Any way to change the default position for a new object?
 
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jweaver
(@jweaver)
Honorable Member
Any way to change the default position for a new object?

I have a blister in the middle of one my beds, and when I am printing lots of new objects, i keep forgetting to move them and they end up in the middle. This is especailly an issue when I am designing an object and doing lots of 'test' prints.. I keep opening/slicing/printing them and each time forgetting to move it off the middle of the bed.

I have always wondered if there is a feature to change (or even randomize) the default location of an object when you open it?

I read that Prusa are looking at adding something like this in firmware, but for now I would be happy to have a similar feature in Slicer.

I get there is a workaround (i.e move the object) manually, but I just want to do this automatically.

Posted : 20/05/2021 2:41 pm
jweaver
(@jweaver)
Honorable Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: Any way to change the default position for a new object?

I am pretty sure this doesn't exist, so I have but a Feature Request on Github

https://github.com/prusa3d/PrusaSlicer/issues/6537

Posted : 20/05/2021 3:13 pm
bobstro
(@bobstro)
Illustrious Member
RE: Any way to change the default position for a new object?
Posted by: @jweaver

[...] I read that Prusa are looking at adding something like this in firmware, but for now I would be happy to have a similar feature in Slicer.

I get there is a workaround (i.e move the object) manually, but I just want to do this automatically.

Agreed 100% that this belongs in the slicer. See my discussion in the other thread about one of the dev's suggestion that part placement be selected based on a user-provided bitmap. That way, you'd get visual confirmation in your slicer preview before sending the gcode.

 

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Posted : 20/05/2021 3:58 pm
jweaver
(@jweaver)
Honorable Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: Any way to change the default position for a new object?
Posted by: @bobstro
Posted by: @jweaver

[...] I read that Prusa are looking at adding something like this in firmware, but for now I would be happy to have a similar feature in Slicer.

I get there is a workaround (i.e move the object) manually, but I just want to do this automatically.

Agreed 100% that this belongs in the slicer. See my discussion in the other thread about one of the dev's suggestion that part placement be selected based on a user-provided bitmap. That way, you'd get visual confirmation in your slicer preview before sending the gcode.

 

I like the idea of being able to mark areas of the bed as unusable.. Thats something I didn't consider in my feature request.. But I still want the object load into a random position on the bed, to stop other blisters from forming due to overuse of the same spot.

So I think there is room for BOTH features and hope the devs consider adding them.

 

Posted : 20/05/2021 4:03 pm
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(@)
Illustrious Member
RE: Any way to change the default position for a new object?

@jweaver

Maybe I'm missing something. How hard is it to drag the part over a few cm to dodge a bad spot?  Also - most CAD tools have the ability to define the part origin. And that is what Slicer uses to place a part when it loads. Just change the origin in the part you don't want Slicer to center on the bed. 

This post was modified 4 years ago by --
Posted : 20/05/2021 8:44 pm
jweaver
(@jweaver)
Honorable Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: Any way to change the default position for a new object?
Posted by: @tim-2

@jweaver

Maybe I'm missing something. How hard is it to drag the part over a few cm to dodge a bad spot?  Also - most CAD tools have the ability to define the part origin. And that is what Slicer uses to place a part when it loads. Just change the origin in the part you don't want Slicer to center on the bed. 

Not hard at all.. but i keep forgetting.. and by the time i realise i either have to let it print or cancel the print and start again,

Why does it matter how hard it is.. this is software, so why not let make it as easy to use as possible… and personally i have never like the fact that object open in the middle of the bed, on top of each other.

Posted : 20/05/2021 9:03 pm
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 --
(@)
Illustrious Member
RE: Any way to change the default position for a new object?

@jweaver

I agree at some level; but designing a set of parts all with an origin of 0,0 and then later complaining the slicer loads them all at 0,0 is -- well -- funny? lol. And there is the ARRANGE ALL button that makes quick work of the 0,0 irony.

What would help me more is simple alignment tools. Something to center a cylinder modifier with a part, or to align parts in a row. Nothing complex, TinkerCAD level alignment that deals with centers and edges.

Looking forward, trying to align a modifier to the center of a hole so I can add extra perimeters is a chore - but a bit beyond the scope of the tool today because there are other more pressing issues. But as a feature for future development, sure. I should probably step over to github and see if anyone's put in a request.

I guess tossing out ideas and seeing what sticks is all we have, and I shouldn't be as resistant to those new ideas as I am. 

Posted : 20/05/2021 9:21 pm
jweaver
(@jweaver)
Honorable Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: Any way to change the default position for a new object?
Posted by: @tim-2

@jweaver

I agree at some level; but designing a set of parts all with an origin of 0,0 and then later complaining the slicer loads them all at 0,0 is -- well -- funny? lol. And there is the ARRANGE ALL button that makes quick work of the 0,0 irony.

I want to explain exactly why this has been a problem. .I am currently designing a range of tool holders for my garage.. To get the design right, I have been breaking the model down into single tiny part of the overall design just to get the fit exactly right.

So for example, I have made a screwdriver holder which takes 6 drivers.. But rather than print the whole thing over and over, I have focused on each slot, and printed it many times making tiny modifications until it fits the screwdriver perfectly.

So my cycle is modify/open/slice/export/print... And I am ofter doing this 10s of times for each model. This means I end up printing in the same spot. Most of the time I remember to move the piece before printing.. But I have forgotten too many times when I have been rushing to get the next iteration printed and tested.

So I have ended up printing a single small object in the middle of the bed over and over and over...

All I asked was that they add an OPTIONAL feature ot "load" and object in a different part of the bed each time.. But it looks like this was raised before (years ago) and Prusa have no interest in fixing it, so this discussion is dead:

#320

This post was modified 4 years ago by jweaver
Posted : 21/05/2021 8:10 am
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