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3D printing can be difficult. If you experience problems there are folks who can help. First, review the guides here and for the specific printer. If you still have a problem, post to the #3dprinting Slack channel. Even if you find the solution, let us know, so that we can be aware that it might be an issue for others, and try to prevent it from happening again.
Software
Ultimaker Cura
Pros:
- Cura is the slicer of choice for many
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- open source-based 3D printers for it's relative ease of use
- It has built-in profiles for many printers
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Cons:
- Cura does not support FlashForge or MakerBot printers
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- Custom printer profiles cannot be exported
- Custom material profiles cannot be exported
| Skill Level | Novice to Advanced |
|---|---|
| Supported Printers | PrintrBot, Monoprice, Malyan |
| Unsupported Printers | Flashforge, Makerbot |
| Support formats | input: .stl, .obj, .3mf, .gcode, .g, .x3d, output: .stl, .gcode, .3mf, .ufp, .obj |
| Download | https://ultimaker.com/en/products/ultimaker-cura-software |
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Slic3r is open source and can be difficult to use. For advanced users it has fine-grained control and can produce excellent prints.
Pros:
- Can produce excellent prints
- Easy to use GUI
Cons:
- Lots of knobs to twiddle
- Can be overwhelming for novice users
- Lack of pre-defined, tested profiles
- Settings controls are a bit confusing and difficult to manage
| Skill Level | Intermediate to Advanced |
|---|---|
| Supported Printers | PrintrBot, Monoprice, Malyan |
| Unsupported Printers | Flashforge, Makerbot |
| Support formats | input: .stl, .obj, .amf, .3mf output: .stl, .gcode, .amf, .3mf, .obj |
| Download | http://slic3r.org/download |
FlashForge FlashPrint
Pros:
- Very easy to use for FlashForge
- Very well-done slicing options
Cons:
- Only supports FlashForge printers
| Skill Level | Novice+ |
|---|---|
| Supported Printers | FlashForge |
| Unsupported Printers | All others |
| Support formats |
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| Download | http://www.flashforge.com/support-center/flashprint-support/ |
MakerBot Print
Pros:
- Very easy to use interface
Cons:
- Only supports MakerBot and FlashForge
| Skill Level | Novice+ |
|---|---|
| Supported Printers | MakerBot, FlashForge |
| Unsupported Printers | |
| Support formats |
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| Download | https://www.makerbot.com/3d-printers/makerbot-print/download/ |
MatterControl
Pros:
- Very easy to use
- Broad set of profiles for printers and materials
- Extensible printer profiles with inheritence
- Supports every printer we have (except Rostock maybe - to be tested)
Cons:
- UI can be a little confusing at first
- Canned profiles may need tweaking
MatterControl is the most flexible of the software listed here. It's open source and easily extensible via custom printer profiles.
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