I am following these steps but I am running into a lot of issues where the eyes doesnt cut out properly.
Is this method the same as polygroup and splitting in ZBrush? what is the advantage of this process....i was curious to know if there is a difference preparing STL files inside zbrush? Great tutorial btw!
How about the surface you want to split has multiple contact points, like for example, a miniature with its legs on a very complicated base, where Plain Cut just doesn't work? I am selecting the base, smoothing the boundaries where the feet are, then generating the complex, but only one of the two boundaries are green, the other ones remains black, so when separating them, nothing happens
I had the same issue. Solution I found was to duplicate the original main file. Use the copy to create one part, then create complex and split. That will leave you 2 parts. The duplicate the original again and repeat focus on the next part. After each part you have to start fresh on new duplicate. That's what worked for me. Hope that helps
@@realz24 I was actually revisiting this last week, because of PrusaSlicer releasing it's new cut tool in version 2.6: while it can be done by cutting piece by piece out of the model which later on can be reattached to the base, it takes a lot of cutting and merging... What I assume you mean (if I understand correctly), is that, you copy the model, butcher the base on one so that you release the feet, then butcher the feet on the other copy so that the base is released, right? I guess this might work, but then the two won't totally match together, which maybe is not a desired outcome 🤔
@@zolti22 yeah thats correct. Once I have all the separate parts I then take the fresh file and subtract all the parts from that one and everything fits fine. I'm sure there's an easier way to do what I tried to explain but I'm fairly average using these programs but these the steps that have worked for me.
@@realz24 If you have the correct hardware, in Blender, or the necessary skills, in ZBrush (not that Blender doesn't needs skills, but at least is free 😅) then it can be achieved easier than this 😁 Out of curiosity, in what do you substract, in Meshmixer? If so, how without damaging the details on the model? At least for me, it requires repairing following the subtraction and after that the model is simply ruined by the messed up "repaired" details... I also tried in 3dBuilder and it does the same 🤔
Im far from pro on any of these programs. I just mess with them until I get the result. Sometimes I don't get the result lol. I make the part that I want to subtract from into a solid. That stops the errors when subtracting. Once I've cut all the parts out. Also having to duplicate each part to use for the subtraction. I then hollow out the model which seems to take into count the subtracted parts and leaves a nice finish. I find to be the easiest way to stop damage to the original model.
Got a question. Hopping you could answer. How would i go about splitting a model like this but adding pins between the parts. So i could either print larger items or use a single color printer and put it back together after printing.
Hi Jermaul, take a look at "Boolean Operations" in Meshmixer: www.mmmanual.com/boolean/. By using a process like the one described in the tutorial, or the "Plane Cut" feature in Meshmixer you can divide up the chosen model into pieces. Next, you would follow a workflow like: 1. Create a pin (this could be a cylinder from the Meshmix tab), 2. Position the pin, 3. Perform Boolean operations on the parts. Hopefully this points you in the right direction! Although I am not aware of a program, there may be simpler solutions available in other 3D printing software.
I just follow along but at the end, in S3D, talon and eyes just over sized, so I decided to resized and "Align selected model origin" but wings, beak and feet snap fine, but eyes and talons won't go to there place, they just go into the centre of the bed any help would be appreciated m8, I'm just at dead end right now
took me about a few hours to find the right video for the amount of questions i have. ok since you answered most of them i now only have one. of so lets say i were to design my own boat like benchy. made the stl as one object. is there anything similar to meshmixer that will allow you to just select the part you want to be a separate stl or would i have to use the exact same steps you did in this video?
Hi DamienDavidO, based on what you're describing, I believe using Meshmixer with the steps outlined in the video is your best bet. That's the problem that the video aims to help people solve: splitting 1 STL into different STLs. So far, Meshmixer is the best tool we've found for this.
When I plane cut a model then click separate shells it always stops responding after a bit. Any help would be greatly appreciated. The model I am using is a 81mm german mortar 1:6 scale but I scaled it to full size so its too large but when I open meshmixer import the file and click separate shells first it always crashes.
Hi EconomX, without seeing your model it's hard to know exactly what's going wrong. Though if it's failing to separate shells it would most likely be one of two things: 1. The model has some sort of mesh error that Meshmixer is unable to deal with. Using another program to repair the file first (like 3D Builder on Windows) might help. 2. The file might be too complex for your computer to handle. If you have a faster computer available, one with more RAM, a better CPU, and a GPU you may have better results.
I am very interested in the offset but I am trying to figure out how I could create say a stripe around an object then offset it? Is there a way to select an area that is like a wide line or something?
