[Plugin] Slicer5

TIG · 3 Jan 2012, 18:49

Sorry guanjin, you [and now I] have spotted a major typo/issue... so an update is in the pipeline...

TIG · 3 Jan 2012, 19:30

Sorry guys !
Stupid typo in the code means I broke it...
Here's v5.4 http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?p=374969#p374969

Ben Ritter · 3 Jan 2012, 20:28

Thank you TIG!

guanjin · 4 Jan 2012, 04:40

@tig said:

Sorry guys !
Stupid typo in the code means I broke it...
Here's v5.4 http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?p=374969#p374969

Slice thickness and parameter settings are not the same?

TIG · 4 Jan 2012, 13:21

gaunjin

They are quite correct!
There are 'overlaps' on the slices.

You have selected a combination of the sliced-object height [z], slice-spacing and slice-thickness that cause an 'overlap' of slices on the start and last slices.
This is because the slices are always set out from the object's center towards the start/end slices and there will never be a spacing that is more than you have specified.
I assume the spacing is 80mm and the slice is 50mm thick - which gives a 'gap' of 30mm - which you show.
Slices are always placed at the extreme start/end positions, irrespective of the specified spacing.
Because in your combination of dimensions the spacing next to the start/end slice is less than the normal spacing/thickness the adjacent slices are located less than the normal 'maximum' spacing - in your case that actually overlap with the start/end slices. This overlap is ~35mm as your dimension shows - that isn't a slice its two 50mm slices overlapping by ~35mm !
You could delete the start/end slice so that the spacing is consistent for all remaining slices, BUT then the slices won't extend completely from the start to the end of the sliced-object, which results from the specified spacing/thickness not dividing exactly into the object's height !
Alternatively you could remove the overlapping slices near the start/end to have a bigger gap/spacing for the star/end slices.

So if you want exact spacing you must make your sliced-object with a dimension that is a multiple of the required spacing, LESS one slice thickness [this because the first last slices are made 'flush' with the sliced-object's extents, NOT centered on them]: so if you want 80mm spacing of 50mm slices in the Z you must ensure that the sliced-object is (N*80mm)+50mm high, where N is the number of slices needed to get near to the required Z-height.
If you have a to-be-sliced-object that must be an exact Z-height, and want the slices to be evenly located using an approximate spacing, then use the new option that was introduced in a recent update.
You simply enter 0 as the spacing, you then get another dialog where you are asked for the number of spaces. The dialog would show something like 'Number of Spaces [Z 800mm]:' - where 800mm is the height of the object, if the spacing needs to be about 80mm and the thickness is 50mm... try 10 number, the spacing will then be (800-50)/10=75mm, or perhaps 9 number for (800-50)/9=83.333mm - you can then choose which spacing suits your needs.

As a result of your post I spotted an unconnected glitch when swapping between Space=0 and a dimension - that's fixed and will be posted soon...

TIG · 4 Jan 2012, 13:28

Here's v5.5 http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?p=374969#p374969
A glitch found when after using Spacing=0, and reverting to Spacing='length', it would stick as an 'integer', not reverting to a decimal 'length' - this is now fixed.

xrok1 · 5 Jan 2012, 05:22

A really cool feature would be if you could select a piece of the sliced model and the corresponding flat pattern piece would be (highlighted) selected as well, or vise versa!

TIG · 5 Jan 2012, 09:51

@xrok1 said:

A really cool feature would be if you could select a piece of the sliced model and the corresponding flat pattern piece would be (highlighted) selected as well, or vise versa!
Unfortunately selecting objects in different contexts is fraught. The two instances are in separate groups for good reasons...
You can, so of do it, if you have your component-edit options set just right when you edit a component instance other instances can appear differently from the rest of the dimmed model; OR you can even have it set so that the rest of the model disappears during the edit, showing only the one being edited and its dimmed sibling in the other context. You can also use the Outliner to select them in turn [the names are the same], and both the SLICE and FLAT groups have the same unique-id code in their name too...

TIG · 7 Jan 2012, 23:33

Here's v5.6 http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?p=374969#p374969
It has two new added Options:
Axis 'A' to make 'Angled' Slices, and Axis 'R' to make 'Radial' Slices - see the detailed Usage Notes...
These tools combined with other sets all saved as Flattened Slices sets, and some simple manual editing of intersecting sets of slices, now lets you have non-orthogonal sets of slices, slotted together...

