Which Freeware software to Split Mesh in two

Anyone knows which freeware software and which option in the software one can use to split a complex mesh into two meshes,
while keeping both parts solid for 3D printing, when it's too big to be printed in just 1 go?

Note: It seems that there is a slice option in netfabb studio basic,but apparently one can only export it with the pro version, not sure it it's of any use this way

Try netfabb, it can cut a mesh in two (or more) using orthogonal cut planes.

misan Wrote:
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> Try netfabb, it can cut a mesh in two (or more)
> using orthogonal cut planes.


Are you sure you can do that in the Basic version of netfabb?
It looks like the cut operation is only available in the Pro (Paid) version.

I am positive.

openscad can do this too and is especially good if you want something other than a straight cut. See this:

[www.thingiverse.com]

Greg Frost Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> openscad can do this too and is especially good if
> you want something other than a straight cut. See
> this:
>
> [www.thingiverse.com]


The stl example in the link works great, however I'm having trouble importing my own stl files into OpenSCAD.
I keep getting the error message:
"WARNING: No top level geometry to render", and it doesn't render the stl.
Did anyone have the same problem, and if so how did you fixed it?

For the record, freeware is just free software, openscad and such are libre software, the source is shared. It is an important difference.

About importing the stl, tbh i havent done it, did you use this? Probably it would be handy to have the code you used. Do the filenames match, does it search for the file in the right place?(in that case the error message is a bit bad, but could happen)

Openscad is very imperfect, but i think it is pretty good. I dont like guis though.

Yes, I used the import method: It's just 1 line of code:
import("BroadewayTower9_fixed.stl")

The error messages I get in detail are:
Rendering Polygon Mesh using CGAL...
CGAL error in CGAL_Build_PolySet: CGAL ERROR: assertion violation!
Expr: check_protocoll == 0
File: /media/code/mingw-cross-env/usr/lib/gcc/i686-pc-mingw32/4.6.2/../../../../i686-pc-mingw32/include/CGAL/Polyhedron_incremental_builder_3.h
Line: 198
PolySets in cache: 0
Polygons in cache: 0
CGAL Polyhedrons in cache: 2
Vertices in cache: 0
Total rendering time: 0 hours, 0 minutes, 0 seconds
WARNING: No top level geometry to render

It really looks like a bug to me.
But I've got the same error with other files.
It looks like the OpenSCAD stl import doesn't work very well for complex meshes with many polys.

Quote
It looks like the OpenSCAD stl import doesn't work very well for complex meshes with many polys.

Exactly, this has been my experience too.

pinto.ulisses@gmail.com Wrote:
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> It really looks like a bug to me.
> But I've got the same error with other files.
> It looks like the OpenSCAD stl import doesn't work
> very well for complex meshes with many polys.

It's not a bug, but rather that OpenSCAD doesn't do well with meshes that have errors (inverted normals, self-intersecting triangles, holes, etc.) More complex meshes are more likely to have these errors.

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I use Blender for that. Boolean operator.

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It can't detect the errors and give a more indicative error message?

How does openscad work internally? From what i gather it uses meshes. To be honest i think an approach with a more 'transparent' format for shapes would be easier to develop on. Like an octtree, i programmed something along those lines but it is very early.(And i doubt i have time to develop it..) The number of nodes for normal objects is something like log(Volume) + Surface, (sizes relative to 'minimum size')not that bad. And of course, rendering of many many cubes has been demonstrated by games like minecraft and minecraft-inspired games.

Have you passed the stl through netfabb for repair. Sometimes that will enable openscad to import it. Sometimes unfortunately it won't though.

NewPerfection Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> pinto.ulisses@gmail.com Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > It really looks like a bug to me.
> > But I've got the same error with other files.
> > It looks like the OpenSCAD stl import doesn't
> work
> > very well for complex meshes with many polys.
>
> It's not a bug, but rather that OpenSCAD doesn't
> do well with meshes that have errors (inverted
> normals, self-intersecting triangles, holes, etc.)
> More complex meshes are more likely to have these
> errors.


I'm afraid I'm getting these errors even with files where neither netfabb nor slic3r detect nor complain about any problems.
So, this still looks like a bug to me.