So is this done on one extruder with changing filament colors between sections of the parrot, or on a mult i extruding machine that does it automatically to these assigned parts? If a single extruder how do you get it to coordinate the change to each color or part. or does this print out disassemble then you have to assemble it,? Sorry I'm just a little confused
Hey manofadventre83, we produce a product called Palette which you can attach to single-extruder printers and enables it to print in multiple colors and/or materials. You would assign each part in your slicer, process it in our Chroma software (mm3d.co/chroma), and print files are then produced which will complete these color changes automatically without any assembly required. We also have a slicer (canvas3d.io) where you can take single body STL files and color/stamp directly on the parts before creating the multi-body GCode files. We have some videos on our channel that describe how this works.
So, I've been trying to find a way to do this, too. The model I'm using has a patterns set into the design that I want to have print a separate color from the rest main body of the object. I can easily select each part of all of the patters in Meshmixer, but when I go to do "generate complex" it seems to make each little piece it's own grouping. I want everything I selected to be one split. It's not clear how to do that. When I open up the "create complex" menu, it's really hard to even get a view of the object and the regions. Any advice? Not sure how to show you want I'm trying to do...
Hi Jeff, unfortunately when using generate complex each region must be continuous for it to be grouped together. The region also cannot have holes or gaps for it to work correctly. If you're able to perform a "fill" then clicking "Auto-Generate" will make fills for all selected face groups. Currently there is no way to auto-generate "offset" regions. If you are able to use fills, after exporting each of these regions you can re-import all of the STLs into Meshmixer, select all the parts that you would like to group and click "combine". When you export the newly "combined" model you will have just a single STL.
Apparently my computer isn't good enough to do this. When I select an area and try to rotate my model it changes the selection. I'm unable to even complete step 1. :(
So when the killer "paint" feature is launched in Canvas eventually, will it basically be the same thing as doing it in meshmixer or will it have other magical features? Can something like this be done in Zbrush using polygroups?
Hi Joe, details are yet to be finalized on what other features will come with painting in CANVAS. The aim is still to make it intuitive like Meshmixer, and if others are also interested in being able to make separate selection areas we'll likely consider it. Feel free to share this request on mm3d.co/canvas-github
Hello I am using Cura as my slicer and I would really appreciate if you could show how to upload your finished design to the Cura program or if there is any other videos that show how to do it I would be very appreciative
This was excatly what I was looking for. What I miss is a video on how you get it into Simplify3d, and print it. I have an Anet A8, which I plan to upgrade with a 3 extruder Diamond head, and I would like to see how Simplify3d will be able to handle this. Regards Per
Hi Per, glad this video was helpful! I'm not sure how slicing would work with a Diamond Head, but this is how we slice things in S3D for Palette+(mosaicmanufacturing.com): mm3d.co/simplify3d.
Wauw, this is really neat. But for me as an hobbyist, it will be +1,000 USD, before I recieve it in Denmark, but if I was professional, it would be a must have. Regards Per
I am trying to print something that is a complex shape and would like to use 4 colors, but only have two extruders, Ultimaker 3.0. I watched the video and I think I know how to alter the model for all the colors, but how do you get the printing done? Are you splicing materials and figuring out each color or using some super cool printer. I think I could split my model in two and use two colors in each 1/2 to get my 4 colors and then somehow glue it together, but due to the complexity I worry about the supports. Happy to explain further, but email may be better so show you what I want to do if you are willing to listen. Thanks, great video!
Hi Jared, we build Palette+, a device that upgrades 1.75mm printers to print in multiple colors and materials (mosaicmfg.com). It does exactly as you described -- it splices materials together into a multi-segment chain of filament (with just the right amount of each input). While Palette+ will not work with an Ultimaker 3 (unless your UM3 can print with 1.75mm), we'd love to see what you're up to -- feel free to bounce ideas off of us! support@mosaicmanufacturing.com - Brennan
I'm working on a model and created the complex when I go to split I expect to see just one created STL but I'm seeing 158 STL's any idea of what I might be doing wrong?
Hi thumbless66, it's possible that you have 'separate shells' in your model. To test this, click 'Edit' > 'Separate Shells' if a number of STLs are created this is probably the case. To fix this, you'll want to try and create a single solid mesh. Meshmixer has a couple of ways to fix this. One option to try is clicking 'Edit' > 'Make Solid'. You may lose some detail in your model, but play around with settings until you have something that looks good. Another option is to try 'Analysis' > 'Inspector' this will highlight parts of your model that have problems. In your case this might be small groups of faces that are floating and detached from your model. Hope that helps!
