# Recommended Free Slicer Programs for 3D Printing
To print with a 3D printer, the design must be converted into a language that the 3D printer can understand. In other words, after designing through CAD, it is necessary to determine the temperature, speed, and path at which the 3D design should be moved and printed in the 3D space on the 3D printer bed. The slicer takes the CAD information and converts it into this format.
Below, we introduce four well-known slicer software that are user-friendly for beginners and intermediate users.
To use a 3D printer, a slicer program that converts CAD files into output files is required. Most companies that sell 3D printers provide slicers, but if you purchase from a low-cost company or assemble them through DIY, you may need to prepare a separate slicer.
There are many slicers on the market, but we will introduce the slicer software that is most popular and easy to use for beginners and intermediate users. For beginners, it is recommended to use the basic profile and avoid adjusting detailed conditions.
1. Ultimaker Cura
- This is a slicer specifically for FDM/FFF. Cura is software developed by Ultimaker, a Dutch FDM printer company.
- It was developed as open source, and the slicer program itself is provided free of charge.
- However, some functions and platforms for using Ultimaker’s services are provided for a fee.
- As it is the program that has been developed for the longest time, it provides settings for various printers and materials.
- In addition to the default settings for beginners, it provides dozens of changeable settings for intermediate and advanced users, allowing you to experiment with the performance of your 3D printer in a variety of ways.
- Additionally, additional features developed by general users can be installed in the form of plug-ins.
2. Prusa
- Slicer Prusa Slicer is a slicer developed by Prusa Research in the Czech Republic. Initially, the open source slicer Slic3r was used, but development was gradually carried out based on this open source slicer, resulting in the current Prusa slicer.
- It’s free and allows you to select not only the default settings for our products, but also the settings for FFF printers from small and medium-sized companies.
- Like Cura, it provides a variety of settings that can be used by beginners as well as intermediate and advanced users.
3. CHITUBOX
- CHITUBOX is a Chinese slicer software specialist. Unlike the companies above, this is a slicer exclusively for SLA and LCD 3D printers.
- It provides settings for various brands of SLA and LCD 3D printers, and the support settings can also be freely configured by the user.
- There is a free basic mode and a paid pro mode. The paid mode supports CAD file support and model modification functions.
4. AstroPrint
- AstroPrint is a cloud-based slicer developer. Unlike the slicers introduced above, Astro Print is provided in the cloud without installing a separate program, so it can be printed and managed on PC and mobile.
- Compatible with various FFF printers. However, like the software above, the user cannot specify detailed setting values, so there is no freedom in setting.
- There is a free basic plan and a paid premium plan. The free version can manage two printers and provides 1 gigabyte of storage.
I recommend the above four slicers for beginners and intermediate users, but the best slicer among the FDM/FFF equipment that I have used was Grabcad from Stratasys.
Although this is a slicer used in industrial equipment, I was able to get great (precise) output with the default settings without any problems.
If you get the chance, I hope you can experience the printing experience.