Is there a way to save modifiers or copy them to another STL?
This is likely best explained by example:
I have an object that I change the model of regularly, but only slightly. This means that I have to re-slice every time and re-setup all of my modifiers. The modifiers are necessary as some settings cannot be set in printer / material settings since they are layer specific. Is there any way to copy a set of modifiers to a new model file? Can I "hotswap" in a new model?
Jake
RE: Is there a way to save modifiers or copy them to another STL?
You can save modifiers as part of a project (3MF) file, but unfortunately they are linked to the individual STL part. Delete the STL and the modifiers go away. I am unaware of any way to save the modifiers for application on another STL.
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RE: Is there a way to save modifiers or copy them to another STL?
@bobstro
That's what I was afraid of. I guess I can submit it on suggested for PrusaSlicer.
This is a big holdup for me as my business focus is mass customization. The files barely change and redoing the settings every time is a huge time sink.
At the very least layer height modifiers should be transferable since they are independent of geometry.
RE: Is there a way to save modifiers or copy them to another STL?
I've done something similar to this (I have part specific settings, not using modifiers). I have my master project saved as a 3mf file. I open the 3mf file, then add the new version of the object to the existing one as a part. Then delete the original part. This works for me because I don't have any geometry specific attributes (mesh modifiers, etc), it may be a bit touchy for you because the new part is imported with an x and y offset to the original. You may have to move the new part to the same coordinates as the old part before deleting the old part to get the mesh modifiers to line up as originally designed.
See my (limited) designs on:
Printables - https://www.printables.com/@Sembazuru
Thingiverse - https://www.thingiverse.com/Sembazuru/designs
RE: Is there a way to save modifiers or copy them to another STL?
@sembazuru
Thank you, this is much better than nothing. I'll give it a try.
RE: Is there a way to save modifiers or copy them to another STL?
You can copy modifiers from one stl to another within the same project. Just cntrl+c and cntrl+v. As Bob points out you can then save the project as a 3mf file which will save all the modifiers too.
Sembazuru's technique of adding a new part to an existing one and then deleting the original also works with modifiers as the modifiers aren't deleted as long as there is 1 part in that logical group. I often use it when I have tweaked the stl model slightly and I need to load in the new version but keep the support enforcers I have already placed. The only bad part is that you have to duplicate whatever positioning/rotation etc you did to the original part. One reason I try to export my parts with the correct orientation 🙂
RE: Is there a way to save modifiers or copy them to another STL?
@neophyl
When I try and copy modifiers with control+C or the copy button it just copies the entire STL + tree. Am I doing something wrong?
RE: Is there a way to save modifiers or copy them to another STL?
@jake-d4
You have to select just the modifier you want to copy before pressing cntrl+c. Then you select the other model on the plater and then cntrl+v. At least that's the way it works on my pc running windows 10. Actually I should probably ask what version of Prusa Slicer you are using too ?
RE: Is there a way to save modifiers or copy them to another STL?
@jake-d4
You have to select just the modifier you want to copy before pressing cntrl+c. Then you select the other model on the plater and then cntrl+v. At least that's the way it works on my pc running windows 10. Actually I should probably ask what version of Prusa Slicer you are using too
when I first tried this I’m sure the part pasted in the relative position. ie in the correct position in the new part and not offset. But I don’t seem to be able to do this now. Any ideas?
i3 Mk3 [aug 2018] upgrade>>> i3MK3/S+[Dec 2023]
RE: Is there a way to save modifiers or copy them to another STL?
I know that this is from a while ago, but I just found that with the new RELOAD FROM DISK option in Prusa Slicer if you rename the second STL that you want to use the existing modifiers and the parts are the same, you just have to rename the second STL to be the same name as the first STL that has the modifiers and then right click on the STL on the right side of the slicer and select RELOAD FROM DISK and then the second part will be loaded in place of the first part. Then just rename the second part STL in File Explorer back to it's original name and there you have it.
For example, I wanted to use the same modifiers on a file called 220.stl but I also wanted to use the exact same modifiers in the same spot in file 180.stl so once I have the 220.stl file loaded in the slicer and the modifiers are set (I saved the 220 project as 220.3mf so save the settings) and then I renamed the 180.stl file to 220.stl and reloaded the 220.stl file and the newly rename 180.stl file loaded in the exact same place with the existing modifiers in the same place. I could then load multiple files one after the other, slice and export each one without having to rebuild the modifiers every time. Worked perfectly.