Simplify3D over Cura
-
This is a topic that, when Google searched, yields dozens of inconclusive, borderline clickbait articles but... is Simplify3D better than Cura, ignoring the cost.
Most of my printing is for profit, for prototypes that need to be in the hands of designers quickly, or batches of end-products to be sold to consumers.
If Simplify3D can improve my print quality in any way, for example; less noticeable seams, better top surfaces, or alternatively improve my work flow, for example by better management of material profiles then it is probably worth it to me.
Does anyone in a similar or relevant position to me use Simplify3D and are glad you paid for it? If so why?
To share the rather strange context of this, im either going to buy a new thermal label printer or Simplify3D... The winner will be the one that makes my life easiest, and I have already quantified the label printer.
-
I'll bite...
IMHO, if you aren't worried about the cost (which really isn't that much), I'd go for S3D each time.
I tried Cura, and just didn't like dealing with the thing, it just wasn't as straightforward for me as S3D.
Having said that, S3D has some difficult/dumb things in there that just don't make sense, but each slicer has it's quirks I think.
-
@Corexy Thanks for replying!
I know there are plenty of forum threads on this topic all over the Web but I wanted to set the context of my particular case, knowing from experience its wise to trust the suggestions of many people on this forum.
I have recently been frustrated with Cura because of a few bugs, its useful to know that S3D has some of its own too.
-
@nbGU said in Simplify3D over Cura:
If Simplify3D can improve my print quality in any way
cannot. s3d is waporvare, they have not released anything for 2 years and what they released 2 years ago is bunch of new profiles for new printers and translations for few new languages.. go to https://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Simplify3D-Reviews-E1187369.htm and ignore first 2 reviews made by the owner and check out the rest of them.. will be all clear to you
for example; less noticeable seams, better top surfaces, or alternatively improve my work flow, for example by better management of material profiles then it is probably worth it to me.
seams are same as in most other slicers (don't even support placing them on corners like you can in some slicers like ideaMaker), profile management is terrible, "processes" are not bad but modifier mesh in slic3r/prusa slicer are much better. What s3d had better than any other slicer back in the day are supports but today support at s3d are same or even worse compared to others. check out idea maker it has all the features s3d has, similar phylosophy, better profile management, more options and is free and actively developped... started as a copy of s3d but surpassed it long time ago... I paid for simplify3d and I use idea maker and not simplify3d. I guess that says enough.
On top of that they hate their community, they censor posts on the forum, share zero info about what they are working on, what they will release etc etc.. and even the promisse of pay once upgrade forever they now broke by announcing (almost 2 years ago) that next release (5.0) will be paid one... not that anyone believe they will ever release it as they move release date for 2 years alredy
Does anyone in a similar or relevant position to me use Simplify3D and are glad you paid for it? If so why?
when I purchased it, many years ago (6+) I was very happy with it as it was many years in front of all other slicers. today I do not use it as it is not nearly as good as other slicers.... and even while I know every detail about s3d slicer I still chose to use other slicers to get the job done 'cause even if I don't know them as good as I know s3d I get better print results with them.
To share the rather strange context of this, im either going to buy a new thermal label printer or Simplify3D... The winner will be the one that makes my life easiest, and I have already quantified the label printer.
do not buy "BROTHER P-TOUCH PT-E100" I am very unhappy with it
.. I tried another brother (looks similar so I expected this PT-E100 will work the same) and I loved it but this one .. ^%#$^ ..Try idea maker
before you decide to purchase s3d. Then if you really don't trust the glassdoor or their own forum ( start for e.g. here https://forum.simplify3d.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=14167 note number of pages, it was over 40 some months ago, they deleted the posts, monitor it for few weeks look how posts they don't like vanish ) purchase s3d, you have 15 days to test it, so test it, compare it to idea maker, and then decide if you want to get your money back or not; make sure to ask for money back bit before 15 days expire...p.s.
here e.g. you can see when it was 16 pages: https://pasteboard.co/JiSZXdx.png
https://pasteboard.co/JiSZ93m.png
https://pasteboard.co/JiSZr5Y.png -
@arhi thanks, really appreciate your reply!
I think that settles it. In the morning I'll flick through the links you shared but looks like I'll be trying Ideamaker.
Also thanks for the heads up on the label printers, its a minefield trying to choose one
-
Don't bother with S3D. There are some show-stopping bugs: missing infill layers, etc.
-
So Idea Maker is better than Cura?
-
I have recently migrated from S3D to PrusaSlicer (Cura clone), for basically the same reasons as @arhi said. S3D was good, but have been surpassed by most, if not all, of the free slicers available. Next version of PrusaSlicer will have a bunch of new features, making it even better (ironing the top layer, painting supports and many others).
