Splitting models for print bed fit in 3D Printing - Mini Project: Build & Apply

Splitting Models for Print Bed Fit

📖 Scenario: You have a 3D model that is too large to print on your 3D printer's print bed in one piece. To print it successfully, you need to split the model into smaller parts that fit the print bed size.

🎯 Goal: Learn how to split a 3D model into smaller parts so each part fits the print bed of your 3D printer.

📋 What You'll Learn

Create a data structure representing the 3D model dimensions

Define the print bed size as a configuration variable

Apply logic to determine how to split the model into parts that fit the print bed

Complete the setup to visualize or note the split parts

💡 Why This Matters

🌍 Real World

3D printing large objects often requires splitting the model into smaller parts that fit the printer's build volume. This project shows how to plan that split.

💼 Career

Understanding how to split models for print bed fit is essential for 3D printing technicians, designers, and engineers working with additive manufacturing.

1

Create the 3D model dimensions

Create a dictionary called model_dimensions with keys 'width', 'depth', and 'height' and values 250, 300, and 150 respectively.

3D Printing

# Create the model_dimensions dictionary with width, depth, and height
# Your code here

Need a hint?

Use a dictionary with keys 'width', 'depth', and 'height' and assign the exact values.

2

Define the print bed size

Create a variable called print_bed_size and assign it a dictionary with keys 'width' and 'depth' and values 200 and 200 respectively.

3D Printing

model_dimensions = {'width': 250, 'depth': 300, 'height': 150}
# Define the print_bed_size dictionary with width and depth
# Your code here

Need a hint?

Use a dictionary with keys 'width' and 'depth' and assign the exact values.

3

Calculate how to split the model

Create a dictionary called split_parts with keys 'width_parts' and 'depth_parts'. Calculate width_parts as the smallest integer greater than or equal to model_dimensions['width'] / print_bed_size['width']. Calculate depth_parts similarly using model_dimensions['depth'] and print_bed_size['depth']. Use the math.ceil() function for rounding up.

3D Printing

import math

model_dimensions = {'width': 250, 'depth': 300, 'height': 150}
print_bed_size = {'width': 200, 'depth': 200}
# Calculate width_parts and depth_parts using math.ceil
# Your code here

Need a hint?

Import the math module and use math.ceil() to round up the division results.

4

Complete the split model setup

Create a list called model_splits that contains tuples representing each part's position in the grid. Use nested for loops with variables w and d to iterate from 0 to split_parts['width_parts'] - 1 and 0 to split_parts['depth_parts'] - 1 respectively. Each tuple should be (w, d).

3D Printing

import math

model_dimensions = {'width': 250, 'depth': 300, 'height': 150}
print_bed_size = {'width': 200, 'depth': 200}
split_parts = {
    'width_parts': math.ceil(model_dimensions['width'] / print_bed_size['width']),
    'depth_parts': math.ceil(model_dimensions['depth'] / print_bed_size['depth'])
}
# Create model_splits list with tuples (w, d) for each part
# Your code here

Need a hint?

Use a list comprehension with nested loops to create tuples for each split part position.