Place parts above the print bed.
Hello everybody!
I was wondering if it's at all possible to raise a part above the print bed so that it is entirely supported by support materials? I'm printing miniatures and some of them (or parts of in a split mini) have no flat surface. In other slicers, I orient the part to get a good print and then simply raise the part 1-2 mm above the bed and generate supports under the part. This gives me good results, but I'd much prefer using the PrusaSlicer software. It's just plain better IMO.
If it's not possible, any way to create a request for the feature?
RE: Place parts above the print bed.
I just played around with it and I see you're right - the software snaps the part down to the print bed if you try to position it floating above. Then I rotated the part so that a small curved surface was down and only a tiny point on that surface was on the bed and I got supports everywhere else. Isn't that you want?
Alternatively, perhaps you could model a tiny stick of material protruding from your part and put the end of that stick down on the bed. Removing that stick later would be about the same as removing supports from your part.
RE: Place parts above the print bed.
Slicer works on the principle that some part of the model has to touch the print bed. After all you can't print something in mid air. There are requests over on Github for that to be changed but in the meantime there are a few tricks you can do.
You could do what Jeff suggested above as that will work to a large degree. However it is possible to get around the place to bed limitation by doing the following.
If you import a model , say a mouse ear (thin circular disc), basically ANY model no matter how small and place to the bed as normal. The right click on the model you just placed and select 'Add Part'. You can then load in another model and place it wherever you want, including in mid air. Of course without supports it wont print but you can now place as many other models/parts as you would like and move them around. Basically when you add them that way they are part of a group of objects and as long as some part touches you can adjust as needed.
RE: Place parts above the print bed.
What you are looking for is a RAFT ... and Plicer has that capability. In support materials, just set the number of layers you want as a raft and you are done.
Hello. I am trying to print a gyroscope. The problem is that the inner parts can't be printed at the plate level. I don't fins the way to put a different raft for each part. Check the images (normal view and bottom view):
RE: Place parts above the print bed.
Hi David, the original files on Thingiverse have a top part and a bottom part, maybe you are supposed to print on the flat sides and glue afterwards
?
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: Place parts above the print bed.
Or you could try>>>>>
as long as you set support from build plate only, the support removal should be relatively easy
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: Place parts above the print bed.
Or you could try>>>>>
as long as you set support from build plate only, the support removal should be relatively easyregards Joan
Hi David, the original files on Thingiverse have a top part and a bottom part, maybe you are supposed to print on the flat sides and glue afterwards
?
Yes! The Thingiverse files also contain top and bottom. But I like the print-in-place things without glue...
Thank you very much for making the effort of testing in PS. I suppose that you used the "add part into model" function that I discovered yesterday. I've tried in horizontal position, with "support only in plate" and PS let me slice! I'll print later. Thank you!
RE: Place parts above the print bed.
YOU ARE THE MAN