9.5 KiB
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
- 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