A slicer is the program that translates your 3D model into instructions the printer understands. If you want to print yourself, the slicer is unavoidable — but if you order from a service, you never need to open one. Here we explain what it does and which settings actually matter.
What does a slicer do?
Your 3D model (usually an STL file) only describes the shape's surface. The printer instead needs to know exactly how to move, layer by layer. The slicer "slices" the model into hundreds of thin horizontal layers and generates a file — often G-code — with every movement, temperature and speed.
Need to know how to get a good file to start with? Read how to export STL files.
The settings that matter most
Three settings affect the result the most:
- Layer height. How thick each layer is, often 0.1–0.3 mm. Thinner layers give a smoother surface and finer detail but a longer print time.
- Infill. How dense the inside of the part is, from a couple of percent up to fully solid. More infill gives stronger and heavier parts but costs more time and material.
- Supports. Temporary structures that hold up overhangs and are removed afterwards. How you orient the part determines how much support is needed.
Other settings — temperature, speed, wall thickness and bed adhesion aids — fine-tune the result further.
Why the settings are trickier than they sound
The settings interact. Too high a speed with thin layers gives poor quality; the wrong temperature for the material gives weak or stringy parts; too little support leaves drooping sections. Finding the right combination for each model and material is a big part of the craft — and one reason 3D printing takes time to master.
You don't need a slicer if you order from us
Here's the point: the slicer is only needed if you print yourself. When you order from Wital, we handle the entire slicing step. We choose layer height, infill, orientation and supports based on what your part needs to do — you just upload the model.
That means you skip both the software and the learning curve, and still get a part optimised for its purpose.
Summary
A slicer turns your model into the printer's movements, and the settings drive strength, finish and time. If you want to print yourself you need one — if you just want the part, you don't. Upload your model and get a quote, and we'll take care of the rest.