Software: slicersBeginner16 min

Slicers, Orca and Bambu Studio

Understand what a slicer does, compare the popular ones, and play with a mock slicer to see how settings change time, material and strength.

What a slicer does

A slicer cuts your 3D model into thin layers and writes the path the nozzle follows for each one.

Layer90 / 150 · Z 18.0 mm

Drag to rotate · scroll to zoom

Drag the slider to build the vase layer by layer. Each layer is a ring of lines at one height, repeated until the part is done. The slicer turns each ring into G-code.

; LAYER:90  Z:18.0
G1 Z18.0 F1200
G1 X54.56 Y95.40 E0.00 F9000
G1 X112.80 Y97.10 E0.42 F3600
G1 X118.31 Y104.66 E0.88

Real G-code has thousands of lines per layer. These are only an illustration.

Slicer types

Most modern slicers do the same job. Pick by the printer you own and the features you want.

I own

OrcaSlicer

Good fit

Anyone who wants to tune: it supports almost every brand.

Built-in calibration tests, per-region speeds, free and open source.

Printers: Bambu, Creality, Prusa, Voron/Klipper and more

Bambu Studio

Good fit

Bambu Lab owners who want the smoothest cloud and AMS experience.

Tight integration with AMS and MakerWorld, simple profiles. Orca is a fork of it.

Printers: Bambu Lab

PrusaSlicer

Prusa owners, and anyone who likes clear, well-documented options.

Mature, great supports and variable layer height, strong community.

Printers: Prusa, plus most other FDM printers

UltiMaker Cura

Beginners on Creality and other budget printers.

Huge printer profile list, large plugin marketplace, friendly default view.

Printers: Almost every FDM printer

You are not locked in. You can try several, since all of them export G-code for your printer.

Try a slicer

Change settings on a 60 × 40 × 30 mm block and see how time, material, strength and quality move.

Presets

Layer height0.2 mmThinner layers look smoother but take much longer.Wall loops2 Walls carry most of the strength.Infill15 %Infill matters less than walls; 10–20% is plenty for most parts.Print speed150 mm/sFaster saves time, but quality drops once the hotend cannot melt fast enough.Generate supports

Time

40m

Filament

21.3 g

Layers

150

Strength35/100

Surface quality43/100

A simplified teaching estimate for PLA, not a real slice.

Deep dive: infill patterns

Pick a pattern, change the density and the walls, and look inside the part in 3D. The numbers come from the generated toolpath.

Shape

Infill pattern

Infill density15 %Wall loops2

Infill color

Custom

Wall color

Custom

A smooth, wavy surface with no sharp corners. Equally strong in every direction and gentle on the printer.

Best for: Strong, light parts, flexible filament and impact loads.

Strength

Print speed

Material saving

Layer shown9 / 28

Drag to rotate · hover a line for details

Infill length

111.6 m

Infill filament

11.6 g

Infill time

19m

Estimated for the shape shown, 30 mm tall, 0.2 mm layers, 150 mm/s, PLA. Time includes an allowance for turns and acceleration. Ratings are general rules of thumb.

Orca and Bambu Studio tour

OrcaSlicer is built on Bambu Studio, so they share the same layout. Learn it once and use both.

The main window

Arrange models on the plate, scale and rotate them, choose printer, filament and process profiles, add supports and paint colours.

Three profiles, three jobs

The print quality: layer height, walls, infill, supports, speeds and seams. This is where you spend most time.

Orca calibration menu

Run these in order for every new filament. Each prints a small test and shows you the best value.

1TemperatureFinds the best nozzle temperature with a tower of steps.
2Flow rateFixes over- or under-extrusion for walls and top surfaces.
3Pressure advanceSharpens corners and removes bulges at line starts.
4RetractionReduces stringing between separate parts.
5Max volumetric speedFinds how fast your hotend can melt this filament.

Settings in real prints

Pictures from the OrcaSlicer wiki show what each setting does to a part.

Three spheres printed at 0.08, 0.22 and 0.32 mm layer height — Layer height: 0.08 mm hides the layer lines, 0.32 mm shows them but prints about four times faster.

Slicer preview showing top, bottom and internal solid layers of a boat — Top and bottom shells (red and blue) close the part; solid internal layers (purple) support them above infill.

A boat model with a visible vertical seam line — Seams: every layer starts and ends somewhere. Aligning them hides the seam in one tidy line.

A drop shape comparing a 0 degree and a 45 degree overhang — Overhangs: the steeper the angle outward, the more the layer hangs in the air. 45° is the classic safe limit.

Slicer preview of thick bridges turned on and off — Bridges: lines laid across empty space. Thick bridges sag less on long spans.

What calibration tests look like

Run the test, look at the print, and pick the best step or value.

A printed temperature tower with labelled steps from 195 to 230 — Temperature tower: each step prints at a different temperature. Pick the step with the cleanest bridges and least stringing.

A top surface printed for a flow rate test with concentric lines — Flow rate test: a smooth, gap-free top surface means the flow ratio is right. Ridges mean too much, gaps mean too little.

A printed box used for pressure advance calibration — Pressure advance test print: check the corners and the seam for bulges or gaps to find the best value.

Two small towers with thin strings between them from a retraction test — Retraction test: thin strings between the towers show retraction is too short. Use the shortest value that removes them.

Check yourself

Pick an answer for each question.

1. What does a slicer produce?

2. You need a stronger part. Which change helps the most?

3. Which slicer is a fork of Bambu Studio with extra calibration tools?

Sources (9)

Figures such as temperatures and drying times are typical ranges. Always check the label on your own spool and your printer manufacturer's guidance.