You show this file in simplify3d after you are finished separating it. How did you set simplify3d to slice for all of the different colors (tool heads)?
Hi there! Just got my Palette 2 and Im super excited. Im trying to paint a model in MeshMixer before the MM print but Im having some difficulties. When I choose the brush and paint it seems like big parts of the model are painted and not only where the brush is located on the model. Maybe anyone can help? Thx!!
Hey david, looks like this was answered on our Facebook group (facebook.com/groups/mosaic.users/permalink/332849440684964/). Let us know if Remesh helps with this.
Thanks for this video. Following directions. When I import models into cura the individual parts Kay flat on the build plate not a complete model. What am I doing wrong. Thanks
Hi Bubba, the process for aligning the parts is slightly different depending on which version of Cura you are using. For Cura 15.xx (old version) you can watch this video: ua-cam.com/video/1k4sCaZdEhA/v-deo.htmlm32s Cura 2/3 (latest version), right click on the build plate and choose "Select All Models", then with the models selected right click and choose "Merge Models".
Mosaic Manufacturing I’m so excited to try my new palette+. When i click merge models there is no separation between parts as it becomes one model. Is this a problem?
Good explanation of these techniques. It's sort of cool printing it in 1 shot, but I think the enormous time and material wasted is not for me. I prefer to cut the pieces out and print them separately then glue them together, this way you always get perfectly crisp edges between colors, it doesn't waste a bunch of material, and takes far less time to print. Good tutorial for these techniques though, thanks.
Pasting an answer from a comment below: ...my guess is that Meshmixer is flipping your model on import. It re-orients the axis so that it displays correctly using Autodesk's standard axis orientation. However, this can cause problems when importing into a scene that currently has parts that have not been flipped. To prevent this from happening, when importing an object, make sure 'Flip Z-Y on Import/Export' is not checked. Also, under 'File > Preferences...' on the 'File' tab, ensure 'Flip Z-Y on Import/Export' is not checked. Hope this solves the problem you are experiencing!
Hey Renato 81, you'll need to make some adjustments to Cura to align the models. We have a support article for this here: mm3d.co/cura
4 роки тому
im trying to get a stl fot the eyes and the batman creast on this model, the eyes white, the crest red and the rest gray img-new.cgtrader.com/items/1959983/0f079ba575/batman-beyond-3d-bust-model-3d-model-max-bip-obj-mtl-fbx-stl-ztl-zbp.jpg but the eyes are such small details that the piece won't export or have zero thickness. probably the same for the bat crest on the chest. any idea how to export such small details?
4 роки тому
Meh, turns out I need the offset function to make the piece extend a few mm in. But the model is 2mm big so i habe to first make it bigger. I'll try again later today
Hi Tani! Once we split the colors into different files, we used our product, Palette to print them in multiple colors with one extruder. You can also Google "multi-material 3d printer" to see how to print in multiple colors and materials!
Hi Cyber Shaping, Two things we would suggest double-checking: 1. make sure that you are selecting on complete area with no holes or gaps. Start with small ones first to make sure you're getting every triangle. 2. your model is repaired and watertight. Meshmixer has built in repair tools that can be accessed by clicking 'Analysis' and then 'Inspector'. However the app, 3D Builder on Windows seems to do a better job of repairing challenging models. If neither of those solutions work, try 'Edit' and 'Make Solid' in Meshmixer. This will affect the model's quality, but will fix just about anything. Hope this helps! Meshmixer is a very powerful tool, but can be challenging to learn. Patience is key!
@@MosaicManufacturing many thanks for the answer, unfortunately meshmixer crash on analysis maybe it's the model =( because with the bunny from meshmixer your tutorial does it great. i success by in windows 3D builder, reduce the mesh (to try a stupid auto repair by remesh) and now i can cut my stl in part in meshmixer, but i've lost in quality XD
@@MosaicManufacturing omg easy and so stupid... so my broken file, i open it in 3D builder, "symplify by 0", save as 3mf, and now i can work it in mesmixer !!!! yohooooooo many thanks dude !!!!!!`!!!
Tutorial Fantástico, estou enfrentando dificuldade em salvar, essa parte não consigo fazer, tudo funciona exatamente como você apresentou no vídeo. Só consigo Exportar um .stl por vez, o que pode ser?
Oi Sidney, obrigado por assistir o tutorial! Tente selecionar o segundo item no Pesquisador de objetos (Object Browser). Ele dirá (complex), mas não (complex) (split _). Espero que isso ajude!
