Available in Pro and Premium versions
About #
The Inline support is a versatile tool that adds extra features to the manual support workflow.
You can place a series of supports between two selected supports, along a straight line. The newly created supports will have a constant spacing that can be customized. The process can also be performed quickly through a hotkey.
It’s perfect to create organized support structures for models like molds, product design models, dental models, jewelry designs, or figure bases.
Usage constraints #
- The tool will always try to find the shortest path between the two selected supports.
- Try to place the part you want to support in front of the camera and avoid extreme angles or having parts of the model blocking the view.
- It is advised to divide the path into multiple steps for complex shapes. It’s faster to do several steps than to try a complex path in one go.
- The distance defined between two supports within the tool is indicative. The tool places the supports so that the distance between them is constant. If, for example, you enter 3mm, it could be that the distance is 3.2mm so that the spacing remains constant between the starting and ending supports.
- The online support tool will only place supports if it is possible. It is likely that depending on the path to be taken, some supports cannot be created, in which case a red sphere will represent them.
- By default, the inline support tool only works within continuous 3D surfaces. If you define an end position on another surface that is discontinuous from the starting one, the supports will only be created on the start surface. However, by using a specific hotkey while using the tool, you can force it to add supports on all the surfaces of the same model, whatever it is composed of one or multiple surfaces.
Usage #
The tool is located in the Layout workspace in the Support tool at the bottom of the Manual tab.
The tool can be used in two different ways, either by holding down the Shift key when creating the supports, or by making a selection of several supports in advance.
Using the Shift key shortcut:
- In the tool options, set the interval distance.
- Create the first support with the left click.
- Press and hold the shift key.
- As you move the mouse over the model, you will preview the supports placement.
- Left-click to create the new supports.
Using the Ctrl + Shift key shortcut:
This specific combination of hotkeys lets you add supports all across the different surfaces of the same model.
- In the tool options, set the interval distance.
- Create the first support with the left click.
- Press and hold the CTRL+ Shift keys.
- As you move the mouse over the model, you will preview the supports placement around the model.
- Left-click to create the new supports.
Without using the CTRL key on the left, and with the right
Using a selection of multiple supports:
- Select two or more supports first. If you click more than two, the tool will create the support following the order of supports you selected.
- In the tool options, set the interval distance.
- Press the Generate from Selection button at the bottom of the tool palette.
- It will add support between the selected bases, following the selected supports order.
Additional information #
- You can use CTRL + Z to cancel the last action, change the interval and repeat the action if needed. There is no way to change the interval in real-time or after using the tool.
- If you have a single support selected, you can start using the shift shortcut to create a new raw. No need to create a support first.
- Again, the tool works best on flat surfaces but you can work on curves if you split the curve into multiple small lines.
- This tool works with the Support painting Max angle feature to keep supports on the same plane. If you are working on a base.
- If you have the Support Painting enabled and start to click and drag with shift pressed, the inline tool won’t work and you will paint new supports.
This way, both can be activated at the same time. - You can use the tool to create support fans.
