It has a slight learning curve, and navigating the UI can confuse new users. And the best thing about Meshmixer is that it’s completely free to use. It has a suite of advanced features that let you split your 3D models to your liking.

Meshmixer is one of the best 3D printing software for fixing your STL files, splitting them, and polishing them up for 3D printing. Software for Splitting 3D Models Meshmixer If you were to print this model on your FDM 3D printer, the top hair and beard portions would need considerable support, increasing your printing time.Įven though there are more advanced support structures, like tree support and organic support, available in 3D slicers nowadays, it’s always good to avoid support where possible.īy splitting the model into two halves, you can separate the top and bottom and orient the piece in such a way that eliminates the need for (most) support material. One such example is the Bearded Yell model on Thingiverse. And if it’s an aesthetic model, there’s a chance for support structures to ruin your model’s surface quality. The extra support material also increases print time, material wastage, and post-processing efforts. Typically, these prints feature steep and large overhangs, requiring loads of support material if you were to print them in a single piece. Some 3D models are complex with lots of intricate details. The second reason has less to do with the size and more with the complexity of the 3D model. So, a large model size stands out as the primary reason to split models. Similarly, there are plenty of 3D-printed cosplay costumes composed of several large parts that make up the entire suit. Splitting these 3D models lets you bypass this limitation.įor example, in 2019, a father-son duo 3D printed a Lamborghini Aventador on a $1000 3D printer right in their garage. Even with a modest 3D printer under $300, you can still print large objects.įurthermore, life-sized 3D models or complex assemblies will always be bigger than consumer-level 3D printers. In such cases, splitting a model into various small pieces is the way to go. It’s not practical for everyone to have a large 3D printer that can print entire helmets in a single piece.

There are two main reasons to split a 3D model before 3D printing. Conclusion Why Split a 3D Printing Model?

How to cut simplify 3d models