4 роки тому+1
@@derekvogt2405 holy shit, you looked up portugueses? you guys are awesome
Yes, this process of splitting STLs will work if you use Slic3r! Slic3r also needs multiple STL files to create multi-extruder/multi-color g-code files.
Sorry to hear that, Simon. If you are able to provide additional information, we might be able to assist you. What do you mean when you say it is splitting into a thousand pieces? Can you provide a screenshot?
Hi Simon, could you please send us a screenshot of what happened to support@mosaicmanufacturing.com? We should be able to diagnose the issue and let you know what changes need to be made.
so i went and created my face group and went to generate complex and i don't get a black line or anything. i tried double clicking and nothing happens. any ideas?
Oh look. It's the hero I need. I can finally split up some models I've wanted to put together for ages. Great tutorial!
And the world of potential colour 3D models just got a whole lot bigger! Thanks!!!
yep. 2024 and found nothing better yet !!! Excellent !!!
without a doubt the most important video for anyone with an MMU2
Try using the crease angle threshold - the bottom slider in the select box. Increasing that will help keep area selected to what is on the same plane - it won’t go up the crease so easily, making it easier. Also try generating face groups automatically with different settings- it may pick out what one wants to select.
This video sold me on the pallette...Thanks Autodesk and Mosaic. August can't come soon enough
Finally a video that explains how to split things... Thanks....
Wow the Best tutorial ever!! , iven from 5 years ago !!! Master !!!
@Derek/Mosaic, thanks for this vid : )
Working through and watching at the same time.
Current base point: 10m 17s.
If you're having issues when the edges, try scaling the crease angle threshold slider to 50-80. It will handle the seam very easily.
Thanks for the suggestion! We'll experiment the crease angle settings.
Aha! Very nice. I am not looking at this to make multicolor prints, but found it looking for how to subdivide models to print them larger in pieces (or to print with less supports). This way I can split the models on natural seems and not just plane cuts which will look ugly when putting them back together. This will work GREAT for that. THANKS!
meshmixer has a function called generate face groups that splits the model based on hard edgers to put it simply, then you can just double click to select the section you want using the select tool
Thanks @Stephen! This is a great point. Definitely a useful tool for particularly geometric models. Unfortunately, we've found that the tool isn't great for many of the models we've been splitting because they don't have hard edges... but you're totally right -- for the right models, Generate Face Groups is perfect!
Thank you very much, watched several videos on youtube but they are lacking of important details, I had problems at the "split" stage, thanks to you I took a corrective action and now I know how to do for multicolour printing.
Just received my Palette+ yesterday. Thank you for this video, it's going to be a huge help :)
You're welcome! We're glad that it helps and we can't wait to see what you print.
Just found this and it was exactly what I was looking for! Needed to cut a complex model down to manageable pieces.
That gave me the last hints where I was struggling to split my models ..Thanks!
Thank you so much I'm 12 and I can finally use my dual extruder printer to its full potential.
Fantastic tutorial, exactly what I've been looking for. Thank you.
Ditto!
This is the coolest freaking thing I have ever seen! I can’t wait to get my Palette 2 Pro!!
Great thanks, just what I needed to know before buying the PALETTE!
Glad to hear it, Charlie! Please let us know if there's every anything we can help with.
- support@mosaicmanufacturing.com
I'm sure you don't come back to this video anymore, but... I don't have a multi extruder, how do I make the parts smooth so I can glue them together?
Hi, Derek. I found your posting, and had great hope for splitting up a simple .STL into sections. Everything was going well (selecting, creating facegroups, generating and spitting complexes... until it came time to EXPORT. I don't have the "One file per region" options. In fact, I have a format (3MF) that I don't see in your selection list (at 15:44 for example), but my list is quite a bit shorter than yours. I Have OBJ Format, OBJ format with Per-Vertex color, STL ASCII, STL Binary, 3MF, AMF, COLLDATA, PLY, VRML, and SMESH.
My version of meshmixer is 3.5.474, which I believe is the latest Windows version. Any ideas where I'm going wrong?
Thanks again for this great tutorial. I subscribed immediately. :)
Hi Dennis Lovelady, glad you enjoyed the video! While I don't know for sure, I think what might be going wrong is which item from the object browser you are selecting. Make sure to select the top item. For example select 'object.stl (complex)' and not 'object.stl (complex) (split 2)' or 'object.stl'. Hopefully that helps!
I loved your tutorial! I'm thinking on buying my first 3D printer, but I don't know a lot about this.
Thank you for the tutorial - definitely going to be making use of mesh mixer.
