How does the 3D Segmenting tool split an imported 3D model into machinable pieces? (Aspire)

What it does

The Segment tool cuts an imported 3D model into separate chunks so that geometry that is difficult for a 3-axis machine in one setup (undercuts, full-round figures, extreme depth) becomes a set of individually machinable segments you carve and assemble.

Workflow

1. Import your model through the standard Model Import dialog (see the import 3D model entry), then press the Segment button on the import form.
2. In Edit mode, position the segmenting plane either by typing values or by dragging the dynamic handles in the 3D view, then press Segment. Each cut produces two new segments, one above the plane and one below. Repeat on any segment to keep subdividing.
3. The Segments Viewer shows all segments as a tree reflecting the cut hierarchy. Select any segment to make it the base for the next cut. Right-click a segment and choose Delete children to undo cuts below it, or drag and drop one segment onto another to merge them.
4. Switch to Layout mode to see how the segments will look in the job. Cycle each segment through its orientations with the arrow buttons, or press the O shortcut to show a rotation handle for any other angle. Turn on visualize undercuts to highlight undercut areas in pink (these cannot be cut with a regular 3-axis machine and are ignored on import) so you can go back and cut differently.
5. Set the Import Options checkboxes: Create Backface Caps (closes the back of each segment with a plane, useful for molds), Resize Material To Fit Slices (adjusts the job size to fit the segments), and Create boundary vectors (creates vectors for the top and bottom boundaries of the segments, useful as toolpath boundaries). Then import the segments into the job as components.

Limitations and notes

Models with self-intersecting geometry cannot be segmented, and they can cause errors on import or in undercut analysis, so repair them first. A segmented model can be re-imported by right-clicking one of the imported segments in the component tree and choosing Re-import model, which returns you to the last state in the segmenting tool. For slicing a model into flat layers by height instead, use the separate Slice Model tool (see the slice model entry).

Pro tips

• Chase the pink: rotate or add one more cut until no undercut highlights remain.
• Plan cut planes along natural glue lines of the finished piece.
• Boundary vectors make clean machining limits for each segment's toolpaths.