To slice a 3D model, open it in a slicer, pick your printer, filament and layer height, turn on supports or a brim if needed, click slice, then check the preview layer by layer. The slicer then writes the file your printer reads.
Research-based guide. This article is compiled from manufacturer documentation and has not been checked on a test printer. Treat every figure as a starting point and follow your own printer's manual where it differs.
What does it mean to slice a 3D model?
Slicing converts a 3D model into layer-by-layer printer instructions. A slicer cuts the model into thin horizontal layers, plans the path the nozzle takes for each layer, and writes those moves into a file for the printer. The full explanation is in what is a slicer, and the file types are in STL vs 3MF vs G-code.
Slicers differ in layout, but the workflow below is the same in PrusaSlicer, Bambu Studio, Orca Slicer and Cura. Prusa and Bambu Lab both document it, and the order matches.
How do you slice a model for the first time, step by step?
Import the model, check its orientation, choose the right profiles, set a few options, slice, preview and export. The steps below follow Prusa's first-print guide for PrusaSlicer and Bambu Lab's guides for Bambu Studio.
- Import the model. Drag it into the window, use the Add button, or choose File, then Import. PrusaSlicer supports STL, STEP, 3MF, OBJ and AMF files (Prusa).
- Fix the orientation. If the model lands the wrong way up, use the Rotate tool. PrusaSlicer also has Place on Face: click a flat plane on the model and it aligns with the virtual print bed.
- Select the printer. If you only picked one printer in the setup wizard, it is already selected.
- Select the filament preset. Prusa says different materials need different temperatures, speeds and cooling, and that presets exist for many materials. Bambu Lab's A1 guide tells you to select the right printer type, plate type and filament before slicing.
- Choose a layer height. Prusa suggests 0.15 or 0.2 mm layers to start, as they give very good quality at reasonable print times.
- Add supports or a brim if needed. See the sections below.
- Click Slice. The view switches to a preview.
- Check the preview, then export or send. Export the file, or send it over the network.
Here are the maker-specific walkthroughs: PrusaSlicer for beginners, Bambu Studio for beginners, Orca Slicer for beginners and Cura for beginners.
Which settings matter most for a first slice?
Only a handful: material, layer height, supports, infill and bed adhesion. Leave everything else on the default profile until a print shows a problem.
| Setting | Starting point | What it changes |
|---|---|---|
| Filament preset | Match the spool you loaded | Temperatures, speed, cooling |
| Layer height | 0.15 to 0.2 mm (Prusa's suggestion) | Quality against print time |
| Supports | Off, unless the preview shows floating parts | Overhangs print in mid-air without them |
| Infill | Around 15% works well (Prusa) | Strength, time and filament use |
| Brim | On for tall or small-footprint parts | Adhesion and warping |
Prusa explains the logic: sparse infill is an internal support structure for top layers, and you usually want as little as you can get away with to reduce time and material. A brim adds extra outlines to the first layer, which helps on parts with a small footprint, and is usually easy to remove by hand. For deeper reading: layer height explained, infill explained, supports explained and brim vs raft vs skirt.
How do you check a sliced model in the preview?
Scroll through every layer before printing. Prusa says it is good practice to always preview the G-code: after clicking Slice, you land in preview mode, and you can drag the slider to inspect individual layers. Check that the overall shape matches the model, and look for parts that would start printing in mid-air. If you see any, turn on support generation.
- Check the first layer fills the area you expect.
- Look for thin walls or details that vanished.
- Read the estimated time and filament use if the slicer shows them.
- Look for towers or tall thin parts that may wobble, and consider a brim.
The estimates are the slicer's, not a measured print result, and real times differ with printer acceleration. Treat them as a planning guide only.
Which slicer should you use first?
Use the one your printer's maker supports. Bambu Lab printers pair with Bambu Studio, Prusa printers with PrusaSlicer, and Creality, Elegoo and Anycubic printers work with Cura, Orca Slicer or their own branded slicer. Orca Slicer, PrusaSlicer and Bambu Studio share a similar layout, so skills transfer. If you are still deciding, Cura vs Orca vs PrusaSlicer compares them.
Whichever you pick, go through the setup wizard once so the printer profile is correct. A wrong bed size or nozzle diameter is a common first-slice mistake, and the diameter in the profile must match the nozzle fitted (see how to replace a 3D printer nozzle).
Where do you get a model to slice?
Download one from a model site or design your own. Where to find 3D models lists reliable sources, and designing your first print in Tinkercad is a gentle start for making one. For a first slice, pick something small, flat on the bottom and without steep overhangs.
What happens after you slice?
Get the file to the printer and start the job. Choose between a card, a drive or Wi-Fi in how to send a print to your 3D printer. Before printing, make sure the plate is clean (see how to clean a 3D printer bed) and the machine is ready, using the 3D printer setup checklist. The whole journey from idea to finished part is in the how to 3D print pillar guide.
