# Simple tutorial on how to divide an object in FreeCAD into PrePoMax **URL:** \ **Category:** Tips & Tricks\ **Created:** [February 1, 2026, 1:39pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/simple-tutorial-on-how-to-divide-an-object-in-freecad-into-prepomax/3229 "2026-02-01T13:39:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MisiaKu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e5b9ba/32.png) [@MisiaKu](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/MisiaKu)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2026, 1:39pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/simple-tutorial-on-how-to-divide-an-object-in-freecad-into-prepomax/3229/1 "2026-02-01T13:39:41Z")
For a cuboid to have a cubic net, it must be divided into simple parts. The transfinite gmsh setup can always be defined on solid parts with 5 or 6 faces. Therefore, the division of the cuboid must be different 🙂 I invite you to add to the guide, make corrections, and share your own experiences 🙂 Part 1: ![bitmapa_1](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/0/00a678d15fa6dc3c5427140a004a5dafab9c3079.jpeg) ![bitmapa_2](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/e/eae42cb862afe223d15a3f2524b5e950b4e52bc2.jpeg) ![bitmapa_3](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/1/1e5e7d1e0b1d96e054cfdb0aecd94fde1287b6e8.jpeg) ![bitmapa_4](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/2/23628927b13983500d9627fe1e21e8522473fdf8.jpeg) ![bitmapa_5](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/0/0443f6716468d74e413226d4cc741b30bc7cd668.jpeg) ![bitmapa_6](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/8/85dd1b78a0aeab3c095bf4184f6f46ab2b30ce13.jpeg) ![bitmapa_7](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/c/c3820095e85d5f6759342c3aea30f79c047b0513.jpeg) ![bitmapa_8](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/c/c96114b50262c021c6bb87ee87820ea60ab5cc0a.jpeg) ![bitmapa_9](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/f/f365b413cd095369d39bd1399deb75b645d9ff96.jpeg) ![bitmapa_10](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/5/571053ee37efeb1beda17aeceb05ed5af91dcee0.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![MisiaKu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e5b9ba/32.png) [@MisiaKu](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/MisiaKu)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2026, 1:41pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/simple-tutorial-on-how-to-divide-an-object-in-freecad-into-prepomax/3229/2 "2026-02-01T13:41:32Z")
Part 2: ![bitmapa_11](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/7/75443f0562699c2330fdd6ef44a774c2ca3d1dc1.jpeg) ![bitmapa_12](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/8/8846bb8003890005bdcb056ffeccce1a8aec40cf.jpeg) ![bitmapa_13](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/d/db167d68196c892de7df1eb980fe3579018dfe1e.png) ![bitmapa_14](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/b/b9b64ec57c038705d52791e1ea942b5d05f4859f.jpeg) ![bitmapa_15](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/e/e231f93d78500c97af5f903f3dcd5de1860195ff.jpeg) ![bitmapa_16](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/a/a163bd4d5bd98c9bf0093d311e2e667bb5c05cee.jpeg) ![bitmapa_17](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/9/95a9fe7f1bb18c190733ef85e3ec9f74216624f1.jpeg) ![bitmapa_18](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/b/b5849145753ce687f1684da1cc0d7e1f846bc5e0.jpeg) ![bitmapa_19](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/f/ff665960d988bcbd3c5a70eba568a0a39fa81af3.jpeg) ![bitmapa_20](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/8/8aaec971eedd9f6db63a06bb9a6aeea9f626f028.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![MisiaKu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e5b9ba/32.png) [@MisiaKu](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/MisiaKu)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2026, 1:43pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/simple-tutorial-on-how-to-divide-an-object-in-freecad-into-prepomax/3229/3 "2026-02-01T13:43:23Z")
Part 3: ![bitmapa_21](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/0/047997cf89a4bb405aff2155052708cf9ebc4363.jpeg) ![bitmapa_22](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/c/c5086bf345e75cfa4087515464178cb1716b1464.jpeg) ![bitmapa_23](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/2/2fa5f1aebeef830eefcb1b35337539ba09731a64.jpeg) ![bitmapa_24](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/1/18ac54656f256175897aa7e2a7ebdbb5186c3d47.jpeg) ![bitmapa_25](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/e/ed8e4d716147e97f7d429fd2d4e81f5df5840554.jpeg) ![bitmapa_26](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/0/0fcce37b66585977f8e4e87fa720cf4237453e4c.jpeg) ![bitmapa_27](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/7/75571112dd864b5c0c01a3ebb6c2f21d08d88280.jpeg) ![bitmapa_29](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/4/403adce680fb08c2c83013e736c8b06e8e30d07e.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![MisiaKu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e5b9ba/32.png) [@MisiaKu](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/MisiaKu)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2026, 1:56pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/simple-tutorial-on-how-to-divide-an-object-in-freecad-into-prepomax/3229/5 "2026-02-01T13:56:33Z")
