CURA SOFTWARE, The Best Software

Cura prepares your model for 3D printing. For novices, it makes it easy to get great results. For experts, there are over 200 settings to adjust to your needs. As it’s open source, our community helps enrich it even more.
Windows
Cura 2.1.2(64 bit)
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 Download Cura 15.04.5
 View the Cura manual
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 Release notes

THE WORLD’S MOST ADVANCED
3D PRINTER SOFTWARE
Cura creates a seamless integration between hardware, software and materials for the best 3D printing experience around.
Novices can start printing right away and experts are able to customize 200 settings to achieve the best results for their models
Optimized profiles for Ultimaker materials
Supported by a global network of Ultimaker certified service partners
Print multiple objects at once with different settings for each object
Cura supports STL, 3MF and OBJ file formats
It’s open source and completely free
Cura Slicing Software

This video walks you through the basics of preparing your model with Cura.

3 STEPS TO PRINTING A 3D MODEL
Every model you design for print must be translated by Cura into instructions your Ultimaker will understand. It does this by slicing your model into thin layers and exporting the file to your SD card ready for print. Here’s the process in a bit more detail.
1. CREATE AN OBJECT WITH 3D MODELING SOFTWARE
The first thing you’ll need is a 3D model. Just be sure to export your file in either a STL, 3MF or OBJ file format so Cura can understand it. 
2. IMPORT YOUR 3D MODEL FILE INTO CURA
Within moments, Cura slices your model ready for print. You can preview it, scale it and adjust settings as you’d like. Save it to your SD card.
3. 3D PRINT YOUR MODEL ON YOUR ULTIMAKER
Insert the SD card into your Ultimaker, click print and your printer will spring into life accurately realizing your model in 3D.

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3D Printer Software: SketchUp Make, SketchUp Pro

SketchUp is a 3D modeling program for applications such as architectural, interior design, civil and mechanical engineering. Its powerful yet easy to use interface make it ideal for beginners in 3D modeling. A freeware version, SketchUp Make, and a paid version with additional functionality, SketchUp Pro, are available. Note that the free version does not allow you to export to *.stl for 3D printing, you'll need to install a plug-in to do so.

Download SketchUp

Watch a getting started video.

Learn by watching our beginner, intermediate, and expert video tutorials.

Learn about SketchUp's tools.

Our knowledge center is a fully loaded 3D modeling encyclopedia.

Ask a question in the SketchUp Forums.

Our forums are packed with SketchUp experts who just want to help. Ask a question and see for yourself.

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White Paper: 3D Printing, Now and Beyond

3D printing has already begun its disruption in a wide variety of industries, from aerospace to medicine. As mainstream manufacturers begin to incorporate this technology into their supply chains at an increasing pace, 3D printing will no longer be a niche tool for rapid prototyping, but an advanced technique for fabricating a wide array of complex objects on demand. This is only the first phase for a technology that is evolving rapidly. 

To learn more about the revolutionary impact that this technology is already making, as well as the profound implications of the technology’s ultimate evolution, download this nine-page white paper written by leading 3D printing expert Hod Lipson. 

Download...

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OpenSCAD is a software for creating solid 3D CAD objects.

OpenSCAD is a software for creating solid 3D CAD objects.

It is free software and available for Linux/UNIX, MS Windows and Mac OS X.

Other OSs and Versions

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FreeCAD - Best 3D Printing Software (Free)

For Intermediate Users who want to Design 3D Print Models
FreeCAD is a CAD software that’s rich in features, and a great resource for developing your design skills. The more technical description is that it’s a parametric 3D modeler, which allows you to easily modify your design by going back into your model history and editing its parameters.
Download: freecadweb.org
Price: Free
Systems: PC, Mac, Linux
Learn More: ALL3DP has an extensive step-by-step tutorial on how to use FreeCAD, plus a tutorial on how to create 3D printable text or nameplates.

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Best 3D Printing Software: Repetier

For Intermediate Users who need Slicer Software to prepare STL files for 3D Printing.

If you’re ready to graduate to the next level of 3D printer slicer software but want to stay within an open source framework, then Repetier is a compelling option. This is the great-grandaddy of 3D printing software and the favored choice within the RepRap maker community.