5 years later still relevant.
This is a GREAT explanation. Thank you very much!
Just got my MM expansion from Prusa and I cant seem to get the Meshmixer to export the STL file in the STL binary sequence format you used. I am using the Makerbot robot STL file. All I am doing is just making the arms and legs different colors to test the machine. Great job commentating. Kept me engaged the whole time.
Also I tried the way you are doing it and it works but if is just a part you can select how can I select and save it in a sequence format?
Hi Ben, it's tough to say what the issue is here. You need to follow every step correctly to be able to save the file out properly. I suggest double checking to make sure you haven't accidentally skipped something! - Brennan
2024, Gracias, magnifico tutorial!!
hello, I have seen your video, but at the finish time, I can't understant how you have a complete parrot in siimply3D ?? I personnaly use cura, could you tell how to import all the stl in cura in order that they are at the right place ??? thanks. dan
great speed for my intro to MM! thanks
How are the are pupils different from the talons when it comes to needing to be inserted into the model? They all have vertical intersections where they connect.
HI, just wonder if you can also use this tool in separating or splitting parts?
Yes, MeshMixer is great for separating single-body STL files into multiple parts.
I'd like to use this method to split complex model into smaller printable parts for my Photon printer. The issue I was seeing in the tutorial was that the surfaces left behind may not glue back together well. Is there a way to get better surfaces between the sifferent STL parts. What method other than plane cut do you reccomend?
Okay, so I've been trying this for more than 5 hours (+ some breaks) now and I just can't make it happen. No matter what I try, exporting the final piece will always cause an issue with non manifold. It's driving me crazy
Lets say I want to cut out eyes from the model so that when I print them out I can just slide the eyes into the area with a different color? I am following these steps but I am running into a lot of issues where the eyes doesnt cut out properly.
Excellent Tutorial!!!
Is this method the same as polygroup and splitting in ZBrush? what is the advantage of this process....i was curious to know if there is a difference preparing STL files inside zbrush?
Great tutorial btw!
Just picked up a palette 2 for my mk3s and was wondering how im going to to do this.... now i know! Cheers!!
Thank you for taking the time to create this tutorial. Well done.
How about the surface you want to split has multiple contact points, like for example, a miniature with its legs on a very complicated base, where Plain Cut just doesn't work? I am selecting the base, smoothing the boundaries where the feet are, then generating the complex, but only one of the two boundaries are green, the other ones remains black, so when separating them, nothing happens
I had the same issue. Solution I found was to duplicate the original main file. Use the copy to create one part, then create complex and split. That will leave you 2 parts. The duplicate the original again and repeat focus on the next part. After each part you have to start fresh on new duplicate. That's what worked for me. Hope that helps
@@realz24 I was actually revisiting this last week, because of PrusaSlicer releasing it's new cut tool in version 2.6: while it can be done by cutting piece by piece out of the model which later on can be reattached to the base, it takes a lot of cutting and merging...
What I assume you mean (if I understand correctly), is that, you copy the model, butcher the base on one so that you release the feet, then butcher the feet on the other copy so that the base is released, right? I guess this might work, but then the two won't totally match together, which maybe is not a desired outcome
🤔
@@zolti22 yeah thats correct. Once I have all the separate parts I then take the fresh file and subtract all the parts from that one and everything fits fine. I'm sure there's an easier way to do what I tried to explain but I'm fairly average using these programs but these the steps that have worked for me.
@@realz24 If you have the correct hardware, in Blender, or the necessary skills, in ZBrush (not that Blender doesn't needs skills, but at least is free 😅) then it can be achieved easier than this 😁
Out of curiosity, in what do you substract, in Meshmixer? If so, how without damaging the details on the model? At least for me, it requires repairing following the subtraction and after that the model is simply ruined by the messed up "repaired" details...
I also tried in 3dBuilder and it does the same
🤔
Im far from pro on any of these programs. I just mess with them until I get the result. Sometimes I don't get the result lol.
I make the part that I want to subtract from into a solid. That stops the errors when subtracting. Once I've cut all the parts out. Also having to duplicate each part to use for the subtraction. I then hollow out the model which seems to take into count the subtracted parts and leaves a nice finish. I find to be the easiest way to stop damage to the original model.
Got a question. Hopping you could answer. How would i go about splitting a model like this but adding pins between the parts. So i could either print larger items or use a single color printer and put it back together after printing.
