Prusa Slicer – Quick Start

Here’s a really quick intro to Prusa Slicer to get you going …

What is slicer software and where do I get it?

See the “Slicing” section here, this article is also a handy read if you are new to 3D printing to help understand the hardware and printing process

After installing Prusa Slicer you should be prompted to run a wizard to set up the printer your have and profiles for the filaments you might use. Select the manufacturer, find your printer then select the nozzle size(s) you might use – standard shipped with most printers is 0.4mm, if you wish you can add others like 0.6mm or 0.8mm nozzle sizes too if you intend to use those later, otherwise keep it simple and just select the one you have (0.4mm probably)

Next select the types of filament you wish to use – you can leave “all” selected for now and continue.

Generally I’d recommend to accept the default settings for the wizard unless you know what you are doing or have reasons not to (just hit “next”).

Quick Interface Overview

Interface overview
  • Interface options (#1 in above screen shot) – Select “Advanced” or “Expert” Options for the interface. I always use “Expert” settings, not because I am an expert but so that I can find all the settings I might ever need to. Simple hides too much info, so if you are over faced with Expert then “Advanced” would be a good place to start.
  • Interface Tabs (#2 in above screen shot) – this is how you switch between different elements of the interface to control different aspects of your printer, filament and print / quality settings.
    • Plater – this is where you drag and drop, orient, view and manipulate the print objects you wish to slice – the Plater itself is marked #6 in the above screen shot
      • make sure you understand the limitations of 3D printing, the important of how prints should be oriented for best results, or add supports etc as necessary (an article I intend to write another day soon)
    • Print Settings – where you define layer height, infill, speed, skirt or brim and other aspects such as supports for your 3D print
    • Filament Settings – allows you to control specifics of the filament you are using, primarily nozzle and bed temperatures, plus cooling options
    • Printer Settings – is where you configure your printer and its hardware, so things like bed size, max height of prints, how many extruders, nozzle sizes, and any default “g-code” that is sent to the printer before you start or after stopping prints, etc
    • Tab Hierarchy – something to remember for later, there is an aspect of hierarchy in the settings on these tabs so in general settings at the beginning of this chain override subsequent “child” settings ie … Printer –> Filament –> Print.
      • For example if you set a maximum extruder speed in the “Printer Settings” tab, the print will not go faster if you try to set it to do so in the “Print Settings” tab.
  • Tools / Left Toolbar (#3 in above screen shot) – when on the Plater screen use the different controls on the left of the screen to easily manipulate and move or orient your print as you wish it to print
    • Top toolbar – there is also a top toolbar (just below #2). This has undo/redo, plus delete, duplicate and other functions you may require such as the arrange button which will auto position prints on your print bed oriented for “best fit”
  • Editor / Preview buttons (#4 in above screen shot) – once you have sliced the object you wish to print (based on your print, filament and printer settings), you can then switch between the editor view (where you see and manipulate the orientation etc of your print on the plater), to the Preview window where you can see how it has been sliced ready to print.
    • You can view each layer of the print using the right hand slider
Preview Screen
  • Slice / Export G-Code / Send to Printer (##5 in first screen shot)
    • Slice Now – will appear when you have made changes or have a new print on the print bed which needs to be sliced
    • Export G-Code – once you have sliced and are happy with your print, the “Slice Now” text will change to “Export G-Code”. As per its name, this will export the g-code so you can put it on an SD card or upload to your printer
    • Send To Printer – another button like the one below also appears when you have Octopi or a network connected printer configured, this allows you to upload directly to your printer without having to export the g-code first.
Send to Printer

G-Codes – are how instructions are sent to your 3D printer telling it how to print your 3D file. Each code tells the printer to do something and usually has parameters such as temperature or print bed co-ordinates where to move to next. (if you are curious here is where you can find the Marlin G-Codes as used on many 3D printers)

Next … sit back and delight at the wonders of 3D printing as your printer brings your latest creation together right before your very eyes!


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