Best 3D Printer Slicer Software

Do you want to get the most out of your 3D printer? Take a look at our list of the best 3D printer slicer tools. Even better – most of them are completely free.

A few key tools are needed to start the process of 3D printing innovation. You obviously have the 3D models and the 3D printers, but there’s an important piece of the puzzle that sits right in the center. The slicer program for 3D printing serves as a connection between the 3D model and the printer.

A 3D printing slicer, for those who don’t know, prepares the selected model for your 3D printer by generating G-code, which is a commonly used numerical control (NC) programming language (read on here if you want to know what G-Code is capable of). There is a lot of slicing software out there, and a lot of it is free.

Here’s a list of the best 3D printing slicer software tools to help you find the right match. The list is arranged in ascending order of popularity.

Tip: If you still need help choosing a 3D printer, don’t worry, we have you covered.

1. Cura

Ultimaker, a 3D printer company, and its devoted community of users developed, hosted, and maintained Cura. The 3D Printer slicer software was released as a freebie due to the company’s origins in open source communities, and it has remained that way ever since. Cura has also added profiles for competing 3D printers over time. That is something that many businesses cannot do. 

It accepts STL, 3MF, and OBJ files, which the 3D slicer program can fix if necessary. A toolpath, printing time, and material estimates will all be shown. Ultimaker keeps Cura up to date and allows users to create third-party plug-ins, ensuring that this widely used slicer remains cutting-edge. 

If you want to do some exploring, you can also find some interesting stuff in the experimental section. Ultimaker also released Ultimaker Cura Enterprise, a professional-focused program. For a yearly fee of $300, it allows you to install approved modules from the Ultimaker Marketplace, as well as technical support and additional security layers.

2. Netfabb Standard

Netfabb has come a long way since its inception. What began as freeware has grown into a powerful toolkit for working with STL files. This 3D slicer program for 3D printers has a lot of cool features that let you analyze, fix, and edit STL files before slicing them. 

Netfabb was purchased by Autodesk in 2015. Netfabb Standard, Netfabb Premium, Netfabb Ultimate, and Netfabb Simulation are the four items that have been created since the program’s inception. Don’t be fooled by the word “Standard” in the name; even the smallest version is capable 3D printing software.

Standard, Premium, and Ultimate are all techniques that are primarily used for model optimization and manufacturing planning. With features including the ability to reduce and account for warping and shrinking components, Netfabb Simulation is specifically designed for metal powder bed fusion and guided energy deposition processes, enabling professionals to run tests to ensure their parts print correctly.

3. PrusaSlicer

PrusaSlicer has its origins in Slic3r, and it was previously known as “Slic3r Prusa Edition” until mid-2019. This slicer, one of the few of its kind, is suitable for both FDM and SLA/DLP 3D printers, with a large range of advanced features and more than enough settings for everyone to play with. It’s also open-source, allowing experienced programmers to make their own forks and add new functionality to it.

PrusaSlicer is suitable for everybody because it has three user modes: beginners only see the most basic settings, while experienced users can fine-tune their prints to a T. PrusaSlicer has a redesigned user interface that makes it simple to use and includes features including the ability to fix models using Netfabb online services, custom supports, and frighteningly precise estimated print times (especially on Prusa’s own printers). 

4. Simplify3D

Simplify3D is a professional 3D slicer app. It supports the majority of 3D printers on the market, with over 100 3D printer profiles available for download and import. If your model isn’t on the list, creating a profile on your own is easy.

You can use the app to import, scale, rotate, and fix your 3D model until it’s perfect. STL, OBJ, and 3MF files are imported quickly, and even large meshes are displayed in no time. Extruders, layer power, different infill methods, temperature and cooling settings, and even raw G-code and scripts can all be tweaked.

Extruders, layer power, different infill methods, temperature and cooling settings, and even raw G-code and scripts can all be tweaked. These settings can be saved in so-called “Processes,” which can be useful if you’re trying out various settings, 3D printer nozzles, or filaments. 

