Orca Slicer is a fork of Bambu Studio, which is made by Bambu Lab. It's quickly becoming the best slicer you can use for 3D printing. don't forget that Bambu Studio is actually based on Prusa Slicer, Super Slicer, and Slick 3r, all open source and always getting better.
Download & Install Orca Slicer
The first thing we want to do is download Orca Slicer on Github. Currently V1.9.1 is the latest version when we upload the article.
https://github.com/SoftFever/OrcaSlicer/releases/
Scroll down to the assets section, and download the version that's right for you. There are Windows, Linux and Mac versions can be choosed.
Once it's downloaded, you want to extract that file because it downloads as a zip file. So go to the folder that it downloaded to, right-click, and choose extract. Scroll down to the Orca Slicer.exe file and double click it to open it to continue installation process.
When it opens, click that 'Get Started' button. From there, you'll be able to choose the country that you're in. Then you'll go into the printer selection screen. If you click 'Next' here, you'll go to the filament screen, and you'll choose all of the filament profiles you want to use. The next screen you'll see is the network plugin screen. All that's left now is just to press 'Finish.' When that's all done, that's it. Orca Slicer is officially installed.
Printer, Filament and Process Settings
You can actually choose to sign in if you want to sign into your Bambu Lab account, and all of your Bambu Lab printers will show up.
To get started, we click that 'New Project' button, and from there, our experience begins. In Ocra Slicer, the interface is divided into three main sections: Printer, Filament , and Process. Each section offers a range of customizable options and parameters that allow users to fine-tune their slicing process and optimize their prints. Let's delve into each of these sections to understand their functions and the settings they offer:
1. Printer Settings:
- Printer Selection: Users can choose from a list of pre-configured printer profiles or create custom profiles tailored to their specific 3D printer models.
- Build Volume: Define the physical dimensions of the build volume, including the length, width, and height of the printing area.
- Extruder Configuration: Configure settings such as nozzle diameter, filament diameter, and number of extruders.
- Bed Leveling: Adjust parameters related to automatic or manual bed leveling procedures, ensuring optimal adhesion and print quality.
- Printer Connectivity: Specify connection settings for interfacing with 3D printers, including USB, network, or SD card options.
2. Filament Settings:
- Filament Type: Select the type of filament being used, such as PLA, ABS, PETG, etc.
- Printing Temperature: Set the extruder and heated bed temperatures required for the selected filament material.
- Retraction Settings: Adjust parameters related to filament retraction, including retraction distance and speed, to minimize stringing and improve print quality.
- Cooling Fan Control: Configure fan speed and cooling settings to optimize print quality for different filament materials and geometries.
- Filament Diameter: Specify the diameter of the filament being used, ensuring accurate extrusion and dimensional accuracy in printed parts.
3. Process Settings:
- Layer Height: Define the thickness of each printed layer, influencing print resolution and surface finish.
- Infill Density: Set the density of the infill structure inside printed parts, balancing strength and material usage.
- Print Speed: Adjust the speed at which the extruder moves during printing, controlling print time and quality.
- Support Structures: Enable or disable support structures and configure settings such as support density, angle, and interface layers.
- Advanced Options: Access additional settings such as adaptive layer height, ironing, and coasting, allowing for further customization and optimization of print parameters.
By utilizing the Printer, Filament, and Process sections in Ocra Slicer, users have the flexibility and control to tailor their slicing profiles to suit their specific needs and preferences. Whether fine-tuning print settings for a new filament type, optimizing print speed for efficiency, or experimenting with advanced features, Ocra Slicer empowers users to achieve exceptional results in their 3D printing endeavors.
Kingroon KLP1 OrcaSlicer Profile :
https://1drv.ms/f/s!AmGcVrncIH3Zk2otPcnHZrOZPGA5?e=eH3KUu
Kingroon KP3S Pro V2 Orca Slicer Profile:
https://1drv.ms/f/s!AmGcVrncIH3Zk2lBqc72A8oVQf-U?e=ZEUpYw
The coolest thing of OrcaSlicer is they packed in a ton more features and a lot more options that you can actually play with inside of Orca Slicer.
Orca Slicer Features
One of my favorite things you can do is go to the top left and click that calibration tab. This is going to give you total control of any printer that you put in Orca Slicer. It gives you things like e-steps, flow rate, pressure advance, retraction, and so much more. All of these calibrations are built right in. If you have any questions about how any of these work or how to use them or what they do, just click that tutorial button, and that brings up a web page, and it is very detailed.
On top of the awesome calibrations you can do, you can add almost any printer you want right to Orca Slicer. There's already a ton of pre-configured profiles for you to use as well, and they're always adding more.
The other cool thing is I can add my RatRig 500 that uses Klipper or a Voron printer when I get a Voron right to this as well. Not only will they work in Orca Slicer, they'll interface in Orca Slicer as well, and that's super cool because you'll be able to see all of the details right in your slicer as the printers are printing, as long as they're networked.
Remote Printing and Control
On top of all that, if your printer is networked, you'll be able to monitor it in that device tab. I fell in love with this using the Bambu Lab printers, not only looking through the app on my desktop but also that Bambu Handy app on my phone. But the cool thing is now I can add the other printers as well, as long as the printer is networked.
Overall, there are a ton of awesome features jam-packed into Orca Slicer. And the cool thing is, they're always updating and upgrading it, fixing bugs, and really keeping on top. So, I highly suggest you jump out there and try it for yourselves because, you know what, it's free!