Cura: All You Need to Know Before Getting Started

As many of you will know, in order to get a piece 3D printed, you need a slicing software, more commonly known as a slicer. The slicer converts the 3D model into a G-code file that will provide the 3D printer with all the necessary instructions for printing. Cura is a slicing software developed by David Braam in 2014 for this purpose – it was later acquired by Ultimaker. Now, this open-source software is probably the most widely used in the global additive manufacturing market. It is estimated to be used by more than one million users for more than two million printing jobs every week. But what exactly makes Cura so popular?

One of the main benefits of Cura is its ease of use, support for different file formats, and compatibility with many 3D printers. Supported file formats are STL, OBJ, X3D, and 3MF. Although Cura is part of the UltiMaker ecosystem, printers from other manufacturers can also use it. The software is not only 100% free of charge but is also available in 15 languages so that users worldwide can use it as easily as possible. Another feature that contributes to its popularity is the fact that it is compatible with the most common operating systems, Windows, Mac, and Linux. Note that Cura has been certified for Windows and macOS platforms, guaranteeing significant additional security.

How Does the Software Work?

Cura has a simple interface that allows you to choose between two settings right from the start: the recommended mode and custom mode. The recommended setting is particularly suitable for achieving the best result in a few clicks – there is no need to make manual changes to the settings. However, the software is able to choose the optimal orientation of the part to save time for the user, but also the filling rate, the generation of optimized supports to minimize post-processing, layer thickness, etc. A good option when you’re just getting started!