How do I Import Sliced Object Later?  

RE: How do I Import Sliced Object Later?

Im not 100% sure I'm following what you want to do so let me check my assumptions first.

You have a model/object that you have imported into Slicer.  You have then placed a modifier or modifiers set to cut holes into the original object WHEN IT IS SLICED.  You want to export the original model with the holes in it ?

Would that be an accurate summation ?

If so then you cant do it as far as I'm aware.  You can save the contents of the plater which will save all the objects, but that's just it, they are all objects.  You haven't actually made any changes to the underlying mesh of the original model.  Slicer knows that you want to apply a,b,c to model X in area Y.  If saved as a 3mf.  If you export the plater then its just exporting the objects and all the specific settings (the a,b,c) arent exported with something like a stl as that is just triangles.  Which is why if you import it then its just a collection of shapes.
It only applies that information when it is slicing to modify HOW its slicing.  Its not making any changes to X or Y and the settings for a,b,and c can be changed at any point.

Slicer is just that, a slicer, it is not a CAD package.  You need to make these changes in some actual modelling software and do the job properly.  The tools in slicer are handy, get you out of a jam types but are not suitable for regular use.

Frankly in the amount of effort you will try to get this done using slicer you could have learned and done the job in a modelling package where the output will be better and easier to change/iterate.

There was that 'grumpy' enough for you 🙂  It is early morning and I haven't had my coffee yet lol.

RE: How do I Import Sliced Object Later?

With PrusaSlicer, there is really no option to re-import a sliced .gcode file.  LOL, at least I have not found it, that is.

Cura does have that option, but with limitations.

I would agree that if you're going to modify projects in the post-draft phase, create a project and save it.  I also agree that PrusaSlicer (or any slicer) is not a drafting package, although some insist on trying to use it as such.  IMAO, it's like trying to drill a hole using a hammer.  😉

RE: How do I Import Sliced Object Later?

@neophyl

Really appreciate that! Add some more salt next time, not salty enough! Jokes aside, thanks for telling me to stop wasting my time. Any recommendations on software that would be good for this?

RE: How do I Import Sliced Object Later?

@jsw

Haha thanks for that info as well! Same question, qny recommendation for software? 

RE: How do I Import Sliced Object Later?

Everyone has a different opinion on decent modelling software.  I'm going to predict that JSW will recommend Freecad, as thats what he seems to use.  He could probably predict that I recommend Blender, afterall thats what I primarily use.

If you had asked yesterday lots of people would have recommended Fusion360 but after the announcement that they were changing the licence arrangement of the free maker version I guess not so many people will now 🙂

It depends on what you want to do with CAD.  Traditionally Freecad/Fusion/Solidworks etc have all excelled at technical type designs while Blender was for more artistic types of stuff like sculpting.  However those that say that haven't really been keeping up with recent changes.  The 2.8x releases of Blender are plenty capable of doing even complex hard surface modelling now as well as sculpting.  You can even do precide sized stuff once you learn how.  Its a different workflow though with different tools and constraints to the traditional cad software.

Whatever you choose there WILL be a learning curve.  Its inevitable and is what puts most people off from any cad.  Anyone who wants to get past printing other peoples models downloaded from the internet eventually has to learn at least the basics of 'A' package.

To promote Blender though its absolutely free and there are a metric ton of videos on youtube on how to do various stuff.  Its also very good at manipulating downloaded stl's and also repairing them if needed as you can manipulate the vertices directly.  Also I have been known to give tech support on here when people have trouble doing something in Blender lol.  

RE: How do I Import Sliced Object Later?

@neophyl

You have a great wealth of knowledge and I appreciate you dropping it on me! I tend to try to stick with where I can find the best community, I think I will give Blender a go, talk to you in a few days when I start posting questions on that 😉 . Thanks for your responses

RE: How do I Import Sliced Object Later?

Yes, I'll suggest FreeCAD for someone who is looking for a basic modeling and drafting package.

RE: How do I Import Sliced Object Later?

@neophyl

Yes, the changes to the Fusion free license caused quite a ruckus but I must say that I'm most likely going to stick with it. Most changes won't affect me much (I don't do CAM, sheet metal, etc). The only change I think may impact me is the new limit to 10 "active" projects. However, there's hope that they'll implement archiving/unarchiving in a transparent manner, so I'm willing to wait and see. 

I did go and check out Onshape, which got a lot of positive reviews. I must say I like its interface better but its feature set is a lot smaller than Fusion's. Most importantly, at least in my hands (and I have a gigabit FIOS connection and a fast modeling computer) performance was like molasses, with noticeable lags, to the point that I gave up.

The other tool I'd throw into the mix is OpenSCAD, if and only if you're willing to apply a programming language-style of modeling. Instead of drag and draw (or sketch) you write "code" that defines shapes and their interactions. I used to right software professionally a long time ago so it resonates with you, and for certain projects it's great. But it also lacks some basic functionality, such as simple filleting.

And while we're throwing out the names of modeling tools, I'd add Tinkercad to the mix. It's as easy as it gets, and for serious CAD work too simple. But it's super easy to use, intuitive, and surprisingly powerful. But Tinkercad (or OpenSCAD) are of no use if you intend to focus more on sculpting (such as miniatures). 

And like everyone else has said, whatever you pick, expect a steep learning curve...