3D Printing Software

• prepares an existing model for the machine
  • slices the model for Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) using Gcode
• sends machine code (Gcode) to the 3d printing machine(s) via USB or network

A selection of slicers (2020):

• Ultimaker Cura ★★★★☆ (GUI, Open Source): reliable, fast slicing, complex GUI, supports STL, 3MF (no AMF), manual multi-material, cloud printing only via Octoprint or Ultimaker printers
• PrusaSlicer ★★★☆☆ (GUI, Open Source): reasonable fast, modern GUI, supports STL, AMF and 3MF, automatic multi-material via AMF, no cloud printing
• Slic3r ★★☆☆☆ (GUI, Open Source): slow, outdated GUI
• Repetier-Host ★★☆☆☆ (GUI, Open Source): outdated GUI, multiple slicers support (Cura Legacy, Slic3r, Slic3r PE)
• Pronterface/Printrun ★★☆☆☆ (GUI, Open Source): outdated GUI, uses Slic3r
• IdeaMaker (GUI, Closed Source): modern/responsive GUI
• KISSlicer (GUI, Free & Non-Free/Paid): lightweight UI, no AMF, no 3MF
• Simplify3D (GUI, Non-Free/Paid): intuitive GUI

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and lesser known slicers:

• Mandoline Py (linking my fork), open-source compact Python-based slicer, STL to G-code
• IceSL, feature-rich but closed source (academic environment)
  • IceSL-forge: modeling with Lua-based scripting language that allows to describe boolean combinations of shapes such as triangle meshes, voxels, implicit surfaces, shaders
  • IceSL-forge: slices STL or “geometry script” as composed with IceSL-forge

Print3r: Command Line 3D Printing

I used Ultimaker Cura and other slicers with graphical user interfaces (GUI) but I realized how slow I am and how limited it was, so I began to code an additional layer of software called Print3r:

• strict command line usage, utilizing command line interface with history
• log all successful printings in a JSON file for statistics
• support multiple slicers:
  • Slic3r, Slic3r-PE, PrusaSlicer
  • Cura 3, 4 and Cura Legacy
• making common slicing settings slicer independent
• preview Gcode with a graphical previewer
• support of STL, OBJ, AMF, 3MF, 3MJ formats slicer independent
• support of direct model printing: OpenSCAD (.scad) and ScriptCAD (.sccad)
• built-in networked (cloud) 3D printing with existing ser2net and socat UNIX tools, to route data via network meant for USB serial interface
  • multiple printhubs (any small scale Linux computer)
  • each printhub having multiple USB connected 3D printers

% print3r --printer=ashtar-k-1 --scad print 'cube(20)'
% print3r --device=tcp:printhub:0 --printer=ashtar-k-2 print cube.scad
% print3r --device=/dev/ttyUSB2 --printer=ashtar-c-1 print cube.stl

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See the dedicated Print3r page on this site with more details.