Paint-On supports: how to select areas without being able to see them
Hi, probably overseeing some feature here. If this is a duplicate of another thread, my apologies. Could not find anything, though I think somebody else must have bumped into this earlier.
I would like to place a nut during a pause while printing and then cover the nut. Therefore I modelled a "negative space" as placeholder for the nut. Also, I like the autogenerated supports for other parts of the object as it is more efficient than me drawing those lines myself or smart-fill complete areas (adding to the printtime).
So .. all I need to do, is to block supports for the cover part of the nut (marked with red in the attached pic) and press "auto generate supports". Yet I do not know how to select the areas for blocking in Prusa Slicer. AFAIK there is no "transparent view mode" or something I can use to see and select the area.
Up intill now, I was always able to reach such an area as the bolt hole was open on both sides, so with the correct angle I could see and select that area for support blockers. This time one side (the bottom in the pic) is closed so now I have no visual on the area (red arrow represents the visual being blocked by the closed bottom side), hence no idea how to block supports there.
Any help is appreciated...
RE: Paint-On supports: how to select areas without being able to see them
One option is to use your 3D model Generator program to generate modifier blocks to surround the area where you don't want supports, then to save the modifier as a separate STL.
when the model is placed on the build plate in Prusa slicer, right click on the model, in 3D editor View, then choose 'Add Support Blocker > Part'
and import the Support blocker STL, that you created.
this should result in support blocking, exactly where you want.
Or,
In the Support Material Box, choose 'Generate Support Material',
and Unclick'AutoGenerateSupports'
then use the paint on supports option to add supports, only where you want them. 
regards Joan
I try to make safe suggestions,You should understand the context and ensure you are happy that they are safe before attempting to apply my suggestions, what you do, is YOUR responsibility.Location Halifax UK
RE: Paint-On supports: how to select areas without being able to see them
Hi Joan, thank you for your fast response.
I will try your suggestions tonight and get back if this solves the issue for me.
RE: Paint-On supports: how to select areas without being able to see them
So if I understand correctly:
- option 1 basically boils down to export the bolt placeholders from Blender to an STL and import this in PrusaSlicer and mark them as a Support blocker.
- option 2 manually paint where I do want to have supports.
As my results for option 1 are a bit elaborate, let me start with option 2. I love the automatic painting option especially combined with the ability to block certain parts (by painting). It is quite efficient and seems to calculate the minimum amount of supports on the fly. Yet to be able to paint a part, one needs to be able to see that part. And this is where PrusaSlicer seems to miss the addtional functionality. If the visuals are blocked, I can not see the plane I like to paint (to add or block supports does not matter). The rendering of the object is always solid. Simplify model allows to view the wireframe, yet the object remains rendered solid. A translucent or wireframe only view would be beneficial in this this case. Did I miss this somewhere?
So I think I did what you suggested, yet I still get the supports inside the hexnut hole. Let me share the screenshots what I did and please advice where I did something wrong:
STEP1: Import object to be printed in PrusaSlicer .. [OK]
STEP 2: load the hexnuts STL as a support blocker .. [OK]
STEP 3: check if if the hexnuts STL is placed correctly and is typed as "support blocker" .. [OK]
STEP 4:
- autopaint supports .. [OK]
- paint support block on items I can see .. [OK]
- "auto generated supports" is ticket off in the settings .. [OK]
STEP 5: slice the model and the supports should not show up .. [FAIL]
you can clearly see the green (supports) inside the hexnut area.
What did I misunderstood or do wrong?