What's The Best Slicer For The Ender 3 - All3DP

26/06/2020 What's the Best Slicer for the Ender 3?
| All3DP
Care about the cost of 3D printing? May… Learn More

PRO
All3DP is an editorially independent publication. Editorial content, on principle, can not be bought or
influenced. To keep All3DP free and independent, we finance ourselves through advertising and affiliate
revenues. When you purchase using a shopping link on our site we earn an affiliate commission. Learn more
Chop, Chop!
What’s the Best Slicer for the Ender 3?
by Jackson O'Connell
1 day ago
CONTENTS
Slice and Dice Cura
https://all3dp.com/2/best-slicer-for-ender-3/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&omhide=true 1/12
26/06/2020 What's the Best Slicer for the Ender 3? | All3DP
Simplify3D Final Thoughts

Slic3r
Want to know the best slicer for your Ender 3? Read on and learn how to
enhance your print quality with the top 3 slicers for the Ender 3!
THE BEST SLICER FOR THE ENDER 3
Slice and Dice
Slicers transform STL files into G-code (Source: Jackson O'Connell via All3DP)
The Ender 3 is one of the most well-known hobbyist printers on the market today, put on
the throne for its affordable price, ease of customization, and quality prints. But, how does
this printer, or any 3D printer, turn a digital design into an actual object? Well, it uses a
slicer!
What’s a slicer, you ask? When you want to 3D print an object, your printer requires a
certain le type with commands and coordinates used to create the proper print.
Slicers are what create these les, calculating paths and sets of instructions to build your
3D objects. The Ender 3, as well as most printers, use a machine language called G-code,
which presents the printer with a list of relevant printing instructions.
In a slicer, you can alter the settings for printing to change certain features, such as layer
height, in ll density, and in ll geometry. The Ender 3 is an open-source printer, meaning it
has no preferred slicer. Each slicer option has its own strengths and weaknesses when
used with the Ender 3. So what makes a slicer the best choice? Let’s nd out!
What to Look For

When choosing a slicer, keep in mind that you’ll be using it a lot, especially if your printer
has issues with its default con guration and settings. When looking for the right slicer for
you, you should consider the following:
• Price: How much will it cost you?

• Quality: Does it produce the results you want?
• Bene ts and downsides: What are the pros and cons?
• User experience: How easy is it to use?
• Community: How many people can provide support if you need help?
In this article, we’ll be looking at 3 of the best, most well-known slicers for the Ender 3.
We’ll go over all of the above characteristics for each slicer, as well as give you a brief
rundown of each one.
You Might Also Like

Creality Slicer: What's the Best Slicer for Creality 3D Printers?
BACK TO CONTENTS
Cura
Cura's preview mode (Source: Jackson O'Connell via All3DP)
Cura was developed by Ultimaker, a 3D printing company, and has been well maintained
by the developers and supporting community. Ultimaker has made Cura open-source, so
you can pick it up for free on Windows, Mac, and Linux. Cura can also use OBJ, 3MF, and
STL le formats, which is great for different types of projects, and will also repair les if
needed.
Cura is a good choice for all different levels of users, and its customization plays a key
part in this. You can set it up to only view the settings you need, and as you gain more
experience, you can play with more of the almost 200 available settings.
There are also many extra add-ons found in the community and marketplace that offer
even more personalization.
Cura even contains a variety of pre-set slicer pro les for different materials, including PLA,
ABS, PETG, and TPU.
Cura is great for the Ender 3 because it offers a default template speci cally for this
machine, helping you get closer to the optimum settings. There are many precon gured
slicer settings for various combinations of nozzle size, material, and printer, which is
especially handy when you start upgrading your machine. To tune the settings for your
printer, you can run some test prints and customize your settings accordingly.
One downside is that Cura offers only limited support for OctoPrint and other remote
printing programs. Although it’s an inconvenience to not have full functionality in this
department, it’s also not a huge deal-breaker given all the other features.
The community loves the variety of settings and variations while printing, which allows
you to ne-tune the 3D printing experience to your exact needs. Also, they appreciate how
easy it is to change geometric shapes and in ll density. The continuous updates and bug
x patches from Ultimaker are also big pluses.
• Price: Free
• Platforms: Mac, Windows, Linux
• Where to download: Ultimaker
Become a Master
2020 Cura Tutorial: Master Cura Slicer Software Settings
BACK TO CONTENTS
Simplify3D
Simplify3D's multiple extrusion mode (Source: Simplify3D)
Simplify3D is a great slicer for people with lots of experience or who 3D print
professionally. Like most slicers, it uses STL, OBJ, or 3MF les, and is very fast at
processing them.
This slicer features lots of settings, including printer controls, multiple extruder support,
and just about everything else you might expect from a slicer. Although there are a ton of
features you can mess around with, the interface isn’t overwhelming and it’s easily
comprehensible after you get used to some basics.
Due to the price of a license, it tends to be used on more professional levels, which is
re ected in the software itself, allowing you to customize the settings and work ow to
your exact liking. At the end of the day, Simplify3D pushes out fantastic quality prints that
you’ll pretty much always be satis ed with.
Unfortunately, Simplify3D has very little Linux support, and most people have been forced
to switch to Windows in order to use the software. Additionally, some users have reported
having problems with blobbing initially.
Simplify3D has a supportive but smaller community, so if you have certain issues, it might
be more challenging to nd solutions. Overall, people seem to like Simplify3D, but it’s
important to note that it may be a little di cult when you’re rst getting started if you
aren’t used to the interface.
• Price: $149 for the full version

