Cutter Jig

thingiverse

I designed this part to serve as a master key to disassemble models and reassemble them with precision. When printed correctly, it should hold firmly without the need for glueing, though glue can still be used if desired. Its gradual cylindrical shape ensures that it won't require any supports during printing. Edit: I was asked to provide a more detailed step-by-step guide, so here it is! I don't know all of the software options out there, but I imagine this process works in most programs. It's extremely easy to do in Zbrush (that's what I used). 1. Scale and position your desired model within your preferred program. 2. Import the jig - I recommend using the 4-prong one if you have enough space for it, as it is probably stronger. However, if you're working with a thinner print, you may need to use the 2-prong option instead. 3. Rotate the jig into place and activate wireframe / X-ray / Transparency mode to see through your model. Make sure the flat square edge extends further than the edge of your model (see image). It just needs to be wider than your model. If necessary, go to point (vertex) edit mode and scale the four corners of the square upwards. 4. Now you need to add thickness to the jig. You'll need to allow some amount of tolerance because if the cut is exact, the pieces won't fit together perfectly. A 3mm peg doesn't fit a 3mm hole; it fits a 3.3mm hole (for example). Select the jig and extrude it or add a shell. The terminology might be different in various software, but extrude should work. I recommend using a .3mm thickness because it's tight but not so tight that it needs to be hammered into place. This may vary depending on your printer. 5. When the jig has the desired thickness, you need to cut it away from your model. This is called a boolean subtraction. Usually, you select your model (a) and then select the jig second (b), before subtracting them. 6. The model now has the cut, but it's still one mesh. You need to split it into two parts. Some slicing tools can do this, like slic3r for example. Again, this might be different in each 3D package. If you're unsure, try searching online - it's usually called "polygon continuity." This means polygons that are connected by points/faces/verts. 7. Once you've done this, you now have two parts, and you can export them as separate STL files to be positioned in your slicer just like normal. 8. Hope this helps clarify things! Let me know if anything is unclear.