One area where S3D is better than PrusaSlicer, is the speed at which it slices. That said, a bunch of the features I use, are labeled as making slicing slower due to increased calculations (and is not available in S3D).
At this time, I am recommending moving away from from S3D.
-
I can not really judge if anything is better than Cura because I never used it on a consistent basis - I tried, but never liked it really.
For my use - based on comfort, dependability, and familiarity, I'd rank as:
1st - ideaMaker
2nd - S3D
Close 2nd - Prusa-slicerOnly complaints, and very minor at that, I'd give ideaMaker is the odd exporting of configuration files, can't get rid of their machine's configurations, and it won't send the gcode directly to the duet.
-
@nbGU said in Simplify3D over Cura:
Also thanks for the heads up on the label printers, its a minefield trying to choose one
I purchased that one and I'm not happy with it. 2x changed (inside first 6 months, free as I have 2y waranty on it), and it don't laminate the tape properly, they come apart quickly
... the similar one with exactly the same tape does much better job ... that's rather old model but I seen it still being sold online on different "action" prices..Dunno what you are going to label but for e.g. I'm biting my leg for not adding a bit more cache to get one that can also print on heat-shrink tubes. For labeling cables heatshrink tubes are waaaaaaaaaaay better solution than tape
-
@Corexy said in Simplify3D over Cura:
So Idea Maker is better than Cura?
IMHO way better, but at the end of the day, it's a matter of taste. Cura's open design allows for a ton of plugins and I can't say I tried making a plugin for Cura nor that I tested many of the available ones. Idea Maker is on the other hand CLOSED source, proprietary software, so it is free, but is not open. IMHO as is it is much better than Cura but I would not put money on that statement as I don't know Cura that good, I never liked it; something about Cura never worked for me. Only thing I'd say that I can 100% back is that everyone should TRY Idea Maker and decide for themselves!! Or even better, I think I mentioned already, everyone that is in 3D printing for more then a side hobby should, every 6-12 months, go trough all of the free ones and try them out.
-
@Jacotheron said in Simplify3D over Cura:
I have recently migrated from S3D to PrusaSlicer (Cura clone)
you mean Slic3r clone
One area where S3D is better than PrusaSlicer, is the speed at which it slices. That said, a bunch of the features I use, are labeled as making slicing slower due to increased calculations (and is not available in S3D).
Try IdeaMaker it's as fast as S3D or faster, you can configure how many cores you want it using while slicing Of course, if you select cpu heavy options like adaptive infill it will be slow but S3D don't have those fancy options so can't really compare -
@Kolbi said in Simplify3D over Cura:
Only complaints, and very minor at that, I'd give ideaMaker is the odd exporting of configuration files, can't get rid of their machine's configurations, and it won't send the gcode directly to the duet.
rather big complaint is that it does not talk to octoprint nor rrf, second rather big complaint from me is that it cannot set origin to be at the center of the table. You can configure template to have offset so when you put object on center of the table it will print on center of the table but preview will still show it in the left bottom corner. I could not even get IM to exec external script to upload file using CURL (what I made S3D do to upload files to octoprint and rrf).
wrt configuration, I'm not sure what you mean, you can export all three things separately?
-
@arhi Sure, I do export and backup all my stuff once it's solidified as a solid setup, but it is not the most intuitive gui for such and always feels odd to me - that's all
-
Personally I wouldn't recommend anyone bother with paying for S3D at this point. If you're getting started, learn to use both Cura and Slic3r/PrusaSlicer, save your money and get more filament. There's really nothing that S3D has on them these days. S3D needs to get an update out the door and show what the value is.
Cura has a crazy amount of control if you start to unhide the features, so it's a great slicer that can grow with you as you learn. Supports and modifier meshes are better than anything S3D can do at this point.
So don't spend money on S3D assuming it will make prints better or provide you something that the free slicers can't because that's not really the case anymore. If I was going to spend money on a slicer these days I would try Kissslicer, at least they are doing some innovative stuff and have frequent releases. S3D from what I gather is currently dysfunctional and is just as likely to go out of business as release a new version.
For those that are comfortable using it and have been using it for a long time that's awesome. It's a competent slicer to be sure, but I wouldn't say it's worth the money compared to the competition these days.
-
@Phaedrux This is true on S3D, unless they come out with the great update....
It still comes in 2nd on my list due to the fact that I've been using it for some years (very comfortable with it) and it has never really failed me.
But YES, if just starting - I would advise not to learn it as it seems DIW.