Part 4: Files 🙂 [MODEL.zip](https://prepomax.discourse.group/uploads/short-url/yTHYdvhYxJj2iBYRsdDIy0apZQR.zip) (3.3 MB) ---
**Author:** ![FEAnalyst](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/prepomax.discourse.group/feanalyst/32/688_2.png) [@FEAnalyst](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/FEAnalyst)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2026, 1:57pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/simple-tutorial-on-how-to-divide-an-object-in-freecad-into-prepomax/3229/6 "2026-02-01T13:57:33Z")
So basically just: 1. Part **Extrude** cutting surfaces from a sketch. 2. Use **Explode compound** on the Extrude object. 3. Select the part to divide and the Exploded Extrude subobjects and apply the **Slice apart** tool. Then, of course, export to step and create a compound in PrePoMax. I would still prefer datum planes, but this approach is good too. And you can explode and use multiple extrudes if the sketches have to be made on different planes. ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/4/415d85365f602b427fb4304fdb7919a07fe5eeab.png) ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/7/7257ed9c16b24d92c7d67c0c49d375aa47fef685.png) ---
**Author:** ![MisiaKu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e5b9ba/32.png) [@MisiaKu](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/MisiaKu)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2026, 2:06pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/simple-tutorial-on-how-to-divide-an-object-in-freecad-into-prepomax/3229/7 "2026-02-01T14:06:09Z")
Why is plane cutting better than extrusion? The section plane must be larger than the body. When using sketches, this can be easily forgotten and result in errors in the file. ---
**Author:** ![FEAnalyst](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/prepomax.discourse.group/feanalyst/32/688_2.png) [@FEAnalyst](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/FEAnalyst)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2026, 2:17pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/simple-tutorial-on-how-to-divide-an-object-in-freecad-into-prepomax/3229/8 "2026-02-01T14:17:22Z")
I mean datum (construction) planes. They are treated as infinitely wide and thus can be easily used for cutting: ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/6/6d7206eff2958212ecb09aba4e3d23b036624e38.png) Also, since FreeCAD 1.1, they can be created independently of Part Design Bodies. ---
**Author:** ![MisiaKu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e5b9ba/32.png) [@MisiaKu](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/MisiaKu)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2026, 3:03pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/simple-tutorial-on-how-to-divide-an-object-in-freecad-into-prepomax/3229/9 "2026-02-01T15:03:38Z")
I understood your suggestion. I asked myself why you were doing this and I answered my own question. (translator). I created another fiddly model for training and I can’t mesh it properly. What’s your solution? [MODEL\_3.pmx](https://prepomax.discourse.group/uploads/short-url/vonYmkwyJlgjW8Jxfn9ieupF0Hn.pmx) (2.9 MB) ![3270](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/c/cd7adbf3083b6d85723a45cc886b164d99902a52.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![fatmac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b782af/32.png) [@fatmac](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/fatmac)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2026, 5:29pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/simple-tutorial-on-how-to-divide-an-object-in-freecad-into-prepomax/3229/10 "2026-02-01T17:29:40Z")
i like the extrude with recombine option -one segment does not behave quite as the others do, I may have done something wrong here but i think the solution looks ok otherwise [MODEL\_3Extrude.pmx](https://prepomax.discourse.group/uploads/short-url/t7NDwiD5hrmvSMCPzpqyWtLAhqz.pmx) (139.7 KB) ![ExtrudewithRecombine](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/d/d4001176bbc0cc555ee912fa1aaa7c648ead70d9.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![FEAnalyst](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/prepomax.discourse.group/feanalyst/32/688_2.png) [@FEAnalyst](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/FEAnalyst)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2026, 5:44pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/simple-tutorial-on-how-to-divide-an-object-in-freecad-into-prepomax/3229/11 "2026-02-01T17:44:18Z")
