Q: Oh cool, a new RepRap slicer?
A: Yes.
Slic3r is an STL-to-GCODE translator for RepRap 3D printers, aiming to be a modern and fast alternative to Skeinforge.
See the project homepage at slic3r.org for more information.
Proudly Perl, with some parts in C++. If you're wondering why Perl, see http://xkcd.com/224/
Slic3r current key features are:
- multi-platform (Linux/Mac/Win) and packaged as standalone-app with no dependencies required;
- easy configuration/calibration;
- read binary and ASCII STL files as well as OBJ and AMF;
- powerful command line interface;
- easy GUI with plating and manipulation facilities;
- multithreaded;
- multiple infill patterns, with customizable density and angle;
- retraction;
- skirt;
- infill every N layers (like the "Skin" plugin for Skeinforge);
- detect optimal infill direction for bridges;
- save configuration profiles;
- center print around bed center point;
- multiple solid layers near horizontal external surfaces;
- ability to scale, rotate and duplicate input objects;
- customizable initial and final G-code;
- support material;
- cooling and fan control;
- use different speed for bottom layer, perimeters, small perimeters, bridges, solid infill;
- ability to print complete objects before moving onto next one.
Experimental features include:
- generation of G2/G3 commands for native arcs;
- G0 commands for fast retraction.
Roadmap includes the following goals:
- output some statistics;
- support material for internal perimeters;
- more GUI work;
- more fill patterns;
- a more complete roadmap is needed too ;-)
It's very easy. See the project homepage for instructions and links to the precompiled packages that you can just download and run, with no dependencies required.
Sure! Send patches and/or drop me a line at aar@cpan.org. You can also find me in #reprap and in #slic3r on FreeNode with the nickname Sound.
Slic3r is licensed under the GNU Affero General Public License, version 3. The author is Alessandro Ranellucci.
Usage: slic3r.pl [ OPTIONS ] file.stl
--help Output this usage screen and exit
--version Output the version of Slic3r and exit
--save <file> Save configuration to the specified file
--load <file> Load configuration from the specified file. It can be used
more than once to load options from multiple files.
-o, --output <file> File to output gcode to (by default, the file will be saved
into the same directory as the input file using the
--output-filename-format to generate the filename)
-j, --threads <num> Number of threads to use (1+, default: 2)
Output options:
--output-filename-format
Output file name format; all config options enclosed in brackets
will be replaced by their values, as well as [input_filename_base]
and [input_filename] (default: [input_filename_base].gcode)
--post-process Generated G-code will be processed with the supplied script;
call this more than once to process through multiple scripts.
--export-svg Export a SVG file containing slices instead of G-code.
-m, --merge If multiple files are supplied, they will be composed into a single
print rather than processed individually.
Printer options:
--nozzle-diameter Diameter of nozzle in mm (default: 0.5)
--print-center Coordinates in mm of the point to center the print around
(default: 100,100)
--z-offset Additional height in mm to add to vertical coordinates
(+/-, default: 0)
--gcode-flavor The type of G-code to generate (reprap/teacup/makerbot/mach3/no-extrusion,
default: reprap)
--use-relative-e-distances Enable this to get relative E values
--gcode-arcs Use G2/G3 commands for native arcs (experimental, not supported
by all firmwares)
--g0 Use G0 commands for retraction (experimental, not supported by all
firmwares)
--gcode-comments Make G-code verbose by adding comments (default: no)
Filament options:
--filament-diameter Diameter in mm of your raw filament (default: 3)
--extrusion-multiplier
Change this to alter the amount of plastic extruded. There should be
very little need to change this value, which is only useful to
compensate for filament packing (default: 1)
--temperature Extrusion temperature in degree Celsius, set 0 to disable (default: 200)
--first-layer-temperature Extrusion temperature for the first layer, in degree Celsius,
set 0 to disable (default: same as --temperature)
--bed-temperature Heated bed temperature in degree Celsius, set 0 to disable (default: 200)
--first-layer-bed-temperature Heated bed temperature for the first layer, in degree Celsius,
set 0 to disable (default: same as --bed-temperature)
Speed options:
--travel-speed Speed of non-print moves in mm/s (default: 130)
--perimeter-speed Speed of print moves for perimeters in mm/s (default: 30)
--small-perimeter-speed
Speed of print moves for small perimeters in mm/s or % over perimeter speed
(default: 30)
--external-perimeter-speed
Speed of print moves for the external perimeter in mm/s or % over perimeter speed
(default: 100%)
--infill-speed Speed of print moves in mm/s (default: 60)
--solid-infill-speed Speed of print moves for solid surfaces in mm/s or % over infill speed
(default: 60)
--top-solid-infill-speed Speed of print moves for top surfaces in mm/s or % over solid infill speed
(default: 50)
--bridge-speed Speed of bridge print moves in mm/s (default: 60)
--first-layer-speed Speed of print moves for bottom layer, expressed either as an absolute
value or as a percentage over normal speeds (default: 30%)
Accuracy options:
--layer-height Layer height in mm (default: 0.4)
--first-layer-height Layer height for first layer (mm or %, default: 100%)
--infill-every-layers
Infill every N layers (default: 1)
Print options:
--perimeters Number of perimeters/horizontal skins (range: 0+, default: 3)
--solid-layers Number of solid layers to do for top/bottom surfaces
(range: 1+, default: 3)
--fill-density Infill density (range: 0-1, default: 0.4)
--fill-angle Infill angle in degrees (range: 0-90, default: 45)
--fill-pattern Pattern to use to fill non-solid layers (default: rectilinear)
--solid-fill-pattern Pattern to use to fill solid layers (default: rectilinear)
--start-gcode Load initial G-code from the supplied file. This will overwrite
the default command (home all axes [G28]).
