Best 3D printer slicer - 2022

If you are looking for the best 3D printer slicer, you are in the right place.

Thanks to 3D printing technology, nowadays it is easy to create real objects and prototypes using a three-dimensional digital model of them. With a 3D printer, slicer software, and printing materials, you can create almost anything you can imagine.

But with too many slicers in the market, it can be hard to choose the one that is best for you. To help you out, we have compiled a list of the best 3D printer slicers available.

Best 3D printer slicer 2022

In layman’s terms, a slicer is a software that converts digital 3D models into a format that 3D printers understand so that they can print them.

When looking for a slicer, you should pick one that has a user-friendly interface and straightforward guides. In addition, it should quickly import STL files or any other 3D printer model and provide you estimates on the printing time, how much material is needed, and how much is left.

We have picked some of the best 3D printer slicers that tick all these boxes and here are them.

Ultimaker Cura

The first choice for millions of users worldwide, Ultimaker's Cura is an advanced slicing engine you can depend on. This free and open-source software is very user-friendly that even a rookie can master it within a few times of using it.

Cura supports STL, OBJ, X3D, 3MF, BMP, GIF, JPG, and PNG file formats - and it’ll also repair them if needed. Also, it shows a toolpath, printing time, and material usage estimates, which is very helpful.

Simplify3D

Simplify3D is a 3D slicer software intended for pros. It lets you control every aspect of your 3D print to get the best result. It features built-in tools to help you identify and fix errors in the digital file so that you can quickly get back to printing.

Also, the program includes a realistic pre-print simulation that allows you to see the exact actions your 3D printer will perform before you start the print. You can literally watch an animation of the extruder as it lays down each individual line of plastic, giving you more insight than ever before.

Slic3r

Slic3r is an open-source 3D printer slicer that suits experts and pros. Beginners may find this software intimidating due to the overwhelming number of features it offers. Despite of future overload, the software is reasonably fast even on slow computers, thanks to real-time 3D slicing.

Some of the notable features of Slic3r include real-time incremental slicing, 3D preview, toolpath preview in 2D and 3D, 3D honeycomb infills, a customizable bed shape, integration with OctoPrint, pressure regulation, and much more.

PrusaSlicer

PrusaSlicer is a free and open-source software that is based on Slic3r. Suitable for both FDM and SLA/DLP 3D printers, it offers a huge number of advanced features and more than enough settings that can be tuned and tinkered with for perfecting prints.

With Simple, Advanced, and Expert user modes available, PrusaSlicer is a 3D slicer software that is perfect for anyone. The user interface changes in appearance depending on the mode you’re in, showing you only the necessary settings for the job.

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Best 3D printer slicer for Ender 3

Cura and Simplify3D are the two best 3D printer slicers for Ender 3, in our opinion. Now which one of these two is best for you?

Well, if you are a beginner and don’t wish to spend money on a slicer, we recommend you use Cura. However, if you are a power user who wants complete control over the prints, even down to controlling each and every layer, Simplify3D will meet your needs.

The fact that Simplify3D is a bit pricey may churn some people away. So, if you are a professional user looking for free slicing software with advanced features and more control over your prints, PrusaSlicer is a good option.