Now, the thing to note is that this application straddles the intermediate to advanced user spectrum. Pitched as an all-in-one solution, it offers multi-extruder support (up to 16 extruders!), mutli-slicer support via plugins, and support for virtually any FDM 3D printer on the market. Be prepared to do a lot of tinkering! 

Moreover, Repetier Host also offers remote access features, via Repetier Server, so you can access and control your 3D printer from anywhere via a browser on your PC, tablet or smartphone.

Download: Repetier

Price: Free

Systems: PC, Mac, Linux

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ReplicatorG is a simple, Open source 3D printing program

This is the software that will drive your MakerBot Replicator, Thing-O-Matic, CupCake CNC, RepRap machine, or generic CNC machine. You can give it a GCode or STL file to process, and it takes it from there. It's cross platform, easily installed, and is based on the familiar Arduino / Processing environments. ReplicatorG is used by thousands of MakerBot Operators, and has printed tens of thousands of 3D objects and counting.

Read full and Download...

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Blender for 3D Printing

Blender has supported 3D printing modeling and file formats since 2002. However, with Blender version 2.67 this now is even more accessible and powerful, thanks to the 3D Printing Toolbox and real-time Mesh Analysis features.

This Training DVD is for everyone who is into 3D printing, beginners and professionals alike. There are extensive chapters introducing Blender modeling for new users, and then going on to cover everything you need to know to create efficient, high-quality 3D prints – including color, wall thickness, and overhang problems. You will also find printable models to experiment with yourself.

Whether you own your own 3D printer, or use online services such as ShapeWays, this 3+-hour training DVD will help you join in this exciting new maker era!

About Dolf Veenvliet

Dolf Veenvliet is a Dutch artist who has been exploring 3D printing for sculpture design for many years. He is an enthusiastic user of Blender, owns a MakerBot printer, and is a big fan of anything open and shared. On his website macouno.com you can find many examples of his work.

Latest Updates

Baking & Hair

Finishing & Exporting

Cleanup

Posing the Character

Checking the Render

Introduction

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Slic3r 1.2.9 stable is out!

It includes real-time incremental slicing, 3D preview, toolpaths preview, 3D honeycomb, customizable bed shape, integration with OctoPrint, pressure regulation and much more!

Download Now! (Free. For MacOS X, Windows and Linux.)

Features

Compatible with your printer too.

RepRap (Prusa Mendel, MendelMax, Huxley, Tantillus...), Ultimaker, Makerbot, Lulzbot AO-100, TAZ, MakerGear M2, Rostock, Mach3, Bukobot and lots more. And even DLP printers.

Fast G-code generation is fast.

Don't wait hours for slicing that detailed model. Slic3r is about 100x faster than Skeinforge. It also uses multithreading for parallel computation.

Lots of input/output formats.

Slic3r reads STL, AMF and OBJ files while it can output G-code and SVG files.

Do you like the graphical interface or command line?

All the features of the user-friendly interface are also available from command line. This allows to integrate Slic3r in your custom toolchain and batch operations as you like.

Open source, open development.

Slic3r is open source software, licenced under the AGPLv3 license. The development is centered on GitHub and the #slic3r IRC channel on FreeNode, where the community is highly involved in testing and providing ideas and feedback.

Dependencies? Nah.

Slic3r is super-easy to run: download, double click and enjoy. No dependencies needed. Hassle-free. For MacOS X, Windows, Linux.

Print with dual multiple extruders.

Print beautiful colored objects, or use your secondary extruder to build support material. Or put a larger nozzle on it and print a faster infill.

Use brim for the best adhesion.

This unique feature improves built plate adhesion by generating a base flange around your objects that you can easily remove after printing.

Microlayering: save time, increase accuracy.

You can choose to print a thicker infill to benefit from low layer heights on perimeters and still keep your print time within a reasonable amount.

Compose a plate but print one object at time.

Use the built-in plating interface that allows to place objects with drag-and-drop, rotate and scale them, arrange everything as you like. The sequential printing feature allows to print one complete object at time in a single print job.

Cool cooling strategies.

A very smart cooling logic will regulate your fan speed and print speed to ensure each layer has enough time to cool down before next one is laid on it.

Manage multiple printers, filaments and build styles.

The configuration handling system was designed for people working with multiple machines and filaments: you can save configurations as presets for each category avoiding to multiply your saved configurations.

Enjoy support material.

Automatic generation of support material for overhangs.

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