Hi Jermaul, take a look at "Boolean Operations" in Meshmixer: www.mmmanual.com/boolean/. By using a process like the one described in the tutorial, or the "Plane Cut" feature in Meshmixer you can divide up the chosen model into pieces. Next, you would follow a workflow like: 1. Create a pin (this could be a cylinder from the Meshmix tab), 2. Position the pin, 3. Perform Boolean operations on the parts. Hopefully this points you in the right direction! Although I am not aware of a program, there may be simpler solutions available in other 3D printing software.
is lychee or meshmixer better. can they even be compared?
Really good , exactly what i was looking for. And about the connections ? Like squares and that. You can do ir on the mixer or your slicer program ?
this video is not good because IT IS EXCELLENT+very detail, ganke
Incredibly helpful. Thank you.
Excellent job. Consider an updated video?
I just follow along but at the end, in S3D, talon and eyes just over sized, so I decided to resized and "Align selected model origin" but wings, beak and feet snap fine, but eyes and talons won't go to there place, they just go into the centre of the bed
any help would be appreciated m8, I'm just at dead end right now
took me about a few hours to find the right video for the amount of questions i have. ok since you answered most of them i now only have one. of so lets say i were to design my own boat like benchy. made the stl as one object. is there anything similar to meshmixer that will allow you to just select the part you want to be a separate stl or would i have to use the exact same steps you did in this video?
Hi DamienDavidO, based on what you're describing, I believe using Meshmixer with the steps outlined in the video is your best bet. That's the problem that the video aims to help people solve: splitting 1 STL into different STLs. So far, Meshmixer is the best tool we've found for this.
When I plane cut a model then click separate shells it always stops responding after a bit. Any help would be greatly appreciated. The model I am using is a 81mm german mortar 1:6 scale but I scaled it to full size so its too large but when I open meshmixer import the file and click separate shells first it always crashes.
Hi EconomX, without seeing your model it's hard to know exactly what's going wrong. Though if it's failing to separate shells it would most likely be one of two things:
1. The model has some sort of mesh error that Meshmixer is unable to deal with. Using another program to repair the file first (like 3D Builder on Windows) might help.
2. The file might be too complex for your computer to handle. If you have a faster computer available, one with more RAM, a better CPU, and a GPU you may have better results.
I am very interested in the offset but I am trying to figure out how I could create say a stripe around an object then offset it? Is there a way to select an area that is like a wide line or something?
Hi, after I combine, my model is then one stl again an I can't select the extruder anymore
Hey John, please feel free to send us your files at support@mosaicmfg.com and we'll take a look for you.
great tutorial
So is this done on one extruder with changing filament colors between sections of the parrot, or on a mult i extruding machine that does it automatically to these assigned parts? If a single extruder how do you get it to coordinate the change to each color or part. or does this print out disassemble then you have to assemble it,? Sorry I'm just a little confused
Hey manofadventre83, we produce a product called Palette which you can attach to single-extruder printers and enables it to print in multiple colors and/or materials. You would assign each part in your slicer, process it in our Chroma software (mm3d.co/chroma), and print files are then produced which will complete these color changes automatically without any assembly required. We also have a slicer (canvas3d.io) where you can take single body STL files and color/stamp directly on the parts before creating the multi-body GCode files. We have some videos on our channel that describe how this works.
So, I've been trying to find a way to do this, too. The model I'm using has a patterns set into the design that I want to have print a separate color from the rest main body of the object. I can easily select each part of all of the patters in Meshmixer, but when I go to do "generate complex" it seems to make each little piece it's own grouping. I want everything I selected to be one split. It's not clear how to do that. When I open up the "create complex" menu, it's really hard to even get a view of the object and the regions. Any advice? Not sure how to show you want I'm trying to do...
Hi Jeff, unfortunately when using generate complex each region must be continuous for it to be grouped together. The region also cannot have holes or gaps for it to work correctly. If you're able to perform a "fill" then clicking "Auto-Generate" will make fills for all selected face groups. Currently there is no way to auto-generate "offset" regions.
If you are able to use fills, after exporting each of these regions you can re-import all of the STLs into Meshmixer, select all the parts that you would like to group and click "combine". When you export the newly "combined" model you will have just a single STL.
Apparently my computer isn't good enough to do this. When I select an area and try to rotate my model it changes the selection. I'm unable to even complete step 1. :(
So when the killer "paint" feature is launched in Canvas eventually, will it basically be the same thing as doing it in meshmixer or will it have other magical features? Can something like this be done in Zbrush using polygroups?
Hi Joe, details are yet to be finalized on what other features will come with painting in CANVAS. The aim is still to make it intuitive like Meshmixer, and if others are also interested in being able to make separate selection areas we'll likely consider it.
