Making an articulated 3D figure used to mean manually cutting the model, building every connector, and dealing with a lot of trial and error. Hi3D Studio turns that into a much faster workflow.
In this tutorial, I use Fred Flintstone as the working example and walk through the complete process—from generating the model to preparing the separated parts inside Bambu Studio.
Control the segmentation
After generating the figure from front, back, right, and left reference images, I open Hi3D’s Split-to-Print tools and create a segmentation mask.
Instead of letting the automatic option make every decision, I use the professional controls to merge the color-coded regions myself. This lets me keep the hands connected to the arms, the feet connected to the legs, the hair connected to the head, and other areas grouped exactly how I want them printed.
The Explode view helps reveal tiny floating fragments that were hidden from the original camera angle. I merge those pieces into the correct parts, then use Fill Face to make the model solid and watertight before adding connectors.
Ball joints or pin joints?
Ball joints work well when you want movement in multiple directions. I use one between the head and torso so the head can be repositioned naturally.
For the arms, I prefer pin connectors. They fit more snugly and hold a chosen arm position better than a loose ball joint. If a connector pokes through a thin part of the model, switching connector types or directions can produce a cleaner result.
Finish the model in Bambu Studio
Before exporting, turn off Explode view so the model exports in its assembled position. I export the finished model as a 3MF, open it in Bambu Studio, and repair the AI-generated mesh immediately.
From there, I rename the pieces, arrange matching colors together, separate parts onto the correct build plates, rotate them as needed, and use Align to Bottom so everything sits properly on the plate.
The result is a segmented, articulated figure that is ready for multicolor setup and printing—without manually designing every joint from scratch.
Watch the complete tutorial on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLJrHhPc1go