On all the groups and platforms the most common question is, what slicer and accessories do you use. With the 3D and DIY space advancing so fast I thought it was time to do a 3D slicer, accessories and materials guide of the more commonly used.
So to start our journey into our 3d slicer, accessories and materials guide let’s start with FDM.
Likely one of the most well known and very popular slicers for FDM. Cura is a very successful slicer and users benefit from a large settings section allowing for high amounts of adjusting. With each new version of cura comes a new set of beta settings and features. One of the big benefits of cura is it allows the user to select from a large populated machine library or to even custom enter their own.
Prusa slicer has also become more and more popular. Originally developed for the prusa range of printers it is now also popular with many users. Even users of other brand machines. It’s a very capable slicer with some nice features which even allow the user to cut a model.
Lychee is a well rounded slicer that more may know as a resin slicer. The team at Lychee have worked hard to develop their platform to incorperate both FDM and resin. It benefits from a community active material library where users can add or use basic settings, view success rates that other members have had. This helps to gain a settings starting point.
This is a great slicer which is very similar to bambu studios. Being open access to more machines great for kipper machines and marlin. It benefits with easy to use features for ams units Ect definatley one to try.
Resin slices.
Like fdm there are multiple slices for resin some of the more used are.
Chitubox has been around for a long time and advanced leaps over the years it’s well laid out and has some great features for new starts, the option to auto layout, auto angle and auto support is a huge help.
To mimic the FDM part of lychee the features like the library and adding machines are also present. It slices very efficiently and has become a favorite for many users.
Not as commonly mentioned but a very very good option! Tango has a very good set of support features and very user friendly worth checking.
Laser software
Lasers most will start with grbl as it’s free and offers a fairly wide range of ability. A great starting point and for the most part can cater for the users needs.
Lightburn is a fantastic program and very versatile. It is a payed for platform but well worth it. It’s highly maintained, lavishes in features and I find it to be very user friendly with a huge community and has plenty of YouTube tutorials.
Cnc programs
For those thinking of Diy CNC I’d suggest checking out easel, it’s fairly easy to get started with, well supported and has a host of videos to help.
A look at accessories.
So as 3D printing evolves so rapidly as do the advances and options in accessories. In just about all aspects weither it’s hardware printing aids or even cosmetics there is a huge range to choose from. We will list just a few of the companies that we have experience with but there truly is a huge amount.
To start for hotends there is a huge number of producers. Slice engineering being one who make some works of art. These can be expensive. But truly are worth the money.
For those looking for a more cost friendly option I recommend checking gba Printing Parts Manufacturer who make for the more common domestic machines.
For boards screens and more I’d suggest looking at bigtreetech, they’re the height of advances, customization and modding with some of the best products to lift a printer I’ve personally used and would highly recommend.
For build plates weither resin or fdm fire systems, Wham bam make some of the very best money can buy with unique engineering and some of the best attention to detail. Wham bam makes some of the best products I can recommqend.
For nozzels especially I highly recommend checking out bondtech.
Chitubox also has a range of materials and some unique products. From FEPs uv light meter and even filaments well worth checking.
Sunlu offer some great accessories as well as materials. There new released filament joiner and 4 spool dryer are definatley worth looking at.
For all desktop weither 3D laser or CNC I highly suggest beagle as you can monitor control, even stream from the fantastic cams which are the very best cameras avaliable.
If you’re wanting to make those slick timelapse videos like the pros this is what they’re using.
On the subject of dryers I reccomend checking nanohex dryer, pound for buck it’s the most effective dryer and with the upcoming app update set to have a heap of features making it a huge contender.
There are a huge number I have not listed of which some are awesome, this is just a general overview and list to help you find some of the great options out there.
Materials
A quick recommendation of filaments and resins.
ISANMATE website
One to check is innovican3d who carry upgrades, Exotic build plates and even some materials (resin and filament).
Main brand machine sellers such as:
All printer sellers will all sell spares and often materials and upgrades. This makes it worth shopping around to compare.
This concludes our current journey into 3D slicer, accessories and materials guide . These are just some that I would recommend trying.
Also visit under the hotend 3d group for continuous deals.
Checkout the hi speed fdm article for a great printer
Great article.
Thank you bob
It is amazing! This article provides an introductory guide and instruction for beginners in 3d printing and laser engraving machines
Thank you I’m hoping it will help new to the hobby and provide some safe choice