Q: Oh cool, a new RepRap slicer?

A: Yes.

Slic3r

What's it?

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.

What language is it written in?

Proudly Perl, with some parts in C++. If you're wondering why Perl, see http://xkcd.com/224/

What's its current status?

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;
• powerful command line interface;
• easy GUI;
• 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 object;
• customizable initial and final GCODE;
• use different speed for bottom layer and perimeters.

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;
• new and better GUI;
• cool;
• more fill patterns.

Is it usable already? Any known limitation?

Sure, it's very usable. Remember that:

• it doesn't generate support material;
• it only works well with manifold and clean models (check them with Meshlab or Netfabb or http://cloud.netfabb.com/).

How to install?

It's very easy. See the project homepage for instructions and links to the precompiled packages.

Can I help?

Sure! Send patches and/or drop me a line at aar@cpan.org. You can also find me in #reprap on FreeNode with the nickname Sound.

What's Slic3r license?

Slic3r is licensed under the GNU Affero General Public License, version 3. The author is Alessandro Ranellucci (me).

How can I invoke slic3r.pl using the command line?

Usage: slic3r.pl [ OPTIONS ] file.stl

    --help              Output this usage screen and exit
    --save <file>       Save configuration to the specified file
    --load <file>       Load configuration from the specified file
    -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)
    
  Output options:
    --output-filament-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)
  
  Printer options:
    --nozzle-diameter   Diameter of nozzle in mm (default: 0.5)
    --print-center      Coordinates of the point to center the print around 
                        (default: 100,100)
    --use-relative-e-distances
                        Use relative distances for extrusion in GCODE output
    --extrusion-axis    The axis used for extrusion; leave empty to disable extrusion
                        (default: E)
    --z-offset          Additional height in mm to add to vertical coordinates
                        (+/-, default: 0)
    --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 GCODE 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, set 0 to disable (default: 200)
    
  Speed options:
    --travel-speed      Speed of non-print moves in mm/sec (default: 130)
    --perimeter-speed   Speed of print moves for perimeters in mm/sec (default: 30)
    --small-perimeter-speed
                        Speed of print moves for small perimeters in mm/sec (default: 30)
    --infill-speed      Speed of print moves in mm/sec (default: 60)
    --solid-infill-speed Speed of print moves for solid surfaces in mm/sec (default: 60)
    --bridge-speed      Speed of bridge print moves in mm/sec (default: 60)
    --bottom-layer-speed-ratio
                        Factor to increase/decrease speeds on bottom 
                        layer by (default: 0.3)
    
  Accuracy options:
    --layer-height      Layer height in mm (default: 0.4)
    --first-layer-height-ratio
                        Multiplication factor for the height to slice and print the first
                        layer with (> 0, default: 1)
    --infill-every-layers
                        Infill every N layers (default: 1)
  
  Print options:
    --perimeters        Number of perimeters/horizontal skins (range: 1+, 
                        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 gcode from the supplied file. This will overwrite
                        the default command (home all axes [G28]).
    --end-gcode         Load final gcode from the supplied file. This will overwrite 
                        the default commands (turn off temperature [M104 S0],
                        home X axis [G28 X], disable motors [M84]).
  
  Retraction options:
    --retract-length    Length of retraction in mm when pausing extrusion 
                        (default: 1)
    --retract-speed     Speed for retraction in mm/sec (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 (default: 2)
    --retract-lift      Lift Z by the given distance in mm when retracting (default: 0)
   
   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)
   
   Transform options:
    --scale             Factor for scaling input object (default: 1)
    --rotate            Rotation angle in degrees (0-360, default: 0)
    --duplicate-x       Number of items along X axis (1+, default: 1)
    --duplicate-y       Number of items along Y axis (1+, default: 1)
    --duplicate-distance Distance in mm between copies (default: 6)
  
  Flow options (advanced):
    --extrusion-width-ratio
                        Calculate the extrusion width as the layer height multiplied by
                        this value (> 0, default: calculated automatically)
    --bridge-flow-ratio Multiplier for extrusion when bridging (> 0, 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

How can I integrate Slic3r with Pronterface?

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

How can I specify a custom filename format for output G-code files?

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