5. OctoPrint

The OctoPrint is a clever piece of equipment that houses your 3D printer and allows you to control and track it all from your web browser or handheld computer. The program is mounted on a Raspberry Pi, which can be enhanced with a webcam and a variety of plugins, for example. This eliminates the need to shuffle SD cards while loading 3D printing jobs onto your printer. An integrated 3D slicer program based on the trusted CuraEngine is one of the many great features we’ve covered elsewhere. 

That is to say, you will no longer need to slice your files on a computer; instead, you will simply send over the STL model and the printer will handle the rest. 

6. Slic3r

Slic3r is an open source 3D slicer with a reputation for including cutting-edge functionality that aren’t available anywhere else. Slic3r is the product of the community’s experimentation with environments, materials, and modern 3D printers over the years. 

It was the birthplace of many of the features that we now take for granted. Multiple extruders, brim, micro layering, bridge detection, command line slicing, variable layer heights, sequential printing (one object at a time), honeycomb infill, mesh cutting, object splitting into pieces, and so on are only a few of the features available.

The latest version includes a command-line interface, a desktop app for quickly generating G-Code, experimental support for SLA printers, and OctoPrint integration. Files that have been sliced on the user’s desktop can now be imported directly to the user’s OctoPrint box with a single click.

7. MatterControl

MatterControl is a slicer for your desktop computer that includes integrated modeling software, allowing you to go from zero to a printed model without ever leaving the application. It was initially designed as a printer host program, and many of the features still reflect this. The machine can, in theory, work in tandem with the printer, and the device and printer must be linked during the printing process. 

Alternatively, the G-code file can be saved to an SD Card. Between the original and the new edition, the interface has changed a lot, but it is still pretty well organized. Similar to Tinkercad, there is a list of primitives on the left side that you can use for modeling. 

To get you started with MatterControl, there is a helpful wizard and plenty of online documentation. Layer height, fill density, support material, and raft can all be adjusted in simple mode. The options can be saved and used on subsequent prints.

8. MakerBot Print

MakerBot Print is a website dedicated to the MakerBot 3D printer line. MakerBot Print’s algorithm automatically adjusts slice settings for your particular 3D printer mode and extruder model, unlike general 3D printer slicer software tools that cater to a wide range of 3D printers. MakerBot Print’s algorithm changes slice settings for your 3D printer mode and extruder form automatically.

The engineers provided a handy feature that will automatically arrange meshes across one or more build plates, which is useful when planning a whole series of components.

MakerBot Print ensures that your MakerBot printer produces the best possible results. Beginners will appreciate how simple it is to use, while experienced users will value the assistance in printing on a larger scale.

Several variables to check in search for the best 3D slicer software for your 3D printer:

• STL import speed: It might not seem important, but if you’re working with large files on a slow machine, you don’t want to go get a cup of coffee until the program has finished displaying the file.
• Viewer capabilities:If you don’t have any CAD applications, you’ll most likely see your printable file for the first time when you open it in the 3D slicer software.
• Repairing STL files: A decent 3D slicer program will not leave you in the dark. If there are errors in your 3D model, it should alert you to them and, preferably, automatically correct them.
• User-friendliness: How difficult is it to use the 3D slicing software? Are there any options for newcomers? Experts have more options? Does it have a history of changes?Is the data stored locally or in the cloud? Is the flow of work comfortable for you? Is it possible to undo and redo? Both of these criteria for a “good” 3D slicer are arbitrary, but you get the idea.
• Preview: A good 3D printer slicer software will give you an idea of how long the print will take and what material will be used. These details should, of course, be consistent with the actual print.
• Fee: Is the software free or do you have to pay for it?
• Help: We looked to see if both beginners and experts get enough on-screen help, or if you can ask other users in a forum or user group for help.

Summary:

The popularity of 3D printing is growing, and it is reaching a wider audience. Users now have more options for material and machine, allowing them to use it for a variety of purposes. Apart from prototyping, these devices have been useful in a variety of fields. These 3D Printers are now being used for projects that were previously impossible to accomplish before 3D Printing.

All of this adds up to a lot of mutual interest for the technology. However, over time, this often necessitates a better user experience.

This is why so much 3D printer slicer software is being created on a regular basis. People have begun to place their trust in devices that were once only used for one purpose: prototyping. 

We hope that we’ve helped you to choose the right 3D Printer Slicer Software that best suits you!