Slicer: what it does and why we calculate the price from it
A slicer is a program that cuts a 3D model into thin layers and works out the nozzle path for each one. The result is G-code for the printer and exact figures for material use and print time.
No model? No problem, pick a ready one
These sites have thousands of free models. Download an STL or 3MF and upload it here. If you sell it or use it for business, check the model licence. How to pick a model and licence
What a slicer does
A slicer takes a model in a format such as STL or 3MF and cuts it into layers, 0.2 mm thick in our case. For each layer it works out where the nozzle goes along the perimeter, what lattice fills the inside and where supports are needed. It saves the result as G-code, which the printer understands.
Well-known slicers include PrusaSlicer, Bambu Studio, Cura and OrcaSlicer. Several of them share a common ancestor, the program Slic3r.
How we use a slicer
We really do prepare every uploaded model for printing on our server, in a slicer built on OrcaSlicer, with settings for our Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 printers. The slicer tells us the exact grams of filament, the print time and how many parts fit on one plate.
From these figures we calculate the price per part and the delivery date, even for orders of up to 5,000 parts. It is not an estimate based on volume, which for hollow or intricate parts can be far from the truth.
What affects the result from the slicer
- Strength, meaning infill. Light 10 %, standard 15 %, strong 40 %. More infill means more grams and a longer print. See the entry on infill.
- Material. PLA and PETG differ in density and print speed, so the same part costs a different amount in each.
- Model shape. Overhangs add supports, and so material and time. Sometimes it helps to adjust a part so that it stands on a flat face.
Common questions
Do I have to prepare the model in a slicer myself?
No. Send an STL, 3MF, OBJ or STEP file and we will prepare it for printing. We do not accept G-code from customers.
Which slicer do you use?
A slicer built on OrcaSlicer, running on our server with settings for our printers.
Why is the price exact straight away?
Because the model really goes through the slicer, and we calculate the price from the actual grams and print time, not from an estimate.
Related terms
G-code
G-code is a list of commands for a printer or CNC machine that sets the movements, speed, temperature and amount of material. In 3D printing a slicer creates it from a 3D model.
Infill
Infill is the sparse lattice that fills the inside of a part in 3D printing. It is given as a percentage, and the higher it is, the stronger, heavier and dearer the part.
Layer height
Layer height is the thickness of a single layer, from which the printer builds the part from the bottom up. It affects how visible the layers are on the surface and how long printing takes.
Supports
Supports are auxiliary columns of material that hold up the overhanging parts of a part in 3D printing. They are removed after printing, but they add material, time and marks on the surface.
FDM
FDM is a 3D printing technology where the printer melts plastic filament and lays it down through a nozzle layer by layer. It is the most widespread and cheapest way to 3D print.
SourcesSources checked 1 November 2026, 3
- Slicer (3D printing), Wikipedia, checked 2026-11-01
- OrcaSlicer, GitHub, checked 2026-11-01
- PrusaSlicer, Wikipedia, checked 2026-11-01
We will print it for you
Upload a model and see the price per piece, the total with shipping and the date at once. We print in Košice, Slovakia, from PLA and PETG.
No model? No problem, pick a ready one
These sites have thousands of free models. Download an STL or 3MF and upload it here. If you sell it or use it for business, check the model licence. How to pick a model and licence