• Platforms: Windows, Mac
• Where to download: Simplify3D
A Good Place to Start

Simplify3D: Beginner's Guide to This Premium Slicer
BACK TO CONTENTS
Slic3r
Slic3r's layer preview (Source: Jackson O'Connell via All3DP)
Slic3r is an open-sourced slicer software with experimental features that make it stand
out from other options. It’s widely regarded as the testbed on which a large number of
popular slicer settings and features were rst created. However, we’d recommend Slic3r
for more experienced users, because all of the setting options are always visible.
Some features worth mentioning are multiple extruder support, sequential printing, and
the use of modi ers or custom G-code to tweak print settings (more than is possible with
other software). It features new in ll techniques that maximize the strength of prints,
bringing many previous users back to the platform. Slic3r reads STL, AMF, and OBJ, and
has fast G-code generation.
Among the best things about Slic3r is that it’s free and has a very simple setup process,
so you can get straight to work! It’s also compatible with most 3D printers and works on
all computer platforms. With its open-source nature, it works uidly with OctoPrint, and
continues to be developed with new features and advancements.
The user base is smaller than that of Cura, so you might run into issues nding solutions
online. Additionally, it currently offers no print time or material estimates (something
improved upon in other derivatives such as PrusaSlicer).
Although it doesn’t have everything, Slic3r’s unique features make up for what’s lost. It’s
good to give this slicer a try after you have gained more experience with 3D printers.
• Price: Free
• Platforms: Mac, Windows, Linux
• Where to download: Slic3r
Don't Miss
Slic3r vs Cura: The Differences – Simply Explained
BACK TO CONTENTS
Final Thoughts
Slicers for the Ender 3 (Source: Jackson O'Connell via All3DP)
So, now you may have a better idea of your options for the best slicer to use with your
Ender 3.
• If you’re new to 3D printing and aren’t looking to enter professional 3D printing, we

recommend Cura. It has a great user interface and it’s easy to learn.
• If you want to try something new or don’t want to break the bank, try Slic3r. The
challenge will open up a variety of options and outstanding features.
• If you 3D print on a professional level (and have some money lying around), spring
for Simplify3D for a whole professional package.
Whatever slicer you choose, it might not be perfect from the rst try, but don’t worry. We
strongly recommend doing some experimenting with test prints.
While the testing process can be a little long and tiring, it’ll increase your print quality over
time. And if you’re having a problem, chances are you aren’t the rst one to have it, so a
simple internet search often yields helpful results.
We've Got You Covered

Troubleshooting Guide to Common 3D Printing Problems
Troubleshooting Guide to Common 3D Printing Problems
BACK TO CONTENTS
License: The text of "What’s the Best Slicer for the Ender 3?" by All3DP is licensed under a Creative Commons
Attribution 4.0 International License.
TOPICS
3D SLICER CREALITY ENDER 3
RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
Links
CRAFTCLOUD
ADVERTISE WITH US
WRITE FOR US
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
PRIVACY SETTINGS
Follow us
FACEBOOK
TWITTER
NEWSLETTER
SUBSCRIBE
All3DP Comment Policy

Keep discussion on-topic and respectful. Comments that breach
our community guidelines will be removed.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
0 Comments All3DP 🔒 
1 Login
 Recommend t Tweet f Share Sort by Best
Start the discussion…
LOG IN WITH
OR SIGN UP WITH DISQUS ?
Name
Be the first to comment.
All3DP
The World's #1 3D Printing Magazine for Beginners and Professionals.
Information
ABOUT US
CONTENT POLICIES
PRIVACY POLICY
TERMS OF USE
IMPRINT

What's The Best Slicer For The Ender 3 - All3DP

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

What's The Best Slicer For The Ender 3 - All3DP

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

26/06/2020 What's the Best Slicer for the Ender 3?

Care about the cost of 3D printing? May… Learn More

What’s the Best Slicer for the Ender 3?

Simplify3D Final Thoughts

THE BEST SLICER FOR THE ENDER 3

Slice and Dice

What to Look For

• Price: How much will it cost you?

You Might Also Like

THE BEST SLICER FOR THE ENDER 3

Cura's preview mode (Source: Jackson O'Connell via All3DP)

THE BEST SLICER FOR THE ENDER 3

Simplify3D's multiple extrusion mode (Source: Simplify3D)

• Price: $149 for the full version

A Good Place to Start

THE BEST SLICER FOR THE ENDER 3

Slic3r's layer preview (Source: Jackson O'Connell via All3DP)

THE BEST SLICER FOR THE ENDER 3

Slicers for the Ender 3 (Source: Jackson O'Connell via All3DP)

• If you’re new to 3D printing and aren’t looking to enter professional 3D printing, we

We've Got You Covered

Attribution 4.0 International License.

3D SLICER CREALITY ENDER 3

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU

All3DP Comment Policy

 Recommend t Tweet f Share Sort by Best

Start the discussion…

OR SIGN UP WITH DISQUS ?

Be the first to comment.

The World's #1 3D Printing Magazine for Beginners and Professionals.

You might also like