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 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 ;-)

How to install?

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.

Can I help?

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.

What's Slic3r license?

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

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

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)
    --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).
    --support-material  Generate support material for overhangs
    --randomize-start   Randomize starting point across layers (default: yes)
  
   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 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)
   
   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
    --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