[Plugin] Slicer5

TIG

There's a new version available - v5.22...
See its 'Documentation' tab - the main change is an additional option added to the dialogs - 'Centralization' - the default is 'Slice' - as before, the fixed-spacing slices are set-off from the object's center - giving an 'odd' number of slices [3, 5, 7 etc]: the new alternative is 'Gap', this shunts the initial slicing, so that then the gap between the slices is centered - giving an 'even' number of slices [4, 6, 8 etc]. It keeps the fixed-spacing entered.

This new option could be used instead of entering Spacing = 0 - which would have then called an additional dialog to get a fixed number of 'Spaces' [ignoring 'centralization'], and then rather than using a fixed-spacing it would have generated an adjusted-spacing to suit the number of 'spaces' specified [i.e. the 'gaps'] - thus allowing odd & even slice counts].

The two methods should provide flexibility of slicing formats to cover most of your needs...
http://sketchucation.com/plugin/781-tig_slicer

jkasten

Hello! I just installed Slicer v5.22 and I get the following error:

Error; #<TypeError; reference to deleted DrawingElement>
/Users/jkasten/Library/Application Support/SketchUp 2014/SketchUp/Plugins/TIG-Slicer/TIG-Slicer.rb;1829;in `bounds'
/Users/jkasten/Library/Application Support/SketchUp 2014/SketchUp/Plugins/TIG-Slicer/TIG-Slicer.rb;1829;in `block in ref'
/Users/jkasten/Library/Application Support/SketchUp 2014/SketchUp/Plugins/TIG-Slicer/TIG-Slicer.rb;1813;in `each'
/Users/jkasten/Library/Application Support/SketchUp 2014/SketchUp/Plugins/TIG-Slicer/TIG-Slicer.rb;1813;in `ref'
/Users/jkasten/Library/Application Support/SketchUp 2014/SketchUp/Plugins/TIG-Slicer/TIG-Slicer.rb;1115;in `run'
/Users/jkasten/Library/Application Support/SketchUp 2014/SketchUp/Plugins/TIG-Slicer/TIG-Slicer.rb;279;in `initialize'
/Users/jkasten/Library/Application Support/SketchUp 2014/SketchUp/Plugins/TIG-Slicer/TIG-Slicer.rb;134;in `new'
/Users/jkasten/Library/Application Support/SketchUp 2014/SketchUp/Plugins/TIG-Slicer/TIG-Slicer.rb;134;in `block in <module;TIG>'

I have tried running the plugin on various simple solid components or groups, and it fails every time.
Any suggestions?

Thanks!

TIG

You are on MAC.
If you have NOT downloaded and installed the ttf Font 'txt' then your MAC crash will out...
Whereas a PC will use a fall-back font...
Please get that Font from the link on the Plugin's Documentation, or its thread's first page.
UnZIP it and make sure it is installed in your Fonts...

Please read the Plugin's notes before trying to use it...

I might add a trap for it in an update, along the lines of: "MAC users MUST have txt.ttf installed !"

jkasten

Thanks TIG

I had actually downloaded the font, but it turns out that it was incorrectly installed.
Everything seems to work correctly now.
Cheers!

TIG

Here's v5.23 http://sketchucation.com/pluginstore?pln=TIG_Slicer in the PluginStore...

If a MAC user has not downloaded and installed the txt.ttf Font... then instead of a crash, the Slices are now completed but without Refs and there is an error-dialog telling the User that the Font is probably not installed etc and how to get its ZIP archive from the Plugin's thread first-page or the link in the Documents page...
PC users also need this Font but if it missing Windows substitutes an alternative, so a crash is avoided...

There is also a behind the scenes tweak to try and overcome a rare v2013 OpenGl, fast-feedback graphics-card glitch - where on a first run of Slicer as the processing completes the slices' faces are not displayed [but they are properly made - SketchUp just does not display them], but they will appear if the SKP is reopened or the slice edited...
If this occurs it may be due to have OpenGL fast-feedback set 'on' in v2014

rv1974

TIG,
Could you (in one of the future updates) enable slicing from the bottom upward (so upper face of the entrance 'floor' will stay at z=0.00?
In this mode it'd be easy to create 'floors' from initial mass object.
Thank you.

alexandre sk

fantastic plugin TIG! really helpful thx

but sometimes it crashed. everything disappears until a crtl+z.

excellent anyway.

Box

I've had that happen too occasionally but found that it has worked but not displayed properly. As soon as you find the invisible slices and go to edit them they appear. Or save after slicing, close the file and reopen and it should all be there.
I can reproduce it with a random sized block and the default settings.

The block and settings

After slicing it's invisible but in outliner

Save, close reopen and it is all there.

TIG

I too have had this "invisible but there" issue [with other Plugins too].
I did try to add something to edit/explode etc to overcome it, without success.
But then I found that adjusting my OpenGL settings stopped it recurring...