TIG · 8 Jan 2012, 10:57

Please note that Slicer5 v5.6's new Radial Slice tool is currently limited to work on Sliced Objects placed on the +ve side of the Y axis [Green] - i.e. 'above' the Origin, and which 'straddle' the Y axis [Green].
A more comprehensive version will be available shortly...

TIG · 8 Jan 2012, 17:27

Here's v5.7 http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?p=374969#p374969
The Radial Slices' algorithm is greatly improved, so now there are no limits on where the Sliced Object is placed relative to the Origin [which sets the center of the radial-slicing].
The Angled Slices' +/-ve direction is now corrected, so +ve = ccw and -ve = cw as it should be !

Daniel S · 8 Jan 2012, 23:58

Hi TIG!!!
Thank you!!! ... I will try this plugin and see what can I make.
A question: Is there a way to choose a dual axis for radial-slicing [RX/RY/RZ]?

Daniel S

TIG · 9 Jan 2012, 00:10

No, not yet... but you can see the way it's going.
To make slots 'cuttable' and thereafter 'mateable' the axes need to be limited to say 'RZ'... I think.
Even an 'AA' or 'AZ' version would potentially have angled slots or square-cut slots widened to accept the other part...
Thus it gets exponentially more complex at each step...

Daniel S · 9 Jan 2012, 00:33

You are right It will be limited to 'RZ'.
I started using and don´t read the instructions... the radially is only from the Origin [0,0,0].
To make this for example I had to rotate the object to get the desired result.

Thank you,
Daniel S

TIG · 9 Jan 2012, 09:13

@daniel s said:

You are right It will be limited to 'RZ'.
I started using and don´t read the instructions... the radially is only from the Origin [0,0,0].
To make this for example I had to rotate the object to get the desired result.
Thank you,
Daniel S
As you 'discovered' by using... the rotation for set of Radial Slices is always around the Z axis, so you might need to relocate/rotate the Sliced Object accordingly - it is in the Notes as you also subsequently discovered !

TIG · 9 Jan 2012, 09:25

@miki71ita said:

:oops: Hi people... I have a problem with Slicer5 v5.5. Saving slices as images in .PNG format, I always have this kind of Bug with all my .STL models:
You are a few versions behind...
You don't give us much of a clue about what the Sliced Object is like, the Axes used, Slice Thickness/Spacing etc etc.
The issue isn't with the Exporter - it's with the Slice making itself.
My first thoughts are that the Object you are trying to Slice is too small.
Sketchup/OpenGL have issues with very very small [or gigantic] sizes.
Sketchup can't make a face <~1mm or 0.001sq".
That's why Followme around very tight radii etc can fail on small pipes etc.
The recommendation is to Scale up x10 [or x100] and do the Slicing [or any other similar operation], then Scale down x0.1.
Small faces can exist, it's just making them initially that is awkward.
The Slicer tool uses 'intersect_with' type operations to make the faces, if some edges aren't forming it's a good indication that they might be too small.
Because you are using the PNG format the actual size of the Slices is also not critical - you must specify the 'real' size to software using those PNGs; each PNG image is sized relatively to the screen [others] but the used-size needs specifying in your STL app.
Alternatively... IF the error is just with one piece one having and incomplete edge then why not try manually editing the slice, adding in the missing edge detail manually so it is healed, then use the separate Export tool on the Flattened set...
I'd be interested in learning what the issue was/is...

TIG · 9 Jan 2012, 13:27

Here's v5.8 http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?p=374969#p374969
Glitches with the Slot-2 width and Slice-2 Ref-tag's location fixed.
New 'AZ' version added - now you can Slice at an Angle around the Z-axis AND in the Z-direction and intersect them with slots etc. See the updated Usage Notes...

TIG · 9 Jan 2012, 13:42

Here are some example images - more welcome...

TIG · 9 Jan 2012, 14:41

Here are some 'Head' slices...

TIG · 9 Jan 2012, 15:52

And a Contour model - useful for making a Kappa Board 3d real model.
Here Slice Spacing and Thickness = 1m...