Feel free to share this request on mm3d.co/canvas-github
This works well with models that have high triangle count. Is there a way to add triangles to a model?
Hello I am using Cura as my slicer and I would really appreciate if you could show how to upload your finished design to the Cura program or if there is any other videos that show how to do it I would be very appreciative
Hey there, we have a support article about how to use Cura with multiple bodies here: mm3d.co/cura
This was excatly what I was looking for.
What I miss is a video on how you get it into Simplify3d, and print it.
I have an Anet A8, which I plan to upgrade with a 3 extruder Diamond head, and I would like to see how Simplify3d will be able to handle this.
Regards
Per
Hey Per Rose, check out this video which shows how to slice multiple bodies in Simplify3D: mm3d.co/simplify3d
Hi Per, glad this video was helpful! I'm not sure how slicing would work with a Diamond Head, but this is how we slice things in S3D for Palette+(mosaicmanufacturing.com): mm3d.co/simplify3d.
Wauw, this is really neat. But for me as an hobbyist, it will be +1,000 USD, before I recieve it in Denmark, but if I was professional, it would be a must have.
Regards
Per
Meshmixer has not been updated for 5 years, being retired for Fusion 360. Are you planning a tutorial using Fusion 360?
do I need to buy a 4-extruder printer to print this?
I am trying to print something that is a complex shape and would like to use 4 colors, but only have two extruders, Ultimaker 3.0. I watched the video and I think I know how to alter the model for all the colors, but how do you get the printing done? Are you splicing materials and figuring out each color or using some super cool printer. I think I could split my model in two and use two colors in each 1/2 to get my 4 colors and then somehow glue it together, but due to the complexity I worry about the supports. Happy to explain further, but email may be better so show you what I want to do if you are willing to listen. Thanks, great video!
Hi Jared, we build Palette+, a device that upgrades 1.75mm printers to print in multiple colors and materials (mosaicmfg.com). It does exactly as you described -- it splices materials together into a multi-segment chain of filament (with just the right amount of each input). While Palette+ will not work with an Ultimaker 3 (unless your UM3 can print with 1.75mm), we'd love to see what you're up to -- feel free to bounce ideas off of us! support@mosaicmanufacturing.com - Brennan
Sent an email, unfortunately the Ultimaker is a 3mm printer, but I do have a dual extruder, so I can work in two color.
I'm working on a model and created the complex when I go to split I expect to see just one created STL but I'm seeing 158 STL's any idea of what I might be doing wrong?
Hi thumbless66, it's possible that you have 'separate shells' in your model. To test this, click 'Edit' > 'Separate Shells' if a number of STLs are created this is probably the case.
To fix this, you'll want to try and create a single solid mesh. Meshmixer has a couple of ways to fix this. One option to try is clicking 'Edit' > 'Make Solid'. You may lose some detail in your model, but play around with settings until you have something that looks good. Another option is to try 'Analysis' > 'Inspector' this will highlight parts of your model that have problems. In your case this might be small groups of faces that are floating and detached from your model. Hope that helps!
You show this file in simplify3d after you are finished separating it. How did you set simplify3d to slice for all of the different colors (tool heads)?
4 models, 4 processes. Each process is assigned a different tool head.
mm3d.co/simplify3d
thank u very much very usefull tutorial
what if we get a message that there's no multiple shells found?
Hi there! Just got my Palette 2 and Im super excited. Im trying to paint a model in MeshMixer before the MM print but Im having some difficulties. When I choose the brush and paint it seems like big parts of the model are painted and not only where the brush is located on the model. Maybe anyone can help?
Thx!!
Hey david, looks like this was answered on our Facebook group (facebook.com/groups/mosaic.users/permalink/332849440684964/). Let us know if Remesh helps with this.
i have got no black lines after doing everything any help?
Very useful! Thanks a lot!!
You're very welcome! We're glad that this is useful for you.
Thanks for this video. Following directions. When I import models into cura the individual parts Kay flat on the build plate not a complete model. What am I doing wrong. Thanks
Hi Bubba, the process for aligning the parts is slightly different depending on which version of Cura you are using. For Cura 15.xx (old version) you can watch this video: ua-cam.com/video/1k4sCaZdEhA/v-deo.htmlm32s
Cura 2/3 (latest version), right click on the build plate and choose "Select All Models", then with the models selected right click and choose "Merge Models".
Mosaic Manufacturing I’m so excited to try my new palette+. When i click merge models there is no separation between parts as it becomes one model. Is this a problem?
Hi Bubba John, that is not a problem! The models should touch with no separation, however they should not overlap.
