3D printing is changing the way we build plastic prototypes. These days lots of affordable low-cost 3D printers are available in the market. Therefore people with no experience with 3D printing have started using 3D printers.
In this article, we will discuss the best free 3D printing software. It will help you in the selection of the best 3D printer software according to your experience and nature of work.
What is a 3D Printer or 3D Slicer Software?
A 3D printer does not understand a 3D cad model. It works on G-Codes. 3D slicing software translates 3D cad models into instructions that a 3D printer can understand. Better instructions result in better 3D prints.
Therefore 3D printed part quality depends on the selection of 3D printer Slicing software. A 3D slicer software performs the following tasks.
- Repair a CAD model.
- Set orientation and position of parts (to be 3D printed) on a 3D printer bed.
- Add supports on 3D printed parts model.
- Slicing the 3D cad model and generating G-Code.
Best Free 3D Printing Software
| Software | Features | Best For | Cost | Operating System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Slic3r | Slicer | Intermediate | Free(Opensource) | Windows / Linux / iOS |
| MeshLab | 3D mesh editor, Slicer | Professionals | Free / Open Source | Windows / Linux |
| Ultimaker Cura | Slicer | Intermediate | Free | Windows / Linux / iOS |
| PrusaSlicer | Slicer | Intermediate | Free | Windows / Linux / Mac |
| Netfabb | Slicer, topology optimization, Build Prepration | Professionals | Paid | Windows / Linux |
| Repetier-Host | Slicer | Intermediate | Free | Windows / Linux / Mac |
| SelfCAD | Cad Design, Slicer | Professionals | Free with limited Features | Cloud Based |
| Simplify 3D | .stl Repair and Slicer | Professionals | Paid | Windows / Linux / Mac |
Let's discuss above 3D printer slicer softwares in detail.
Slic3r is open source free 3d printer slicer software used to generate G-code from 3D cad models. It has the following features.
- Visual preview of tool-paths.
- Configuration management.
- Custom G-code with conditional logic.
- Print on multiple machines simultaneously.
- Can be used for FDM, SLA, and DLP 3D Printing.
MeshLab is open-source software for processing and editing 3D triangular meshes. It provides editing, cleaning, healing, inspecting, rendering, texturing, and mesh conversion tools.
MeshLab Slicer offers features for processing raw data produced by 3D digitization tools and for preparing models for 3D printing.
Ultimaker Cura is the world’s most popular 3D printing software. Prepare prints with a few clicks, integrate with CAD software for an easier workflow, or dive into custom settings for in-depth control.
PrusaSlicer (formerly known as Slic3r Prusa Edition or Slic3r PE) is a slicer software based on the open-source project Slic3r. It’s open-source software.
The Netfabb® software from Autodesk includes efficient build preparation capabilities alongside tools for optimizing designs for additive manufacturing, simulating metal additive processes, and planning for CNC post-processing.
The software is an easy and intuitive tool that works with almost all popular 3D FDM printers. Repetier-Host supports multi extruder, multi-slicer, and multi-part printing. You can access and control your 3D printers from anywhere using Repetier-Server.
3D printing slicing software controls every aspect of your 3D print. It has the following features:
- Compatible with hundreds of 3D printers.
- Easily switch between multiple 3D printers.
- This tool can simulate 3D print in advance. Therefore you can identify failure before actually starting printing.
Frequently Asked Questions: FAQ
A 3D printer or slicer software performs the following tasks.
- Repair a CAD model.
- Set orientation and position of parts (to be 3D printed) on a 3D printer bed.
- Add supports on 3D printed parts model.
- Slicing the 3D cad model and generating G-Code.
3D slicing software translates 3D cad models into instructions that a 3D printer can understand. Better instructions result in better 3D prints. Therefore 3D printed part quality depends on the selection of 3D printer Slicing software.
You should consider the following points during the selection of 3D slicing software.
- Compatibility with your 3D printer.
- Features available: Depending on the features you require. You can select 3D printing software.
- Free or Paid tool
- Available Support
- Learning Curve
We will keep updating more 3D printer slicing software in this list. Please add your recommendations, comments, or questions on the best 3D printer software in the comment box. We suggest you also read this article on various types of metal 3D printers.
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