Add Connectors Without Cutting
 
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Phil Stenger
(@phil-stenger)
Member
Add Connectors Without Cutting

Apologies if this isn't the correct spot for this question.

Is there a way to add connectors to a model in slicer without cutting? My models are split already into pieces before going in slicer but I want to connect them after printing. It seems like this could be a useful feature.

Posted : 05/12/2023 7:15 pm
Neophyl
(@neophyl)
Illustrious Member
RE: Add Connectors Without Cutting

I’m not aware of any way to do that. Would make an interesting feature request on the PRUSA slicer GitHub if you want to go for it. 

Posted : 05/12/2023 8:03 pm
Diem
 Diem
(@diem)
Illustrious Member

Very tricky to align in slicer; you can, of course, add and subtract shapes to/from your parts to make keys and keyways but this is much better done in the original CAD where you retain full control.

Cheerio,

Posted : 06/12/2023 11:33 am
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Neophyl
(@neophyl)
Illustrious Member
RE: Add Connectors Without Cutting

Yeah if you did the original model and split up up yourself then why not add in keyways to the model ?  Presumably your CAD original has the parts aligned ?

I saw the request and it will be handy if Prusa do manage to figure out an easy way but I suspect its going to be technically challenging. 

The current thing about cut is it is generating the 2 mating surfaces so adding a connector on the same spot on both is easy.  With distinct different models how is the slicer supposed to know which surfaces match, and the angles ? 
Cut a cylinder in parts and add 2 connectors, do-able.  Have 2 cylinders added to the plater and add 2 connectors, how do you determine the rotation ?  Not a problem with plain cylinders but with cylinders with stuff further up away from the connection points ?  Far easier to add them to the original model to start with.

Posted : 06/12/2023 12:35 pm
jmsaltzman
(@jmsaltzman)
Trusted Member
Old topic, unresolved?

I've been dealing with this a lot lately, quite difficult to use these connectors reliably due to limitations with how the connectors' geometry is not directly accessible: I can't export parts with their connectors added. A bit of an old thread and I haven't seen this feature added.

@Diem alignment isn't an issue when multiple objects in one file are are brought in together as parts of a single object: relative positioning is preserved.

The obvious workaround exporting two aligned parts as stl and re-importing to split removes internal features covered up when the parts are aligned.

Any tips or workarounds appreciated!

Posted : 07/03/2025 2:06 pm
Diem
 Diem
(@diem)
Illustrious Member

when multiple objects in one file are are brought in together as parts of a single object: relative positioning is preserved.

... hmmm, still far easier to do in original CAD where alignments are already known.

Cheerio,

Posted : 08/03/2025 1:02 am
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