Assembly and alignment
3D Print Connectors for Split Parts
3D print connectors help separated parts line up during assembly. Split3MF can plan round, square, or triangular pins on cut faces when there is enough area, and can export a small clearance test before the final print.
When connectors help
Alignment pins are useful for figurines, props, and large models cut into several parts. They can reduce guesswork at the seam, but they do not replace glue, a strong joint design, or a test fit. Faces that are too small, thin, uneven, or pressed-in may not have room for a connector.
Choose a connector setup
- Separate dowels: holes are placed on both sides and the 3D print connectors print as separate parts.
- Pegs: one piece grows a pin while the other receives a matching hole.
- Round, square, or triangular shapes can control rotation when a single round pin would turn.
- Diameter, depth, clearance, and pin area can be adjusted before applying the plan.
Print the clearance test first
The built-in test has five holes with different clearances and one pin. Print it with the material and profile you plan to use, then choose the tightest hole the pin enters by hand. Use that measured fit instead of assuming a universal clearance value.
Access and export
Connectors are marked as a Pro tool and the advanced project download follows the current plan rules. Plain STL and 3MF exports remain governed by the same download gate shown in the tool.
Add 3D print connectors after splitting
Use 3D print connectors after the main cut is stable and both pieces have a clear mating face. The connector tool can place round, square, or triangular pins and matching holes on suitable faces. 3D print connectors are useful for large figurines, props, and models that need repeatable alignment during glue-up, but they cannot rescue a seam with too little surface area.
Plan 3D print connectors after you split 3MF into parts, not before. A later change to the seam can move the face, change the available area, or make a pin collide with a thin wall. If the model was split by color, inspect the color boundary first; if it was cut to fit a printer, check that the connector still fits the new orientation.
Choose a connector that matches the joint
- Use separate dowels when both pieces should have holes and the 3D print connectors should print independently.
- Use a peg and hole when one piece can carry the pin and the other needs a matching socket.
- Use a square or triangular profile when the joint must resist rotation and the 3D print connectors need a keyed shape.
- Print the clearance test for 3D print connectors with the same material and profile as the final parts.
- Dry-fit before glue and leave room for sanding, elephant foot, and the actual tolerance of your printer when you use 3D print connectors.
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