ideaMaker (free Slicer Software beside Cura) as An Alternative
- S3D is preferred Slicer for paid one -
ideaMaker Slicer as an Alternative to S3D (Simplify3D)
One of the most important features in printing 3D Printed RC Plane is to have capability printing some first and last layers with different settings (or in the middle if necessary).
The image on the left side and below show that ideaMaker is able to change extrusion width or add more perimeters to get stronger printed part when gluing for some target layers.
Why OWLplane also Recommends ideaMaker ?
- Free Slicer that has common features and similar user interface to S3D.
- Creating Process Feature in S3D is also found under Per-Layer Settings under Group and Layer Settings in ideaMaker.
- Simple and clean Workflow for slicing OWLplane STLs with pre-defined Profiles.
- Excellent supporting resources such as online Tutorials, active Social Media, online Guides, Tools (Profile Generator and Compare), Ecosystem.
In the early development, OWLplane only rely on utilizing Simplify 3D (S3D) due to its heavily used Process Feature where can split the setting into group of layers. After having experience utilizing ideaMaker, OWLplane found that it has the most similar features and easier to use experience comparing to well known free slicer Cura (very subjective). If you get used to S3D, you should be familiar with the setting window above where the settings grouped into tabs.
Instead of grouped into Processes in S3D, ideaMaker put the similar Process Feature into Per-Layer Settings under Group and Layer Settings. This feature does not exist yet in Cura but indirectly by utilizing STL modifier instead.
Another consideration is that the workflow slicing STL is simple and intuitive by just selecting pre-defined Profile before slicing. Please also find “Installation and Setup” page on how to slice STL file under PRINT tab above.
ideaMaker and S3D User Interface Similarity
The video below shows how two Processes in S3D can be implemented also in ideaMaker. The remaining shows the similarity on the tabs for managing the settings.
ideaMaker, Cura and S3D Dimensional Compensation
Another important feature for slicing 3D printed plane is the need to use Dimensional Compensation Feature. This feature is used to make correction on internal structure issues. When internal structure is too close or too far from the shell, it needs to be corrected by only touching the shell instead of creating gaps or holes.
The video below shows how Dimensional Compensation affecting the 3D printed object result. It is called Dimensional Compensation feature where in S3D is called Horizontal size compensation and in Cura is called Horizontal Expansion.