Applying clipping planes to model manufacturability
By Darla Alvarez
One of the potentially overlooked advantages of using CAD for jewelry design is the ability to examine a piece for manufacturing issues well before prototyping. By dissecting a model prior to 3-D printing or milling, various defects can be caught and rectified before any tangible resources are used!
The best way to do this is by using the “Clipping Plane” command, which creates a cross-sectional view. This creates a visual graphic “layer” that makes it possible to assess and measure the viability of the design. A clipping plane object placed in a build area represents an infinite plane, which is used to slice geometry to give the user cross-section visibility. It slices the object at the point of placement, like cutting through an object with a knife and then looking at the inside.