Best Software to use for Mk3?
I am writing to find out which software is best to use for the Mk3? I personally have S3D and have purchased a Mk3 for my sons B-Day so he will be using it on the other computer. As a new user, I would like it to be the "easiest" for a new user to figure out and have settings readily available to choose from. We mainly use PETG to print with.
TIA for the help!
Re: Best Software to use for Mk3?
PrusaControl has got to be the simplest slicer for the mk3. I use that for simple models but otherwise I use Slic3r if I need to tune settings. If you have S3D you should be set.
Re: Best Software to use for Mk3?
PrusaControl has got to be the simplest slicer for the mk3. I use that for simple models but otherwise I use Slic3r if I need to tune settings. If you have S3D you should be set.
Are all of the settings in S3D "good" to print without much if any tweaking? I know I have had some printers selected in S3D when I had them and the setting were polar opposite of what they SHOULD have been for the printer I was using.. LOL
Re: Best Software to use for Mk3?
I don't use S3D myself but I understand there are custom profiles out there for the mk3. Slic3r PE does everything my current abilities need.
Re: Best Software to use for Mk3?
I'm going to go against the grain a bit and recommend Cura.
PrusaControl is a very simple, no-frills slicer, but I find that it goes too far in that direction. It doesn't even let you set extrusion/bed temperatures or fan speeds. It would be great if the preset profiles worked better across the board, but in my experience the Prusa PLA profile simply runs too hot to get acceptable bridging and overhang performance, and outside of editing the XMLs (which defeats the purpose of having a simple solution) you can't do anything about it.
I've found that the simple mode of Cura manages to be easy to use without wresting all control away from the user. If I remember correctly (it's been a while since I've set Cura up), you have the ability to define materials even in simple mode, and it gives you a very focused set of options.
It's not quite as automatic as PrusaControl for the MK3. Cura's MK3 profile is solid for the most part, but since Ultimaker designed it for their printers first and foremost, it defaults to 6mm of retraction! If you change the printer profiles to use 0.8mm at 35mm/s (like Slic3rPE) and ensure that Z-hop is enabled you'll get very solid results with no fuss. Just configure those settings once, save the profile, and then you won't have to worry about it from that point forward.
Plus, if your son decides that he wants to play around with the more advanced settings, it's just a click away. All of the existing material and print profiles will still work across the board. Cura also lets you make advanced mode as complex as you want. By default it hides a lot of the more arcane features, but you can display as many features as you like. It has a very functional search feature as well, so finding the option you're looking for is very simple. It also has some fun and/or useful experimental features, like tree supports, fuzzy skin, and top layer ironing.
The only real downside that I can think of is that it does hit the CPU/GPU a bit harder than Slic3rPE. That may be an issue if he's going to be using a laptop on battery for an extended period of time, but if he's going to have a laptop on a charger or a desktop it won't make a difference. Slicing also seems to longer, especially if you use features like tree supports, but exporting to Gcode is instant. You also get the time/material estimate on screen without having to export to Gcode, which is very convenient.
Re: Best Software to use for Mk3?
Best is to have/use all of them 🙂
Slic3r/S3D/Cura are on the same level of usability (bad or good is up to you to decide). In all of them you can load a profile and use only this one without knowing all the settings.
Personally I prefer S3D because it's fast and produce good results for complex objects. Slic3r is good, if I need to tweak a little bit more. Had no need to check on Cura. PrusaControl is just not usable for Mac right now.
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RE: Best Software to use for Mk3?
The Bottom Line. The preassembled version of the Original Prusa i3 MK3S is a cinch to get up and running, is easy to operate, and has a good slicing program. It produced consistently beautiful prints in our testing, with no misprints. PCMag editors select and review products independently.
RE: Best Software to use for Mk3?
Personally I'd recommend using Prusaslicer, it has tuned profiles for Prusa printers. It allows first time users to use Simple mode then as they progress they can add the level of control provided by Advanced and Expert mode.
The downside of Cura is that it's sponsored by a Ultimaker and you have a Prusa. I may have misunderstood but Cura doesn't seem to provide the width of filament support that Prusaslicer does.
The downside of S3D is that you have to pay for it and I have read that it is rarely updated.
RE: Best Software to use for Mk3?
I’m not sure that resurrecting a slicer comparison thread from spring of 2018 is very useful today. Much has changed in the last 4-1/2 years.
Cheers
RE: Best Software to use for Mk3?
New user, old thread. It's likely to be a spammer who had yet to figure out the forum software will prevent him from going back and editing his post later on.
RE: Best Software to use for Mk3?
Good point.
New user, old thread. It's likely to be a spammer who had yet to figure out the forum software will prevent him from going back and editing his post later on.