--end-gcode Load final G-code from the supplied file. This will overwrite
the default commands (turn off temperature [M104 S0],
home X axis [G28 X], disable motors [M84]).
--layer-gcode Load layer-change G-code from the supplied file (default: nothing).
--extra-perimeters Add more perimeters when needed (default: yes)
--randomize-start Randomize starting point across layers (default: yes)
Support material options:
--support-material Generate support material for overhangs
--support-material-threshold
Overhang threshold angle (range: 0-90, default: 45)
--support-material-pattern
Pattern to use for support material (default: rectilinear)
--support-material-spacing
Spacing between pattern lines (mm, default: 2.5)
--support-material-angle
Support material angle in degrees (range: 0-90, default: 0)
Retraction options:
--retract-length Length of retraction in mm when pausing extrusion
(default: 1)
--retract-speed Speed for retraction in mm/s (default: 30)
--retract-restart-extra
Additional amount of filament in mm to push after
compensating retraction (default: 0)
--retract-before-travel
Only retract before travel moves of this length in mm (default: 2)
--retract-lift Lift Z by the given distance in mm when retracting (default: 0)
Cooling options:
--cooling Enable fan and cooling control
--min-fan-speed Minimum fan speed (default: 35%)
--max-fan-speed Maximum fan speed (default: 100%)
--bridge-fan-speed Fan speed to use when bridging (default: 100%)
--fan-below-layer-time Enable fan if layer print time is below this approximate number
of seconds (default: 60)
--slowdown-below-layer-time Slow down if layer print time is below this approximate number
of seconds (default: 15)
--min-print-speed Minimum print speed (mm/s, default: 10)
--disable-fan-first-layers Disable fan for the first N layers (default: 1)
--fan-always-on Keep fan always on at min fan speed, even for layers that don't need
cooling
Skirt options:
--skirts Number of skirts to draw (0+, default: 1)
--skirt-distance Distance in mm between innermost skirt and object
(default: 6)
--skirt-height Height of skirts to draw (expressed in layers, 0+, default: 1)
--brim-width Width of the brim that will get added to each object to help adhesion
(mm, default: 0)
Transform options:
--scale Factor for scaling input object (default: 1)
--rotate Rotation angle in degrees (0-360, default: 0)
--duplicate Number of items with auto-arrange (1+, default: 1)
--bed-size Bed size, only used for auto-arrange (mm, default: 200,200)
--duplicate-grid Number of items with grid arrangement (default: 1,1)
--duplicate-distance Distance in mm between copies (default: 6)
Sequential printing options:
--complete-objects When printing multiple objects and/or copies, complete each one before
starting the next one; watch out for extruder collisions (default: no)
--extruder-clearance-radius Radius in mm above which extruder won't collide with anything
(default: 20)
--extruder-clearance-height Maximum vertical extruder depth; i.e. vertical distance from
extruder tip and carriage bottom (default: 20)
Miscellaneous options:
--notes Notes to be added as comments to the output file
Flow options (advanced):
--extrusion-width Set extrusion width manually; it accepts either an absolute value in mm
(like 0.65) or a percentage over layer height (like 200%)
--first-layer-extrusion-width
Set a different extrusion width for first layer
--perimeters-extrusion-width
Set a different extrusion width for perimeters
--infill-extrusion-width
Set a different extrusion width for infill
--support-material-extrusion-width
Set a different extrusion width for support material
--bridge-flow-ratio Multiplier for extrusion when bridging (> 0, default: 1)
Multiple extruder options:
--perimeters-extruder
Extruder to use for perimeters (1+, default: 1)
--infill-extruder Extruder to use for infill (1+, default: 1)
--support-material-extruder
Extruder to use for support material (1+, default: 1)
If you want to change a preset file, just do
slic3r.pl --load config.ini --layer-height 0.25 --save config.ini
If you want to slice a file overriding an option contained in your preset file:
slic3r.pl --load config.ini --layer-height 0.25 file.stl
Put this into slicecommand:
slic3r.pl $s --load config.ini --output $o
And this into sliceoptscommand:
slic3r.pl --load config.ini --ignore-nonexistent-config
Replace slic3r.pl with the full path to the slic3r executable and config.ini
with the full path of your config file (put it in your home directory or where
you like).
On Mac, the executable has a path like this:
/Applications/Slic3r.app/Contents/MacOS/slic3r
You can specify a filename format by using any of the config options.
Just enclose them in square brackets, and Slic3r will replace them upon
exporting.
The additional [input_filename] and [input_filename_base] options will
be replaced by the input file name (in the second case, the .stl extension
is stripped).
The default format is [input_filename_base].gcode, meaning that if you slice
a foo.stl file, the output will be saved to foo.gcode.
See below for more complex examples:
[input_filename_base]_h[layer_height]_p[perimeters]_s[solid_layers].gcode
[input_filename]_center[print_center]_[layer_height]layers.gcode