How To: Slice Models For 3D Printing

Slicer choice

We have installed Orca Slicer on the computer next to the 3D printers (Preferred by many because it has some extra configuration options).

Beware: There are several fake versions of this site containing malware, including orca-slicer[dot]com, orcaslicer[dot]org and orcaslicer[dot]net.

Orca Slicer is a fork of Bambu Labs "own" slicer — Bambu Studio.

If you want to slice your models at home for testing or printing purposes, we suggest that you download and install your slicer choice from the relevant sites. By doing this, you will be able to control more of your own settings and see how long a print will take when you bring the sliced file into the Hackspace to print.

From now on we simply refer to "the slicer/slicer" rather than Orca or Studio.

Using the slicer on your own laptop within the Hackspace

If you are connected to the LAN in the Hackspace and the printers are powered on, you should be able to find them in the slicer under the Device dropdown.

If you do not see any printers you may need to adjust your firewall settings (see below).

When connecting to a printer, it will ask for an Access Code which can be found on the printer under Settings > WLAN. Please do not press the refresh icon, as everyone else that has already setup their slicer will then need to reset their PIN code.

Do not register the printers to any Bambu account - please leave this in LAN Only/Developer mode.

Firewall

In order to allow discovery, you may need to open some ports on your firewall. Newer versions of the slicers allow you to specify an IP address and access pin by selecting "Bind with Access Code"

If you are running a RedHat-like distribution (e.g. Fedora), you can allow inbound traffic on the discovery port (2021/udp):

sudo firewall-cmd --new-zone bambu --permanent
sudo firewall-cmd --add-source 10.0.0.0/24 --zone bambu --permanent
sudo firewall-cmd --add-port 2021/udp --zone bambu --permanent
sudo firewall-cmd --reload

On Ubuntu, Debian or Mint using UFW, you can use:

sudo ufw allow from 10.0.0.0/24 proto udp to any port 2021

On Windows, you can paste the following into a command prompt (Win key and R, then type cmd and press return)

netsh advfirewall firewall add rule name="bambu" dir=in action=allow protocol=UDP localport=2021

Using the slicer outside of the Hackspace

You do not have to be in the Hackspace to slice your files for the printers.

Install your chosen slicer and select the appropriate printer. We current have two Bambu Lab A1 mini and a Bambu Lab P1S.

You will be able to slice your files and save to a Micro SD card.

Slicing the part

Once a printer is configured in your slicer, import your object (the slicer accepts a number of file formats) and orient it to minimise overhangs. Supports can be enabled if necessary.

Ensure that you are slicing for the correct filament you have loaded or will load into the printer.

Click the Preview tab to slice the model.

You can move up and down between the layers to ensure certain areas will provide enough strength you can go back to the prepare tab to adjust your settings and reslice.