[Plugin] Slicer5
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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!
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@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... -
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... -
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... -
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 !
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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
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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...
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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
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@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 ! -
@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... -
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...
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Here are some example images - more welcome...
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Here are some 'Head' slices...
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And a Contour model - useful for making a Kappa Board 3d real model.
Here Slice Spacing and Thickness = 1m...
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Tig,
On the contour sample you showed is there a way for an outline of the smaller piece to be shown on the larger piece so when making the real model it will be easy to line up everything properly?
Thanks,
Cubcrafter
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@unknownuser said:
Tig,
On the contour sample you showed is there a way for an outline of the smaller piece to be shown on the larger piece so when making the real model it will be easy to line up everything properly?
Thanks,
Cubcrafter
Funny you should mention that... I thought of it when I looked at the image too...
I'm thinking about it... Perhaps an extra tool to 'emboss' the part below onto the set? Z002 gets Z001, Z003 gets Z002 and so on... It's NOT as easy as it sounds ! -
@tig said:
And a Contour model - useful for making a Kappa Board 3d real model.
Here Slice Spacing and Thickness = 1m...This reminded me of this: http://www.challengermap.org/history.htm
There used to be school trips to see this map in the good ol' days. Lends meaning to the expression "Patience of a wooden god." It was neat to ride the gantry over top of the map - photos don't do justice to the size. Imagine now - Tig's slicer and cnc router. -
Yes, labeling and aligning would be useful tools.
Fantastic work Tig! -
Here's v5.9 http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?p=374969#p374969
Please [re]read the Usage Notes - it has several changes and additions...
The Exporter is now a separate tool, there are now no prompts after Slicing, it must be run separately later on.
If Axis==X/Y/Z/A and Thickness==Spacing then new option to add 'Outline' [OLIN group] from the adjacent Slice, it helps in assembling the real 3d pieces.
If Exported DXF includes an OLIN then those are put onto a layer 'OLIN' which can be used for 'etching' an outline [like Text].
If a Slice has manually added circular holes <12mm diam then these are also put on their own DXF layer, 'CIRC'.
Exported PNGs now made 2x viewport size for sharpness.
Exported PNGs from a Flattened set containing a FLAT2 are now consistently sized, based on the maximums of BOTH FLAT sets and guide-points are shown at TR/BL/CT. Shadows are now automatically set 'off' when making the PNGs.
An 'RZ' option has been added, to make Radial Slices intersecting, and potentially slotted, with 'Z' Slices.
Glitches with Spacing/Spaces dialogs resolved.
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TIG, thank you again!
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