This provides a few benefits, including the ability to select recommended settings. If you can select your printer, go ahead and do so. Once your 3D printable model has been loaded into your preferred slicer, you'll need to select your material such as PLA, ABS, CPE, HIPS, PC, nylon, PETG, or PVA. With a 3D printable file downloaded, head to File > Open File(s) and select the 3D printable model you'd like to slice. I'm using Elegoo Cura, but you should be able to use a variety of slicers. Still, the general steps should be the same: import a 3D printable file, select the correct settings, slice and save.
Slicing may vary slightly depending on what software you're using.
How to Prepare a File for a Resin Printer I snagged a Terminator T-800 endoskeleton skull from Thingiverse.
You can design one yourself or download a file from the likes of Thingiverse. Cura, ChiTuBox)įirst, make sure you've got a 3D printable file. What you'll need to slice a 3D printable file: Lastly, you'll need a host computer to run your slicer on. This step is sort of optional, but you won't be able to print a sliced file sans a 3D printer.
Aside from a 3D printable file and compatible slicer, you'll need a 3D printer.
Which slicer you pick depends on the type of printer you're using, resin or filament, as well as the underlying operating system (OS) you run your slicer on such as Linux, macOS, or Windows. I've tinkered with OctoPrint and enjoy its remote printer monitoring and management capabilities, but generally enjoy Cura and ChiTuBox for slicing. Both my Elegoo Neptune and Elegoo Mars came bundled with slicers, ChiTuBox with the Mars and Cura for the Neptune. When using my Elegoo Mars resin 3D printer, I opt for ChiTuBox. Cura is one of the best options, but there's also 3DPrinterOS, AstroPrint, IceSL, ideaMaker, KISSlicer, OctoPrint, and ChiTiBox.įor filament printing, I prefer Cura. You'll need a compatible slicer, and often this comes packaged with a 3D printer. Slicing 3D printable models is fairly easy. How to Slice 3D Printable Files for Filament and Resin Printers You'll also find tons of 3D printable models on Yeggi, CUlts, 3D Warehouse, GrabCAD, and more. Thingiverse is one of the most popular sites for 3D printing files. Even if you can legally download 3D printable files, you should consider paying to support artists and designers.
Usually, these are free to download, but sometimes you'll need to pay a small fee. Where to Find 3D Printable FilesĪlthough you can design your own files to 3D print, you can easily source them online. Whether you're designing your own files or sourcing them from websites, here's how to slice 3D printable files for both filament and resin 3D printers. One of the first steps after selecting a 3D printer is, well, printing. In fact, it's a fairly accessible practice, especially with the plethora of affordable 3D printers available, as well as a slew of 3D printing tutorials to simplify the process of getting started with 3D printing. Contrary to many myths, 3D printing isn't challenging. Here’s a list of the main cookies we use, and what we use them for:Įach web browser handles cookie management differently, please follow instructions for your chosen browser:ģD printing is a fun, worthwhile hobby. Each browser is different, so check the ‘Help’ menu of your particular browser (or your mobile phone’s handset manual) to learn how to change your cookie preferences. If you’d prefer to restrict, block or delete cookies from or any other website, you can use your browser to do this. Our cookies don’t store sensitive information such as your name, address or payment details: they simply hold information about how you use our site so we can improve your experience and resolve any errors.
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