Slicer Settings for Screw Head Counterbores
 
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rocheros
(@rocheros)
Active Member
Slicer Settings for Screw Head Counterbores

Need some advice for printing counterbores, used to keep screw heads flush with or below the printed surface, aka "countersinking".

The slicer orientation for these holes is flat to the build plate which avoids printing excessive amounts of support for other areas of the part.

I've tried printing these counterbores without supports, but the bridging results are not particularly good, leaving a droopy surface. Printing with supports is better, but not that much better and creates another post-processing task.  

I can workaround the issue by creating a thin, sacrificial surface across the screw hole. This causes PrusaSlicer to make straight bridge lines across the circular void. BUT, this is a time consuming task that I have to do in modeling. Would really like to avoid that if possible. 

Is there a setting I can adjust in PrusaSlicer that will allow for straight bridging across these types of circular structures?

If I haven't explained this clearly enough, perhaps the photo below can do a better job. The two printed parts at the top used the sacrificial layer technique. I just punch through the strands with a screw. The bottom printed part shows the bridging result when models with counterbores are sliced without  supports.

Thanks!

 

 

This topic was modified 3 years ago 2 times by rocheros
Posted : 26/01/2021 1:43 am
Neophyl
(@neophyl)
Illustrious Member
RE: Slicer Settings for Screw Head Counterbores

Simple answer - Not in Prusa Slicer no.

That function is available in Super Slicer though. https://github.com/supermerill/SuperSlicer/releases/tag/2.2.53.4   (that's the stable version, don't download the 2.3.55 versions as they are based on the Prusa Slicer Alphas and so have all the issues the alphas had).

Super Slicer is a fork of Prusa Slicer.  Its laid out a bit differently but it will be familiar if you are familiar with PS.  It has loads more 'experimental' options.  Including many of the asked for ones not in PS (yet).  Basically its like a tinkerers toolbox of PS.

btw if you use the correct support settings in PS the supports will just pop out if you push against them through the hole.  Takes seconds.  If you are using the support defaults you will find them difficult to remove.

The settings you need are under Perimeters & Shell > Advanced.  There's several options relating to perimeters on bridged areas.  One of them automatically just bridges the entire hole. 

Generally though its better to build them into your model, that way any slicer including PS will do it.

Posted : 26/01/2021 7:43 pm
JoanTabb
(@joantabb)
Veteran Member Moderator
RE: Slicer Settings for Screw Head Counterbores

Hi Rocheros
If you model your Nut recesses, like this

Your Nut Pocket should slice like this

and the finished printed result should look a bit like this

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

Posted : 26/01/2021 10:02 pm
rocheros
(@rocheros)
Active Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: Slicer Settings for Screw Head Counterbores

Thanks, Neophyl and Joan for the expert advice!

Some lovely workarounds/solutions you've given me.

Greatly appreciated!

--Steve

Posted : 27/01/2021 1:30 am
towlerg
(@towlerg)
Noble Member
RE: Slicer Settings for Screw Head Counterbores

Oh Joan, what a great solution.

Posted : 28/01/2021 12:32 pm
JoanTabb
(@joantabb)
Veteran Member Moderator
RE: Slicer Settings for Screw Head Counterbores

@towlerg

Thank you, 
It was something passed on to me, by Murathan at Zaribo. 

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

Posted : 29/01/2021 1:56 am
Sam
 Sam
(@sam-7)
New Member
RE: Slicer Settings for Screw Head Counterbores

@JoanTabb this goes into more detail about what you were talking about: https://hackaday.com/2020/05/17/look-ma-no-support-for-my-floating-holes/

Posted : 22/08/2021 1:33 pm
JoanTabb
(@joantabb)
Veteran Member Moderator
RE: Slicer Settings for Screw Head Counterbores

Thanks Sam

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

Posted : 27/10/2022 4:14 pm
Tunji Kusimo
(@tunji-kusimo)
Active Member
RE:

I thought this was cool and I've been meaning to make a template for this.

(The feature/sketch count can be optimized I just slapped this together to see what kind of results it could produce)

It looks terrible in the photo but upon inserting the nut and torquing it there was very little compression from those initial bridging layers.

Another thing that helps is inserting a modifier part into prusaslicer and setting the volume between the nut and screw head to 100% infill. When you're trying to position/size this modifier object use part manipulation coordinate input (bottom left) to quickly position these on a part with a lot of screw holes.

 

This post was modified 1 year ago by Tunji Kusimo
Posted : 27/10/2022 6:09 pm
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