Box

I adjust my settings so often now to work with different oddities.
It's not an issue for me I know how to work around things.

g.moggel

good evening guys.

sorry if this has been asked before but i have a problem where my solids are rotated away from the origin-axis. to cut right, i would need to rotate each of my 50+ small houses parallel to the original axis and then performing the slicing. setting the main axis to my object doesn't help. it still uses, as some other plugins, the original axis.

is it possible to use the components/solid groups own axis for the x and y slicing operation (and maybe also for the arrangement of the plates) ?

thanks for this awesome plugin!
cheers, mo

TIG

I assume these components are simple massing objects, made as solids ?
If a 'house' component is made so its axes are parallel to its main façades then all you need to do is place an instance [without rotation] and Slice it to get the slices-set oriented as you wish.
OR why not export all of your 'house' components from the Browser as a 'collection' of separate SKPs, and work inside each in turn [or individually using the context-menu's Save_As].
If necessary fix the component's axes before exporting it, or rotate the contents of its SKP afterwards, so its façades are axial.
Select All [geometry] and make a group of that before Slicing inside the individual 'house' SKP ?

g.moggel

thanks tig for your reply. i'll try your suggestions.

cheers,
mo

dcorrigan

Hello,
I am working on making an extension to Slicer to allow it to export .svg files.
When Slicer goes through and flattens the model it appears to do some layout optimization so each layer takes up only enough space for itself. I am making a 3d printer that reads svg files so ideally each layer would have the same origin in it for repeatable stacking. I have quite a lot of ideas for fixing it but was wondering if you had any input on a good path to follow.

The other problem that I have encountered when using Slicer is that it is unstable once the number of layers gets above 100. I think the best way to fix this instability would be to use the top and bottom offsets to create several sections that are then cut. I think I can write code to do that but again, any help or advise would be greatly appreciated.

A video of my plugin in action as well as my problem with alignment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bdfIMw5uiI%26amp;feature=youtu.be

When I get the code for the svg export fully working I would be happy to send you a copy if you would like to include it in your plugin.
Thank you very much,
Dan Corrigan

jorgeeparra

Hi there Tig Really smart Plugin It works really well
I do have a question :
Is it possible to make thickness bigger than spacing
I have a solid I have to divide in to several pieces with a spacing smaller than the thickness of the pieces

Thanks in advance for your answer

Solo Sails

Hi there TIG,

Firstly, thanks, this is an amazing tool.

I have a problem exporting DXF - it crashes every time - was doing a quick test with a cube, quite large, about 8m3 it starts to compile the export, but never completes and goes to the bugsplat screen.?

Using latest Pro sketchup on 64 bit

Any ideas?

Thanks, Andrew

Solo Sails

@dcorrigan said:

Hello,
I am working on making an extension to Slicer to allow it to export .svg files.
When Slicer goes through and flattens the model it appears to do some layout optimization so each layer takes up only enough space for itself. I am making a 3d printer that reads svg files so ideally each layer would have the same origin in it for repeatable stacking. I have quite a lot of ideas for fixing it but was wondering if you had any input on a good path to follow.

The other problem that I have encountered when using Slicer is that it is unstable once the number of layers gets above 100. I think the best way to fix this instability would be to use the top and bottom offsets to create several sections that are then cut. I think I can write code to do that but again, any help or advise would be greatly appreciated.

A video of my plugin in action as well as my problem with alignment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bdfIMw5uiI%26amp;feature=youtu.be

When I get the code for the svg export fully working I would be happy to send you a copy if you would like to include it in your plugin.
Thank you very much,
Dan Corrigan

Hi, did you get this version working? Could I have a copy please?

Thanks, Andrew

Jago25_98

Great extension!

Slicer5 is a bit more picky than SliceModeller regarding Solid Manifold requirements.

My model is a STL exported from another program called BoardCAD. It has 900 short edges, 66 internal faces and 3 surface borders which I will need to correct to use this plugin. SlicerModeller doesn't need me to do this. sliced with slicemodeller that couldn't with slicer5 sliced when should not be possible.PNG

If you are trying to correct a model I suggest to use MeshMixer because it has many functions specifically designed for this purpose. I spent weeks trying to fix these mesh to solid problems (SOlidSolver, FixSolid, SolidInspector) until I found this! Also bear in mind that many tutorials for it are out of date - the tool now is much better. Bear in mind that it's designed with mm scale in mind... whereas sketchup needs metre scale really due to it's own shortcomings. Still, you can export and import with STL import/export sketchup plugins and work between the both.

boardslice

I need to get in contact with the creator of this plugin (TIG). Anyone know how?
Thanks

juju

@boardslice said:

I need to get in contact with the creator of this plugin (TIG). Anyone know how?
Thanks