1 - What is Split3r ?
Split3r is a standalone software that automatically splits large STL files into smaller, interlocking parts that can be printed on standard desktop 3D printers. It is not a slicer but works alongside your favorite slicer (PrusaSlicer, Orca, BambuStudio, Elegoo Slicer, ArtillerySlicer, Cura, etc.) by preparing print-ready files optimized for your printer’s build volume.
2 - Does Split3r replace my slicer?
No. Split3r is designed to complement your slicer, not replace it. You use Split3r to split and prepare oversized models, and then import the resulting STL parts into your preferred slicer for printing.
3 - What is your update policy?
When you purchase a version of Split3r, you receive 6 months of updates (bug fixes and minor improvements).
Blocking/critical bugs discovered after this window will still be fixed free of charge.
Major future versions are paid upgrades, priced reasonably and aligned with current market rates (no subscription).
4 - What technical support do you provide?
Standard Support (included)
Email-only assistance. Scope: installation issues, usage questions, and reproducible bugs.
Not included: training, consulting, or manual repair of severely degraded files that cannot be fixed automatically.
Professional Support (pay-as-you-go)
No subscription: purchase a support balance, time spent is deducted from it.
Guaranteed first response within 8 hours after ticket submission.
Communication via email/remote.
Include advanced geometry repair when automatic fixes are not sufficient (within technical limits): non-watertight meshes, inverted normals, duplicate faces, self-intersections, non-manifold edges/vertices, zero-area triangles, open boundaries, inconsistent winding, intersecting shells.
5 - What file formats can I import into Split3r?
Supported file formats
STL : Standard mesh format for 3D printing.
OBJ : Wavefront mesh (geometry only; no materials/textures used).
s3r : Split3r’s native project format.
About .s3r : Saves the 3D geometry and all project data: cutting planes, printer/profile settings, and parameters.
Designed for reliability: pause, save, reload, and resume any slicing project without re-setup.
With the Add-ons, you can open STEP and 3MF files.
6 - macOS version of Split3r ?
Our Operating system policy is that one:
Operating System Support
Split3r is developed in Python and C++, with full cross-platform compatibility in mind: Windows, Linux, and macOS.
However, to ensure stability and focus during the final development phase, we will roll out support in stages:
Windows 10 & 11 : The Beta (End of October 2025) and official release (December 2025) will run on Windows 10 and 11 only.
macOS : A Mac version is under development. However, we want to be transparent: our team has limited experience on macOS. We began porting to Mac OS on November 15 (M series, not INTEL series), but the libraries we use behave differently on Mac than on Windows and Linux. We can’t provide a firm release date other than the first quarter of 2026.
It will require some extra development and testing time to ensure full compatibility and a smooth user experience.
We’ll keep our community informed throughout the process, and we’re committed to expanding platform support as quickly and reliably as possible.
7 - Linux Version of Split3r ?
Not yet for the beta !
A Linux build is planned, one of our developers works on Linux and the codebase has run on Linux internally from the start. For the beta phase we focused on Windows to reduce duplicate and OS-specific bugs.
What to expect next:
The Linux versions will follow once the Windows version is available, in the first quarter of 2026.
We aim to support mainstream distributions (e.g., recent Ubuntu/Debian/Fedora). Packaging details (AppImage/DEB/RPM) will be announced at release.
Feature parity with the Windows version is the goal.
If you’d like to be notified when Linux builds are available, tell us and we’ll add you to the update list.
8 - Split3r on Virtual Machines ?
We don’t support VMs. Please run Split3r on bare-metal Windows.
Why not?
Graphics reliability. Split3r relies on hardware-accelerated 3D (OpenGL) and precise GPU drivers. Most VMs abstract or downgrade the GPU stack, which leads to rendering glitches, missing features, crashes, and false bug reports we can’t reproduce on real hardware.
Driver quirks. VM GPU drivers often lack full OpenGL extensions, have different shader compilers, or throttle resources-breaking features that work fine on native systems.
Performance & timing. Real-time rendering and geometry processing are sensitive to latency. Hypervisors introduce timing jitter that can cause freezes, stutter, or timeouts.
File I/O layers. Shared folders (e.g., \vmshare, 9p, Virtio-FS) can corrupt or slow large mesh reads/writes and temp files used during slicing.
What about specific products (Parallels, VMware, VirtualBox, WSLg, etc.)?
Some users manage to launch the app, but we cannot guarantee stability, rendering correctness, or performance. Issues reported from VMs will be considered “out of scope” unless they are reproducible on physical hardware.
Recommended setup:
Windows 10/11 on physical hardware with a recent GPU and vendor drivers, 32Gb RAM for large STL files, SSD.
If you must virtualize for other reasons, use a dedicated machine for Split3r or consider dual-boot. Advanced users may try PCIe GPU passthrough (VFIO)—still unsupported.
