Prusa Research has released the long-awaited PrusaSlicer 2.6, with new tools that aim to improve overall user experience. Additionally, Prusa says, the update refines G-code generation, resulting in faster print times and an increase in print quality and reliability.
Feature-wise, PrusaSlicer 2.6 is packed. Making its first appearance after being teased more than six months ago are “organic supports”– an “evolution” of the tree support setting found in slicers such as Ultimaker Cura, which Prusa says are easier to remove, more stable, use less materials, print faster, and allow for “previously unthinkable” print orientations.
Furthering this support-related news is an update to the slicer’s FDM support painter tool that allows for automatic painting of a model’s support enforcers (previously this was manual only), inspecting prints “extrusion by extrusion” to ensure that supports are placed as efficiently as possible.
Another feature of note – and timely, to boot, given this week’s ship date for dual-toolhead Prusa XL machines – is multi-tool slicing. With it, users working with multi-toolhead 3D printers can select the toolheads they want to print perimeters, infills, solid infills, support material, and wipe towers’ external perimeters. The feature also lets users set idle temperatures for toolheads in an effort to prevent oozing and filament degradation, as well as print wipe towers with a “stabilizing cone” to prevent them from collapsing.
Also new to PrusaSlicer 2.6 is a tool for text embossing that allows users to insert and interact with text as a 3D object; an improved cut tool that can cut models at any angle, as well as define and add connectors and dowel pins; and a measurement tool that helps “easily measure distances between vertices, edges, and planes” and utilizes a “smart geometry detection algorithm” to recognize circles and their diameters.
The update continues with features (and sub-features) related to dynamic overhang speed, bridging infill anchoring, and vertical shell thickness, as well as new printer and filament profiles, “experimental supports” for PLA, “one-click” import for Printables models – and quite a bit more that will undoubtedly excite PrusaSlicer users.
For the full write-up – which delves into those features only briefly mentioned here – check out Prusa’s PrusaSlicer 2.6 blog article, where you’ll also find a link to download PrusaSlicer 2.6.
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