> [@MisiaKu](#): > > I created another fiddly model for training and I can’t mesh it properly. What’s your solution? The transfinite algorithm is meant for volumes having 4 or 6 faces (with 3 or 4 edges each). If you create a compound, it can’t be meshed this way: ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/a/aebfb1b6dca7c2298fead2292b1fa048b2882318.png) So it’s better to only partition the surface and use extrusion or (better) sweep meshing. ---
**Author:** ![FEAnalyst](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/prepomax.discourse.group/feanalyst/32/688_2.png) [@FEAnalyst](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/FEAnalyst)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2026, 5:55pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/simple-tutorial-on-how-to-divide-an-object-in-freecad-into-prepomax/3229/12 "2026-02-01T17:55:10Z")
> [@fatmac](#): > > one segment does not behave quite as the others do, I may have done something wrong here but i think the solution looks ok otherwise The right piece is where the seam edge lies, breaking the curved edge into 2 segments: ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/7/7af9adb7fcc224a35940f271f61ee5e52ef0b2a9.png) You could just delete the parts with seam edges and rotate (with copy) the ones without them: ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/3/339a2a62c8a469da17a8c2bf592362b5e67f8662.png) [MODEL\_3Extrude\_mod.pmx](https://prepomax.discourse.group/uploads/short-url/Crhrsi17lWwA7E2oVCecmPAXaX.pmx) (142.4 KB) ---
**Author:** ![MisiaKu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e5b9ba/32.png) [@MisiaKu](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/MisiaKu)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2026, 7:03pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/simple-tutorial-on-how-to-divide-an-object-in-freecad-into-prepomax/3229/13 "2026-02-01T19:03:19Z")
Thank you for your time and analysis 🙂 I didn’t notice that line. It seems to be the primitive’s direction vector. To avoid any problems, I made a copy of the part and deleted the surfaces adjacent to the redundant line on both solids. Now each solid has fewer than 6 surfaces, and you can use “Transfinite Mesh.” ![3271](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/b/bf32b222d8cde7ee72257fcfbfd060655eec71f7.png) ![3272](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/d/d34134c687329b8664ba64102c89e04f2583b388.png) ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/2/2dcb368e25749437cd9103c845538a2b295645fa.png) ![3274](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/8/8f78fac6cb6196cd7f624ff2102bb97d616be625.png) ![3275](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/6/6f0f370e50d09fd42b87ed1b36c5bbfa4a9b0354.png) ![3276](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/7/7b00960152459f2720f638a263a4a63c882b12ac.png) ![obraz](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/b/be3dbbf762ac44e287fc26f52f15401d74818aec.jpeg) ![3277](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/6/61e5b237af1807863679136ab5dbdbfe5cd383af.jpeg) ![3278](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/2/2c6ef8c19d04baa676cbe9836792cf592023cb1c.jpeg) ![3279](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/6/665e94a003df95a6adedb244991caf00a8bb426b.jpeg) ![3280](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/d/d734ceb7948e1a439aaaf7ba24e30f9b92b33856.jpeg) 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![MisiaKu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e5b9ba/32.png) [@MisiaKu](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/MisiaKu)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2026, 7:04pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/simple-tutorial-on-how-to-divide-an-object-in-freecad-into-prepomax/3229/14 "2026-02-01T19:04:50Z")
My files: [MESH 2.zip](https://prepomax.discourse.group/uploads/short-url/p65Im1ssGiDtxKVit5FWB2gx1kG.zip) (2.4 MB) ---
**Author:** ![MisiaKu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e5b9ba/32.png) [@MisiaKu](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/MisiaKu)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2026, 7:10pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/simple-tutorial-on-how-to-divide-an-object-in-freecad-into-prepomax/3229/15 "2026-02-01T19:10:08Z")
Now I know why I couldn’t use “Transfinite Mesh” for the cuboid. Two lines ruined the model. Thanks again ---
**Author:** ![FEAnalyst](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/prepomax.discourse.group/feanalyst/32/688_2.png) [@FEAnalyst](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/FEAnalyst)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2026, 7:11pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/simple-tutorial-on-how-to-divide-an-object-in-freecad-into-prepomax/3229/16 "2026-02-01T19:11:13Z")
> [@MisiaKu](#): > > I didn’t notice that line. It seems to be the primitive’s direction vector. Seam edges are always generated on the cylindrical surfaces by the OCC geometric kernel. There’s no way to get rid of them other than splitting the surface/volume, deleting the side with a seam edge and mirroring or copying the other side. Sometimes seam edges may cause some trouble with further modeling, but they might be useful as well (if you need an edge in that direction for measurement or something). Btw. PrePoMax has an option to automatically split the cylindrical face opposite to the seam edge so that it can be sweep meshed: ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/6/6f4fd9d1f61526323a4959676b67dc3b255a1d40.png) But this feature may cause some trouble too. ---
