# 3d printing tools for rhino? bool, analyse and turn?

**URL:** <https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/3d-printing-tools-for-rhino-bool-analyse-and-turn/5011>\
**Category:** Rhino for Windows\
**Created:** [January 8, 2014, 6:26pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/3d-printing-tools-for-rhino-bool-analyse-and-turn/5011 "2014-01-08T18:26:52Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![block3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/block3/32/2624_2.png) [@block3](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/block3)\
**Post date:** [January 8, 2014, 6:26pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/3d-printing-tools-for-rhino-bool-analyse-and-turn/5011/1 "2014-01-08T18:26:52Z")

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Hi everyone,

i have some questions and some solution at the same point i am too dump myself to script 😉

We have 4x 3Ds OneTouch 3D Printers… we already printed a lot of complex arch models with it, but it was always some enormous work to be prepared.

what i always do for my projects, i create a seperate 3D Print model.  
its modelled that way it is well printable. it has thickness in order the printer uses optimal material and time. So my result is a big, booled together mesh model, that should not have any holes.

… so now here comes the point where i miss some functionalitys that could make life easyer:  
(…the printers have a 20cmx20cmx25cm print space. wich means we have to cut the Model into pieces. )

- Its like putting a 20x20x25 raster over it and cutting it into cubic selections.
- then we rotate every piece to the ground so that there are most objects in the cube under 45° (… because we print without supporting structure. this is faster, cheaper and if you think well you always finde a position thats optimal for printing… )

so coulnt this be automated? rasterize it, cut it (bool diff), and then analyze it and rotate, export as seperated file and leaving a filename on the floorplan?

some plugin as rhinoNEST but just for 3D printing… and 3D printers always have a limited space… I think some Script, Plugin that cuts, orients and prepares files for print would be useful.

what do you think?

here some footage how we print with no support mat.  
[Printer printing](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=287703334696533&set=vb.393919540689515&type=2&theater)

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**Author:** ![AlW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/alw/32/53821_2.png) [@AlW](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/AlW)\
**Post date:** [January 8, 2014, 7:00pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/3d-printing-tools-for-rhino-bool-analyse-and-turn/5011/2 "2014-01-08T19:00:16Z")

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@stevebaer Deja vu all over again? 😃

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**Author:** ![block3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/block3/32/2624_2.png) [@block3](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/block3)\
**Post date:** [January 8, 2014, 7:03pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/3d-printing-tools-for-rhino-bool-analyse-and-turn/5011/3 "2014-01-08T19:03:45Z")

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i did not find on the search something. just talking of filling edges and stuff.

is there already a topic?

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**Author:** ![AlW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/alw/32/53821_2.png) [@AlW](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/AlW)\
**Post date:** [January 8, 2014, 7:09pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/3d-printing-tools-for-rhino-bool-analyse-and-turn/5011/4 "2014-01-08T19:09:03Z")

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Sorry. Inside joke. Steve is the guy who brought Rhino 2D printing into the 21st century.