Support policy
We only investigate bugs reproduced on bare-metal systems. If you contact support, please confirm you’re not running inside a VM.
9 - How does the licensing system work?
Since the Kickstarter we’ve simplified licensing: there’s no longer any need to manually activate/deactivate licenses on specific PCs, and you’re allowed to install Split3r on more than two computers under one license.
Install on multiple computers : You can install Split3r on several PCs, several OS under one license (Windows now, Linux, and macOS will be supported).
One active PC per license : At any time, only one computer may be active on that license.
Auto-close rule : When a computer becomes active (launches Split3r, runs slicing/processing, exports, or saves), it acquires the license. Any other open instance on the same license will automatically close with a notice.
Switching machines : To avoid interruptions, please quit Split3r on PC A before starting work on PC B.
Need concurrency? : If you want two machines processing at the same time, you’ll need an additional license.
Internet connectivity : The PC must be connected to the internet for license verification. A short grace period allows limited offline use, once the grace period ends, reconnect to continue working.
10 - Will there be a floating or network license for teams or schools?
Yes. With the new licensing model, all licenses are floating.
How it works: A license = one concurrent active PC. You can install Split3r on many machines (Windows, Linux, macOS). When one machine becomes active (launch, slicing, export, save), it occupies a seat, other open instances on the same license will auto-close with a notice.
Teams & schools: Purchase as many seats as you need (e.g., 10 seats ⇒ up to 10 PCs active at the same time across your organization). Deploy widely in labs or offices; concurrency is the only limit.
Serverless for you: No on-prem server required. Split3r checks license status online.
Offline use: An internet connection is required, with a short grace period for temporary offline work. Reconnect to renew the grace period.
Switching machines: Quit on PC A before starting on PC B to avoid interruptions.
Scaling up: Add seats anytime to increase your concurrent limit.
11 - My company blocks all internet outbound connections. Can I use Split3r?
Not with the standard edition (it requires periodic online license checks).
However, we do offer enterprise options for restricted networks:
On-prem floating licensing: Run a local license service inside your network, no internet needed for clients.
Offline (air-gapped) licensing: Node-locked seats activated with signed license files, renewal handled via email/file exchange only.
If this fits your environment, contact us and we’ll propose the best setup for you:
sales@split3r.com
To speed things up, please include: number of seats, OS mix (Windows/Linux/macOS), whether machines are fully air-gapped, and your preferred model (on-prem server vs. offline files).
12 - Will there be a free trial version?
Yes! After the release of December, A 15-day trial version will be available for download, so you can test Split3r’s functionality before purchasing.
13 - Why did you choose Blender for cutting operations instead of developing your own libraries?
While cutting and boolean operations may seem simple in theory, handling real-world STL files reliably is much more complex. Models often contain imperfections that can easily break custom-made geometry libraries.
Blender is a more comprehensive solution than a minimal cutting kernel, but it provides a very robust and well-tested geometric engine. It offers precise boolean operations, advanced surface processing, and reliable import/export capabilities.
Every technical choice has pros and cons. By using Blender, we gain access to hundreds of stable geometric tools that have been proven over many years.
For example, tenon imprints can be generated using any custom STL shape. Blender handles the geometry, allowing maximum flexibility without adding complex, fragile code on our side.
This approach lets us focus on stability, flexibility, and workflow rather than reimplementing low-level geometry algorithms.
14 - How is Split3r different from LuBan?
While LuBan offers features for splitting models and a ton of other extra features, Split3r goes much further in terms of splitting parts and focuse on part spliting only:
- Simple, Intuitive Interface : No CAD Skills Required
- Automatic build volume detection (per printer profile).
- Intelligent cutting optimized for printability.
- Customizable tenons
- Real-time 3D preview of cuts and joints.
- Designed with professional use and multi-printer farms in mind.
Important information for our Split3r Backers and Customers
We would like to clarify that Split3r and LuBan are two completely independent software programmes.
The offer currently mentioned by LuBan is neither linked to nor endorsed by our team or the official Kickstarter campaign.
Our Split3r project continues to evolve with its own vision, innovative tools and community of committed makers.
Thank you to everyone who has supported us from the beginning, it is thanks to you that we are building the next generation of cutting software for 3D printing.
15 - Split3r" is a strange name, why is the “te” replaced by a 3?
It’s a small nod and a tribute to one of the most iconic tools in the 3D printing field: Slic3r, created in 2011 by Alessandro Ranellucci.
Slic3r was later adopted and improved by Prusa Research, leading to the creation of PrusaSlicer, a modern, powerful slicer that became the foundation for many others.
Today, most popular slicers such as OrcaSlicer, Bambu Studio, Elegoo Slicer, SuperSlicer, Artillery Slicer... are direct descendants or forks of PrusaSlicer, which is a fork of Slic3r.
