Question: Pure 'Hole' mode for heat-set inserts (without outer boss)

[danyvanimpe-lab]

Hi ,First of all, thanks for adding the new Enclosure Parts in v1.140.0!
I’ve been testing the new Screw Boss feature, but it’s very possible that the issue is on my end and I’m just missing or misunderstanding the exact workflow you had in mind for it.

When I try to use the Screw Boss as a "Hole" inside an existing mass/block that I already modeled, it cuts away the outer wall cylinder as well, leaving an unexpected ridge/ring in the material instead of a clean, blind insert cavity.

In my workflow, I often draw custom standoffs or solid blocks first and then want to cut out just the internal hole for a heat-set insert (M2, M3, etc.).
Is the Screw Boss meant strictly as a standalone additive standoff pillar (Solid), or is there a way to use it purely as a subtractive insert hole? If not, would it make sense to add a toggle or option for a "Subtractive Insert" mode that only generates the insert hole mesh itself? Thanks again for all the effort you put into Layerling!Best regards,Dany

[henmedia]

@danyvanimpe-lab you understood it right: the screw boss is a solid post with its hole in it. Set to Hole, the whole post cuts, so you get that ring with a core left standing in it. A screw boss that only cuts its insert hole is already planned by @marcus040473, who built the enclosure parts.

Until then, for a clean insert hole in a block you already have, use a cylinder set to Hole with the insert's sizes. For M3: 4.0 mm wide and 6.7 mm deep, a millimetre deeper than the 5.7 mm insert. The Size list of the screw boss shows the hole and insert length for each size, so you can take the numbers from there. Group the cylinder with the block and the cavity is there.

[henmedia]

@danyvanimpe-lab a screw boss set as a hole now cuts only its insert pocket, as wide and deep as the size list says. It is out in layerling 1.141.0.

[danyvanimpe-lab]

Hi Stefan ,
First of all, a huge thank you for the fast update in v1.141.0!
The subtractive Screw Boss works perfectly now and saves so much time.
I really appreciate how quickly you implemented this! While working on a project, I bumped into another small workflow detail regarding placement.

I am building an enclosure where the corner pillars sit lower (e.g. 2 mm recessed) than the outer rim.
Currently, to place subtractive insert holes into recessed pillars, the process takes quite a few steps:
1 Insert the hole shapes (they initially land at the highest Z-plane of the outer rim).
2 Change the Snap Grid to 0.1 mm for precise positioning.
3 Group the insert holes and manually lower them using Ctrl + Down Arrow until the top of the hole is exactly flush with the pillar's top face.
4 Finally group everything together.

A small idea for the future (if feasible): I don't know how complex this would be to program, so please consider this purely as a gentle suggestion!
Would it ever be possible to add an option or button (like "Drop to Face" or "Snap Cutout to Surface"), where the top of a subtractive hole automatically snaps flush to the selected top surface of a pillar/block? That would eliminate the manual Z-adjustment and grid tweaking entirely.

Thanks again for all your amazing work on Layerling!

Best regards,Dany

[henmedia]

@danyvanimpe-lab glad the screw boss works for you now, Dany! The flush placement is there already, with Shift:

• New hole: hold Shift while you place it from the library over the pillar's top face. It sinks in, its top flush with the face.
• Holes already placed: select them, press C and move over the pillar's top face while holding Shift, then click. They stay upright with their tops flush with that face, several at once keeping their spacing.
• Or with Align: select the pillar and the holes, press L, click the pillar first so it stays put, then the top point. All tops line up with the pillar's.

No grid change or arrow keys needed. Here is the chapter.

[danyvanimpe-lab]

Wow, thanks for pointing that out! I completely missed that functionality.

With the sheer amount of updates and additions rolling out so quickly lately, it's easy to miss some of these great features. I really appreciate you taking the time to explain the Shift placement and Align (L) shortcuts—that is going to save me so much time!

Thanks again for your great work and support!

Best regards,

Dany