Unusable "Lay Flat" Function
I am a Cura/Creality Refugee. I have been using Prusa Slicer since I built my MK4S early this year. I am beginning to get used to the interface except for the function to lay objects flat on the bed. I can struggle for quite a while trying to get an object that is mostly flat just to sit down on the bed so I can slice it. In Cura this is easy. You get it close and the "lay flat" function just assumes the obvious orientation and lays it flat on the bed.
Prusa has this weird non-intuitive interface with green splotches appearing all over the object and clicking on a splotch orients the object in some random way, often not even perpendicular to the bed. It is extremely frustrating.
Is their a hack that you can use that behaves in an intelligent manner and just lays the object hovering above the bed flat in an obvious way?
The 'splotches' indicate locally flat planes between the high spots on each possible face. If clicking one of them doesn't lay flat then it indicates that some point on that side is outside the apparent plane. Occasionally CAD generates unprintably microscopic artefacts in odd places (Blender if not setup for 3D printing, very old versions of OpenSCAD, some AI assisted in-phone sculpting software.) One workaround is to use the cut function and discard the invisible part.
If you would like us to take a look at your part then export a .3mf from the slicer, zip it and post it here.
Cheerio,
RE: Unusable "Lay Flat" Function
Any specific example? Post the 3mf so we can see what's going on. The Lay Flat function is one of the simplest and most reliable one (as opposed to say, trying to draw a straight seam line…)
Formerly known on this forum as @fuchsr -- https://foxrun3d.com/
RE: Unusable "Lay Flat" Function
Here is a brief demo video of using the Place on Face tool in PrusaSlicer. When you click the button for this tool with your object selected, multiple white areas will appear on the model. Clicking on one of these will place that face onto the bed. Rather than automatically placing it, it allows you to choose the best orientation for your model, as the software would not always achieve the ideal orientation.
RE: Unusable "Lay Flat" Function
I have had the problems multiple times, but the latest example is trying to slice a lithophane frame generated by a Bambu tool Make My Lithophane
File attached
RE: Unusable "Lay Flat" Function
Please don't use attach file under the post, use add media or just paste links directly.
See my GitHub and printables.com for some 3d stuff that you may like.
RE: Unusable "Lay Flat" Function
??
Somebody asked me to attach the source file (which I did). The add media only works for pictures.
RE: Unusable "Lay Flat" Function
Attaching 3mf files using "Attach file " is perfectly fine. However, you *have* to compress the 3mf file into a zip file first (right-click on it to find that option). If you don't do that, the forum software will silently reject it, as it likes a zip file more than its 3mf brother ☹️ . Which seemed to have happened as there's no file attached to your post. We've complained about that for years, to no avail...
Formerly known on this forum as @fuchsr -- https://foxrun3d.com/
RE: Unusable "Lay Flat" Function
Looks like my video did not embed properly, here is the link:
RE: Unusable "Lay Flat" Function
Ok here is an attempt to post the file in question as a zip (way below the limit)
RE: Unusable "Lay Flat" Function
Ok here is an attempt to post the file in question as a zip (way below the limit)
Which face are you aiming to lay on the print sheet? It seems like it'll need a lot of support whichever face you choose, and the native orientation seems as good as any. If you're trying to lay it on its back, Prusaslicer isn't finding a plane that corresponds to back face due to the presence of the stand and its hinge. If that is what you're aiming to do (that's only a guess, based on the fact that the 'place on face' option would appear to work well on any of the other five faces) then I'd suggest you could simply start from the supplied orientation and tilt it backwards 90 degrees with the rotate tool, using the tick marks as 'snap to' angles.
RE: Unusable "Lay Flat" Function
Thanks for posting the 3mf. Not sure what problem you're seeing with the lay flat function. You can click on all the sides, or the open top to lay it flat. Backside doesn't work due to the hinge.
More importantly, I don't understand how this object is supposed to be printed, without significant use of supports. And you have the gap between stand and back to deal with. If I had to design this, I'd have separate parts for the main body, the stand, and the hinge, and glue/press-fit it together. Curious if others have any good ideas but I don't think you're going to have much joy with this model. Original orientation is probably the best but I wouldn't hold my breath.
Formerly known on this forum as @fuchsr -- https://foxrun3d.com/
RE: Unusable "Lay Flat" Function
This particular .3mf was actually printed with supports in a vertical position (bottom edge of the frame on the bed). Wasted a whole lot of filament on the supports. Now I have to print a resized version. I got it to lay flat easier this time although it still had a bunch of weird splotches. Printing vertically with organic supports / lightening infill
