Additive Manufacturing > Printing a Model in 3D > To Slice a Model
  
To Slice a Model
The purpose of slicing a model is to create CLI files that contain all the information needed for 3D printing. A CLI file is a format that communicates directly with the 3D printer.
You can slice:
• Models
• Lattice
◦ Lattice types including beam-based, stochastic, formula-driven, user-defined, and lattice that contains transitions
◦ Lattice representations including full b-rep geometry, simplified, and voxelized representations
• Support structures
Define slicing parameters
Define the slicing parameters in one of the following ways:
• On the Creo Parametric Option dialog box:
1. Click File > Options. The Creo Parametric Option dialog box opens.
2. To define slicing parameters, in the left pane, click Additive Manufacturing, and then follow the procedures for setting up slicing parameters in To Set Additive Manufacturing Options.
3. Click OK. The Creo Parametric Option dialog box closes.
• On the 3D Print tab:
1. Click Finalize > Slicing Parameters. The Slicing Parameters dialog box opens.
2. Follow the procedures for setting up slicing parameters in To Set Additive Manufacturing Options.
3. Click OK. The Slicing Parameters dialog box closes.
Set up the lattice penetration
To improve printability and prevent detachment in models that contain lattice, all lattice geometry that is next to a solid wall will include a penetration offset into the wall. The offset only exists in the tray assembly, and not in the model itself. The penetration offset is available for simplified lattice and voxelized lattice representations.
To set up the lattice penetration into the model wall:
1. For models that contain lattice, on the Tray tab, click Preparation > Lattice Penetration. The Penetration and Capping tab opens.
2. Next to Lattice Penetration, type a penetration value in mm.
3. For models that contain beams lattice, select the Terminate beams with spherical cap check box. This places a spherical cap that penetrates the wall at the ends of the beams next to the solid wall.
◦ Circular lattice beams terminate with a capped sphere that has the radius of the beam.
◦ Non-circular lattice beams terminate with a sphere that has a radius that encloses the cross section of the beam.
4. Click Done. You can see the overlapping contours where the lattice penetrates the solid geometry when the Display Slices viewer is open.
Slice the model
Slice the model as part of the procedure for 3D printing. See To Print a Model in 3D Using a Printer.
1. On the 3D Print tab, click Slice.
◦ If more than one CLI file is generated, the Export Zip dialog box opens. All the CLI files produced by the model are saved in a single ZIP file.
◦ If one CLI file is generated, the Export CLI dialog box opens.
2. Type a name for the file next to File name, and click Save.
When the slicing succeeds:
◦ The Display Slices viewer opens.
◦ A CLI file or a ZIP file that contains the CLI files is created in your working folder:
▪ <CLI_name>_B.cli contains the data for the model geometry
▪ <CLI_name>_<feature_name>_L.cli contains the data for the lattice
▪ <CLI_name>_S.cli contains the data for the support structure
 
* If a lattice CLI file is not created for a model that contains beams lattice, redefine the lattice to simplified representation and slice again. See About the Lattice Representation.
3. View the slices, or close the Display Slices viewer and continue with 3D printing.
Display the slices
After you slice the model, you can display the slices. They contain data for the support material, the lattice, and the model. The displayed slice is highlighted.
The slicing viewer is the only place you can see the overlapping contours of the lattice and body structures for the lattice penetration.
1. On the 3D Print tab, click Display slices. The Display Slices viewer opens.
2. Display the slices in any of these ways:
◦ Click the arrows:
▪ —Displays the bottom slice.
▪ —Displays one slice down.
▪ —Displays the slices one after another from the bottom to the top.
▪ —Pauses the slice display.
▪ —Displays one slice up.
▪ —Displays the top slice.
◦ Spin the dial to move up or down through the slices.
◦ Type a slice number next to Slice.
3. Click Close to close the Display Slices viewer.
Load the slices
1. On the 3D Print tab, click Load Slices. The Load Slices dialog box opens.
2. In the Type box, select CLI to show the CLI files, or select ZIP to show the ZIP files.
3. Select one or more CLI files to load, or select one ZIP file to load all the CLI files for the model.
4. Click OK. The Display Slices viewer opens.