Object too tall to fit in build volume

[Mike06 0]

Hello Everyone,

 

I'm trying to cut a vase in half because it's too tall to fit in my Ulktimaker 3 Extended. 

 

I could print the top part fine, I just lowered the object and ignored the bottom half.

 

Now I have to print the bottom part that also has a bottom layer (which is why I can't rotate it upside down). I tried to use a support blocker with a cutting mesh but since half of the print is ouside the build volume it won't let me slice it. Even if the top part wouldn't be printed anyway.

Does anyone have any idea how I can get around this?

 

Thank you!

 

 

[PartySausage 21]

Cura really lacks useful tools for cutting models into separate parts so they would fit a smaller build volume.

I use Prusaslicer for such tasks, which although I find cumbersome & not very intuitive for a lot of things it does have some very useful model manipulation tools such as a cut tool that can be used to split the model in two & export each part as separate files, which can be loaded into Cura for slicing.

I use it a lot for prototyping, when I only want to print a portion of a model, but don't want to create separate item in my CAD software 

Edited August 20 by PartySausage

[Slashee_the_Cow 410]

If you're using Windows, Microsoft's 3D Builder app is pretty great and can slice a model in half quicker than you can say "Microsoft's 3D Builder app is pretty great and can slice a model in half". On other platforms... you could probably do it with FreeCAD but it'd be a pain (a.k.a. it'd be FreeCAD). STL files generally aren't intended with editing in mind since they're intended to be the output from programs which you can edit stuff (like CAD software).

[Mike06 0]

I tried Microsoft 3D Builder and it did the job.

 

Of course on Windows 11it's not straight forward since it can't be dowloaded from the Microsoft Store anymore but, hey, why would they make it easy? 😄

 

Thank you!

 

[GregValiant 1,342]

Sometimes you can fool the software.  If you happen to printing "one at a time" you are limited to what the print head will fit between, and what will fit under the gantry.  But careful placement of the models, and some thought ahead of time, and you can fudge the print head numbers and the gantry height to allow you to print.

 

In the case of very tall models you can alter the Z(height) of the machine for the model.

This UM3 extended is 900mm tall.  For this one you would need to make sure that the part of the model that will print is lower than the actual height of the build volume of the printer.

 

The same thing can be done in the X and Y but it takes a bit more work because it may involve changing the Home Offsets of the printer to insure that "fooling the software" will result in a gcode file that will still properly print within the physical build plate of the printer.

There is also a plugin in the MarketPlace called "Banana Split".  It's a interesting tool but I haven't had a reason to actually use it yet.  It does invert half the model though so not good for this project.