Tripod Align to Build Plate

Hi, I have a tripod looking model which i would like to place on the build plate using the 3 tips of the tripod legs to locate it on the build plate.
When i use the auto arrange function it places it on its side so i was wondering if its possible to do this.
One other problem is the tips of the ‘tripod’ legs are curved.
The model is a 3 face edge protector
thanks
carl

The auto-arrange feature isn’t really intended for use with a single object, although as you discovered, nothing prevents it. It’s designed to optimize the orientation of multiple objects on the build plate, placing them as close to the center as possible and ideally minimizing head travel—though it doesn’t always succeed at that last part.:wink:

It would really take the guesswork out of your question if you posted a screenshot. But in the absence of that, the tool you want to use is the lay on (F)ace tool.

Once you activate that tool, all the “imaginary” surfaces that the slicer can find will be highlighted. Simply click on the one you want to face the build plate.

Then use the right-click “center” tool to place it in the middle of the plate.

2 Likes

hi, i have just tried the lay on face tool but it only allows me to use one of the tripod legs, this is the part i am trying to stand up on the build plate

Something is not right. Can you share the 3MF file? Or click on the object and click F to show the faces that the slicer has calculated are imaginary surfaces that it has computed. When you clicked F and if you didn’t get this image with white faces, then it may be that your geometry is corrupted. In that case, right-click and repair.

Based on you image, I see no reason why the slicer would not be able to compute an imaginary plane, that is unless as I just mentioned, the STL file has open manifold errors. Your Screengrab was incomplete because that information would have been shown in the bottom right corner. Here’s an example of an open manifold error and the place where you can repair it. If that message does not appear then the problem is elsewhere.

Again, uploading the 3D model and providing full information will yield quicker and better answers.

1 Like

here is the build file many thanks for your help btw
Corner ball protector.3mf (125.5 KB)

Thank you for making the attempt, but apparently Bambu Labs has been corralled by the People’s Republic of China. That 3MF file is now out of my reach because it’s hosted on an Amazon China site. This appears to be a relatively new development, and Bambu is obfuscating their forum links—but it’s clear that our worst fears have been realized: our personal data is now hosted in China. In any case, I can’t access the file.

That link resolved to: https://or-cloud-forum-prod.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com.cn/original/3X/9/7/977c5b4437d330b1de9a3dbd6f4b57edc24e7282.3mf

Which terminates to this Aamazon host behind the PRC’s firewall which is blocked on my network.

If you want to try hosting it elsewhere, perhaps on Google Drive, I’ll gladly take a look. Sorry for the inconvenience but I don’t make the rules, apparently the Communist Party of China does. :angry:

can you see this? ive not used google drive for sharing before

The URL is:
https://or-cloud-forum-prod.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com.cn/original/3X/9/7/977c5b4437d330b1de9a3dbd6f4b57edc24e7282.3mf

But if you just strip off the “.cn” you can download it:
https://or-cloud-forum-prod.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/original/3X/9/7/977c5b4437d330b1de9a3dbd6f4b57edc24e7282.3mf

The error for the .cn version is “NXDOMAIN” which means it can’t be resolved [it’s a DNS issue, not a blocking issue].

I suspect it’s just a misconfiguration on Bambu’s part, perhaps assuming it should end in “.cn” - or maybe China has blocked “.cn” from resolving outside of the US - weird either way.

I was able to do it, without issue, with your model.


Here you go, but you should be able to do this yourself - I didn’t do anything special. I clicked the model, hit “F”, and then clicked the triangle on the bottom between the legs.
Corner ball protector-aligned.3mf (127.2 KB)

Link for outside of China: https://or-cloud-forum-prod.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/original/3X/3/8/38e54ac7c55116284745a49305907dcab4770651.3mf

hi mike, i click the model hit f and i do not see what your screen shot looks like, i dont see the tringle between the legs i am running bambu lab version 2.0.3.54

I am using Bambu Studio 2.1.1.52.

I still have a copy of 2.0 available to me - and it works for me in that version as well. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

bingo! i have just upgraded to 2.1.1.52 and after spinning the model around then typing F i can see what you see, after clicking on the triangle you indicated it sat on the 3 legs.
this is a trial to see how tough i can get these corner protectors to be, they will be bonded to the corners of my overlanding truck habitation box.
many many thanks for all your help, thank you to Olias

one thing to ask you folk, even with a raft i have had no success printing this model, can you run the slicer and see if there is anything obvious? i just get spaghetti

If it were me, I would add supports at the bottom of each foot up to around that nail hole, a brim, and slow down. It’s not attached to the plate well on that orientation. A passing fart could knock those arms off the plate while they’re being built since they’re only held on by a single line.

good advice, i will switch on support
thanks