Industrial grade software
1.Magics
Magics is a Belgian Materialise company launched the product, but also the world's largest user base of 3D printing preprocessing software, with complete data processing capabilities. In addition to all the functions of the basic software, it can also design the lattice structure of the model, texture design, print process design and can generate reports, support for almost all industrial 3D printing process and built-in hundreds of 3D printer models.
Magics has been updated in recent years with more powerful features such as support transfer, which allows users to automatically transfer support structures to similar parts, eliminating the need to recreate supports when changing designs and speeding up data processing. As a software platform, Magics supports a wide range of plug-ins. The introduction of e-stage intelligent support and metal printing simulation modules has provided significant help in the efficient production and reduction of failure rates in metal 3D printing.
2. VoxeldanceAdditive
VoxeldanceAdditive is a popular domestic industrial 3D printing data processing software appeared in the past two years, the software kernel algorithms are mature, no less than the current foreign mainstream data processing software, and has been and dozens of mainstream manufacturers to establish a cooperative relationship with the domestic users to grow rapidly. VoxeldanceAdditive can provide data preparation and additive manufacturing (AM) design of almost all the functions required, and provides a wide range of tools to facilitate users to analyze, prepare and optimize additive manufacturing design.
Not only does it support a wide range of printing technologies, including SLA, LCD, DLP, SLS, and SLM, but it also develops features unique to industry applications. The one-key cup placement function developed for dental applications greatly improves the user's productivity and significantly reduces costs; the featured automatic repair function can perfectly repair 99% of the STL models in the thingi10k model library; the support script and SMART support in the support module can help the user to improve the success rate of printing and printing efficiency. In addition, the software built-in equipment platform covers dozens of domestic and foreign mainstream manufacturers of models, its simple and friendly interface, allows users to quickly get started.
3. Netfabb
Netfabb is a 3D printing data processing tool from software giant Autodesk that is popular in the aerospace, heavy industry, automotive, and healthcare sectors. Netfabb generates optimized designs for stiffness and weight based on part loads and constraints, and is available in two modes: lattice and topology optimization. The optional NetfabbSimulation module enables simulation of the printing process, identifying potential causes of build failure and improving print success. The specialized software is designed to help companies use additive manufacturing in industrial production in an efficient, cost-effective and reliable manner.
However, Netfabb is not just for optimizing designs and simulations; model repair, adding supports, slicing, and more are still basic functions. Users can choose either automatic or manual modes for model repair and support generation; the software also analyzes models for printability and performs related procedures, although some features may require an additional fee.
4.3DXpert
3DXpert is a companion software for metal 3D printing developed by 3DSystems as a single integrated solution that covers the entire metal additive manufacturing process and post-processing machining. With this software, there will no longer be a need to integrate disparate solutions, and users will be able to operate in any file format, saving a significant amount of time and making changes to the history-based parametric CAD model at any stage of the process until the entire finished part is machined.
3DXpert allows users to develop their own printing strategies in addition to the essential printer, material and scanning parameters built in. The software can assign optimal print strategies to different areas and automatically blend them into a single scan path, minimizing print time while maintaining part integrity. Like mainstream 3D printing industry data processing software, 3DXpert also features simulation capabilities to help users overcome thermal distortion challenges. The software is currently sold bundled with the device, but its outstanding functionality has been widely noted in the industry.
Desktop-level software
1. Cura
Cura is a free, open-source 3D printing slicing software developed by Ultimaker, which is fast, slices stably, and supports a variety of operating systems across platforms. With a high degree of accessibility, professionalism and other advantages, Cura has become a leader in print slicing software.
Cura's functionality is divided into two major parts: model slicing and printer control. The interface is simple and clear, and provides detailed tips for each parameter, making it very easy to get started. Although developed by Ultimaker, it supports most desktop 3D printers.
2. PrusaSlicer
PrusaSlicer is a free and open source 3D printing slicing software based on the secondary development of Slic3r, once known as Slic3rPrusaEdition or Slic3rPE. Previously, although Slic3r is powerful and versatile, but some features are difficult to use, based on the development of PrusaSlicer. Its development of PrusaSlicer has a simple user interface, divided into a model placement area, print setup area, material setup area, as well as the printer setup area, clear and concise, the operation efficiency is greatly improved.
At the same time, the software supports FDM/FFF, LCD, DLP printing process data processing, and built-in third-party printer configuration files, the software can be set to Chinese, users can quickly get started.
3. Chitubox
ChiTuBox is a domestic software, its powerful, easy to use, can help users more easily and conveniently for the operation of light curing data processing. In addition to the essential functions of rotating, scaling, mirroring, repairing, skeletonizing, cloning, etc., ChiTuBox is capable of multi-document fast processing, intelligent auto-arrangement, automatic/manual addition of support, and one-click fast slicing.
As the most popular third-party data processing software for light-curing 3D printers, ChiTuBox's extensive set of controls and built-in features speed up the slicing workflow while maintaining high quality file output. ChiTuBox provides official support for more than 20 types of resin printers, and the current free version will always be up to date, while the paid version will be richer in functionality and layout with more detailed and specialized industry-specific features. The paid version will have more features and layouts, more detailed and professional functions, and smarter support algorithms.
4. LycheeSlicer
LycheeSlicer is a 3D printing data processing software with a good user base in foreign countries, which supports SLA, LCD, DLP processes, and is suitable for dental, jewelry, product design and other application scenarios. The user interface is similar to that of PrusaSlicer. In addition to essential model processing functions, LycheeSlicer can automatically optimize the position, support structure, and orientation of one or more models with a single click of a button, and can automatically identify where additional support may need to be added to a model.
LycheeSlicer is currently available in both free and paid versions, and supports 75 different 3D printers, with support for printer customization and resin material profiles, such as specifying the size of the build platform, resin curing time, layer thickness, scanning speed, and material price. The free version has the core functionality of the software but receives relevant ads during use, and the paid version is subject to a monthly fee of €2.49.
5. Simplify3D
Simplify3D is an integrated software solution for desktop-level 3D printing that is powerful and popular in China. Priced at $150, it is considered the only advanced slicing software on the market with features specifically designed to achieve the best quality 3D printing, and is therefore often compared to Cura.
Simplify3D slices extremely fast, and models that take minutes to slice in Cura take only seconds with it. Simplify3D's parameter control window is in tabbed mode, which is a much better user experience than Cura's side-window mode. The simulation feature unique to the software allows users to see all the setup information, such as print speed, sequence, etc., before printing in order to identify problems during the printing process. More than six materials can be printed simultaneously for multi-head printing, which provides greater freedom for applications such as color mixing or customizing material properties.
6. Formware3D
Formware3D has a very user-friendly interface, with the main menu bar providing the usual moving, zooming, mirroring, and viewing options, and the information about the model is displayed in the right panel, which is in line with the user's habit of using it, and it supports LCD and DLP processes.
Formware3D has powerful advanced support generation and editing capabilities. Users can control the critical angle, type, density, and size of each support, as well as whether internal supports are required. After support generation, any part of the support can be easily moved or deleted by simply clicking and dragging or deleting. Each support has several nodes that can be moved, so there is complete control over the position of each support. In addition, in automatic mode, the user can add or remove support locations on the model by clicking on each support.
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From the principle of 3D printing, the key factors affecting the molding accuracy and efficiency of 3D printing can not be separated from the data processing of the 3D model. Small to model repair, support added, large to print process settings, production management, the development of data processing software is also to a certain extent constraints on the development and progress of 3D printing technology. This article lists ten processing software, whether easy to use or complex, can be in the corresponding areas to meet the production needs of different levels of users. Ten software, which one are you using?