Mosaic Manufacturing thanks.
Good explanation of these techniques. It's sort of cool printing it in 1 shot, but I think the enormous time and material wasted is not for me. I prefer to cut the pieces out and print them separately then glue them together, this way you always get perfectly crisp edges between colors, it doesn't waste a bunch of material, and takes far less time to print.
Good tutorial for these techniques though, thanks.
When importing STLs into Simplify3D, how do you make sure the parts are placed in the right positions ?
Pasting an answer from a comment below:
...my guess is that Meshmixer is flipping your model on import. It re-orients the axis so that it displays correctly using Autodesk's standard axis orientation. However, this can cause problems when importing into a scene that currently has parts that have not been flipped.
To prevent this from happening, when importing an object, make sure 'Flip Z-Y on Import/Export' is not checked. Also, under 'File > Preferences...' on the 'File' tab, ensure 'Flip Z-Y on Import/Export' is not checked.
Hope this solves the problem you are experiencing!
I followed the tutorial step by step, but when I load the stl files on Cura, it puts them divided ...
Hey Renato 81, you'll need to make some adjustments to Cura to align the models. We have a support article for this here: mm3d.co/cura
im trying to get a stl fot the eyes and the batman creast on this model, the eyes white, the crest red and the rest gray
img-new.cgtrader.com/items/1959983/0f079ba575/batman-beyond-3d-bust-model-3d-model-max-bip-obj-mtl-fbx-stl-ztl-zbp.jpg
but the eyes are such small details that the piece won't export or have zero thickness. probably the same for the bat crest on the chest.
any idea how to export such small details?
Meh, turns out I need the offset function to make the piece extend a few mm in. But the model is 2mm big so i habe to first make it bigger. I'll try again later today
How did you apply the colours to each of the stl files in the end?
Hi Tani! Once we split the colors into different files, we used our product, Palette to print them in multiple colors with one extruder. You can also Google "multi-material 3d printer" to see how to print in multiple colors and materials!
I love you. ❤️
Hello im "locked" in the part when i need to smooth boundary, it dont work like you, my selection si deleted =(
some hint ?
Hi Cyber Shaping,
Two things we would suggest double-checking:
1. make sure that you are selecting on complete area with no holes or gaps. Start with small ones first to make sure you're getting every triangle.
2. your model is repaired and watertight. Meshmixer has built in repair tools that can be accessed by clicking 'Analysis' and then 'Inspector'. However the app, 3D Builder on Windows seems to do a better job of repairing challenging models. If neither of those solutions work, try 'Edit' and 'Make Solid' in Meshmixer. This will affect the model's quality, but will fix just about anything.
Hope this helps! Meshmixer is a very powerful tool, but can be challenging to learn. Patience is key!
@@MosaicManufacturing many thanks for the answer, unfortunately meshmixer crash on analysis maybe it's the model =( because with the bunny from meshmixer your tutorial does it great. i success by in windows 3D builder, reduce the mesh (to try a stupid auto repair by remesh) and now i can cut my stl in part in meshmixer, but i've lost in quality XD
@@MosaicManufacturing omg easy and so stupid... so my broken file, i open it in 3D builder, "symplify by 0", save as 3mf, and now i can work it in mesmixer !!!! yohooooooo many thanks dude !!!!!!`!!!
Tutorial Fantástico, estou enfrentando dificuldade em salvar, essa parte não consigo fazer, tudo funciona exatamente como você apresentou no vídeo.
Só consigo Exportar um .stl por vez, o que pode ser?
Oi Sidney, obrigado por assistir o tutorial! Tente selecionar o segundo item no Pesquisador de objetos (Object Browser). Ele dirá (complex), mas não (complex) (split _). Espero que isso ajude!
@@derekvogt2405 holy shit, you looked up portugueses? you guys are awesome
will it work the same with slic3r
Yes, this process of splitting STLs will work if you use Slic3r! Slic3r also needs multiple STL files to create multi-extruder/multi-color g-code files.
right on ty
No problem! Happy printing!
"Generate Face Groups" learn to use this
That didn't working. It splits a thousand of peaces
Sorry to hear that, Simon. If you are able to provide additional information, we might be able to assist you. What do you mean when you say it is splitting into a thousand pieces? Can you provide a screenshot?
Hi Simon, could you please send us a screenshot of what happened to support@mosaicmanufacturing.com? We should be able to diagnose the issue and let you know what changes need to be made.
so i went and created my face group and went to generate complex and i don't get a black line or anything. i tried double clicking and nothing happens. any ideas?