In 3D printing (and modeling, animation and more), objects are represented by their outer shell. This shell is represented as a triangle mesh. It’s possible to have several meshes inside a single file.
STL files will always get imported as a single object, no matter how many separate shells are included in the file.
3MF files support multiple objects natively, each object will be properly identified and loaded as a separate entity.
Sometimes this is done on purpose, for example, when you export the entire platter as a single STL or when you export a multi-material model. You may want to separate the shells in order to transform individual objects independently of each other or set different print settings for different models. PrusaSlicer can automatically identify multiple shells inside a single file and split them into separate models.
Select the model you wish to split and click either on Split to objects or Split to parts in the top toolbar.
Split to objects
- Creates an individual object for each shell
- Places each newly created object on the print bed
Split to parts
- Keeps a single model object in the scene, but creates multiple parts
- Parts stay in their original location, even if they’re floating in mid-air above the print bed
- Usually used to split MMU models without misaligning individual parts
3 comments
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miau
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Is there an option to put "connectors" in splitted parts / objects just as those in the "cutting" option?
In some figures you can see the holes where the loose parts should go but on smooth surfaces it is not easy to glue parts at the right spot.
In some figures you can see the holes where the loose parts should go but on smooth surfaces it is not easy to glue parts at the right spot.
Chasworth
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I think I was able to use the cutting option with connectors on a splitted object, but don't seem to have that option on the splitted part, which is the case I am after.
Chasworth
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But when I tried to use the connectors, It appeared to let me make entries for type and size, but the connector features did not show up on the parts.
Chasworth
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So I added connector freatures manually. One negative volume showedup when sliced. The negatve volume I copied from that one did not show up when sllice. The positive volume I added as a modifer did not show up when sliced. Neither did its copy.
miau
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Okay, so I guess I have to cut it and put connectors on it with another software and then make the final slice :/
Xi Xi Ping Official
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So why is it greyed out and I cant select it to split this object? I thought it was too large so I scaled it down a lot but that wasnt it... ended up just using perform cut and doing it manually that way
Giuliano - Official Prusa CS
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Hello. It depends on the modeling software used and if the model was made of different parts put together.
rufisium
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How can I merge objects or parts into one stl after separating them? I have a print file I want certain parts to keep merged. is there a way you could add that feature please? I am using the work around of saving the part as a new file and then importing it piece by piece. It's quite tedious.
Giuliano - Official Prusa CS
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Hello. Unfortunately there is no such function. If you wish to put back together split objects, the only way is with the undo button.
neoyarus
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Hello, I believe there is a merge option when you select multiple parts and right-click. I think that's what rufisium was looking for.
I have a follow-up question though. This function creates an object with the name "Merged" that has unnamed parts in it. Is there a way to make it keep the names that the parts originally had? If not, perhaps it should be added in a future update. I like to have all my parts named in the 3mf files I publish, and it's pretty annoying to redo that manually every time, even though the files come from cad already named.
I have a follow-up question though. This function creates an object with the name "Merged" that has unnamed parts in it. Is there a way to make it keep the names that the parts originally had? If not, perhaps it should be added in a future update. I like to have all my parts named in the 3mf files I publish, and it's pretty annoying to redo that manually every time, even though the files come from cad already named.