1 Topic by widespreaddeadhead

  • widespreaddeadhead
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  • From: Quad Cities IA/IL
  • Registered: 2015-01-20
  • Posts: 471

Topic: Slic3r vs Cura

We've been using slic3r because it comes installed on RH 0.56 MAC(Their most updated version), and for the most part it's been working well. However, on my home Prusa i3 I've used Cura on RH Windows with really great results, I really like the touching bed support option.

So to the people who have used Cura with a Solidoodle, is it worth learning to use Cura on our Macs?

I like the Cura set up for view modes, but I like the setup in Slic3r for configuring variables(fill, support etc...) To the people who use both, what do you like about each one, and how does the object your printing effect which slicer you use?

Also, since there are no presets for Solidoodle printers in Cura, I had to add one. Pretty straight forward, but since I just use Cura for getting the Gcode, I only adjusted the machine size.

FuseBox 1.5 CoreXY - e3dv6 - Graphic Smart Display
Solidoodle 2 - e3dv6 - Hobb Goblin - e3d Titan - lawsy carriages - Direct Drive Y Axis - T8 Z axis - OctoPi

2 Reply by mdrVB6

  • mdrVB6
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  • Registered: 2013-12-18
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Re: Slic3r vs Cura

I use both.  IMO, here are some things to consider:

Slic3r-
Pros: support interface structures tend to make supports remove easier and pillar supports are sometimes nice to have.
Cons: SLOW.  So much slower than cura.  My laptop is only an i3 and sometimes it will totally crash attempting a complex or large stl file.

Cura-
Pros: supports can be set to touching bed only.  I think it does thin walls better because it does not force it to be a multiple of a certain path width.  Also, it is very fast to slice even complex models.  On vases, it can put the start of each layer about one nozzle width inside the perimeter instead of on the perimeter of the object, which hides the bed and makes a much nicer finish.
Cons: no support material interface, so supports tend to remove messier.  The skirt function puts skirts around individual objects instead of the whole group of objects, which I find annoying but does not affect print quality.

As with many choices that we make with out printers, there is a trade off.  For most people, it just depends on what interface they find easier to use.  These days, I am using cura unless I have an object hat really needs careful supports considerations.

SD4 w/ RUMBA, E3D Volcano, all bearings, glass bed

3 Reply by rantinan

  • rantinan
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  • Registered: 2015-04-02
  • Posts: 26

Re: Slic3r vs Cura

For me cura, without a doubt. The fast is not so much an pro for me as the ease in which i could dive into its guts and alter things. Took a week of fiddling, and a roll of pla before I was happy with my settings, but I'm much happier with it after that effort than i was with PSY or slic3r.

SD3, Mk6 head, Lawsy Carrages. Direct drive. enclosure. Rep Host/cura. Rocking on Ubuntu.