**Author:** ![MisiaKu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e5b9ba/32.png) [@MisiaKu](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/MisiaKu)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2026, 7:31pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/simple-tutorial-on-how-to-divide-an-object-in-freecad-into-prepomax/3229/17 "2026-02-01T19:31:15Z")
I didn’t know about this option. Split periodic faces = YES Number of resulting faces = 20 ![obraz](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/c/c9bd3626889bb2573ae44c0112bf9268ca303272.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![FEAnalyst](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/prepomax.discourse.group/feanalyst/32/688_2.png) [@FEAnalyst](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/FEAnalyst)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2026, 7:36pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/simple-tutorial-on-how-to-divide-an-object-in-freecad-into-prepomax/3229/18 "2026-02-01T19:36:14Z")
> [@MisiaKu](#): > > Split periodic faces = YES > Number of resulting faces = 20 The usual setting is 2 just to fulfill the requirements of sweep meshing (all side faces must be 4-sided so a cylindrical surface with a seam edge must be split at least one more time: > [@A new developer/preview PrePoMax version v2.2.3 has been released](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/a-new-developer-preview-prepomax-version-v2-2-3-has-been-released/2142/2): > > The sweep meshing was tested on a couple of examples. All of them could be sweep meshed with appropriate algorithm settings. The user is supposed to select the source surfaces (one or multiple), then the algorithm determines the side surfaces and the target surface (one). Limitations of the algorithm: all side surfaces must be 4-sided surfaces if a side surface is split into multiple 4-sided surfaces that form layers away from the source surfaces, all other side surfaces must be split at the… ---
**Author:** ![MisiaKu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e5b9ba/32.png) [@MisiaKu](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/MisiaKu)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2026, 7:44pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/simple-tutorial-on-how-to-divide-an-object-in-freecad-into-prepomax/3229/19 "2026-02-01T19:44:32Z")
> [@fatmac](#): > > i like the extrude with recombine option -one segment does not behave quite as the others do, I may have done something wrong here but i think the solution looks ok otherwise That’s why I made this post. The problem is solved and you can extrude a nice mesh. ---
**Author:** ![FEAnalyst](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/prepomax.discourse.group/feanalyst/32/688_2.png) [@FEAnalyst](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/FEAnalyst)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2026, 7:52pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/simple-tutorial-on-how-to-divide-an-object-in-freecad-into-prepomax/3229/20 "2026-02-01T19:52:26Z")
Actually, for cylinders, I usually choose this O-grid pattern: ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/2/2fa150663294b95c4b9cb3ca4fb04f80826ed5c0.png) ---
**Author:** ![MisiaKu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e5b9ba/32.png) [@MisiaKu](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/MisiaKu)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2026, 8:08pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/simple-tutorial-on-how-to-divide-an-object-in-freecad-into-prepomax/3229/21 "2026-02-01T20:08:30Z")
Now I’m doing simple tests of what can be done with FreeCAD and PrePoMax so that I won’t be surprised. ![3283](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/8/8a2a26996fe19b94922654b1ec258c74fe201fa6.png) ![3286](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/d/dc7b02681de4225478b7d7a2db083d0e43098769.png) ![3285](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/d/da006c140228d98e0cb6de4b66a700f4819397e8.png) ![3287](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/a/a3d5a3c17bbccc7415cb3799dac64fa2f7599cee.png) ![3288](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/2/20f5a67d7823e3debfc86d18d3ae018e411f58ed.jpeg) ![3289](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/b/b6503001883f363d8454e90a5460d63079e0ef54.jpeg) ![3290](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/0/0a7fe92d03caa375025432971386b8a5fac95eb9.jpeg) ![3291](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/1/16ef8d1e2510359f92ec22cba5d4e43c3b0a6733.jpeg) [Next page](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/simple-tutorial-on-how-to-divide-an-object-in-freecad-into-prepomax/3229.md?page=2)