Cura for Beginners: Setup and First Slice
A step-by-step beginner guide to Cura: install, add your printer, choose Recommended settings, slice, preview and print your first model.
By Sepehr Sabbagh-pour · Published 10 October 2026 · 4 min read
Cura is a free slicer that turns a 3D model into a file your printer can run. This guide covers installing it, adding your printer, understanding the two print-setup views, and slicing a first model. It is desk research from the Cura source repository and release notes, so the setting values are starting points, not tested results. If you are new to the idea, read what a slicer is first.
1. Download and install Cura
Cura is developed by UltiMaker and published as open source under the LGPL-3.0 license. The latest release on its GitHub releases page when this was checked (2026-10-10) is 5.13.0, dated 2026-05-28. Installers listed for that release:
- Windows: .exe and .msi (64-bit)
- macOS: .dmg and .pkg, in separate Apple silicon (ARM64) and Intel (X64) builds
- Linux: an X64 AppImage
Download from the official GitHub releases page or UltiMaker's own site, and match the macOS build to your Mac's chip. The 5.13.0 notes mention an option to set file associations during the Windows install.
2. Add your printer
On first start Cura shows a welcome flow that ends with an add-printer step. Choose "Add a non-networked printer" unless you own a networked UltiMaker machine. You can search the list by name and filter by manufacturer. Pick your exact model, because the profile carries the build volume, nozzle size and start G-code for that machine.
If your printer is not listed, the list has a custom option, and many printer makers publish their own Cura profile. Check your printer's support page. A wrong or generic profile is the most common reason a first print fails, so confirm the nozzle diameter matches what is fitted. Our guide to nozzle sizes explains what the number means.
3. Load a model
Use File, then Open File(s), and choose an STL or 3MF file. See STL vs 3MF vs G-code for the difference. Free models are easy to find; our page on where to find 3D models lists places to look. The model appears on a virtual build plate sized to your printer.
4. Pick material and quality in Recommended mode
Cura has two print-setup views: Recommended and Custom. Recommended is the default and shows a short list of controls. According to the source code, its groups are:
- Profiles / resolution: a quality profile, where lower layer heights give finer detail and slower prints.
- Strength: infill density, infill pattern and shell thickness (the thickness of side walls, roof and floor).
- Auto-Support: generates structures under overhangs. It offers a Support Structure choice of Normal or Tree, and a Placement choice.
- Adhesion: enables a brim or raft. Cura's tooltip says disabling it results in a skirt by default.
For a first print, change as little as possible. Choose the material that matches your filament, keep the default quality profile, and leave supports off unless the preview shows large overhangs. Read more in supports explained.
5. Slice and check the preview
Click Slice. Cura shows "Slicing..." and then a time estimate, and you can switch to the Preview stage to scrub through layers. Look for three things: that the first layer covers the bed, that overhangs have supports where needed, and that nothing floats. Preview is cheaper than a failed print.
6. Send or save the file
After slicing, the Slice button changes to an output action that depends on your printer: send over the network if your printer is connected, or save the G-code to a drive or SD card and put it in the printer. Then start the print from the printer's screen. A good first layer is the best predictor of a successful print, so watch it. If it goes wrong, see fix a bad first layer.
Custom mode and setting visibility
The Custom view shows the full settings list. Cura filters it with visibility presets named Basic, Advanced and Expert. The Basic preset in the source repository includes these settings:
| Group | Basic settings |
|---|---|
| Quality | Layer height |
| Shell | Wall thickness, wall line count, top and bottom layers |
| Infill | Infill density, infill pattern |
| Material | Printing temperature, build plate temperature, enable retraction |
| Speed | Print speed |
| Cooling | Enable print cooling, fan speed |
| Support | Generate support, structure, placement, overhang angle |
For reference, the generic definition file that printer profiles build on lists these defaults: layer height 0.1 mm, infill density 20%, two wall lines, print speed 60 mm/s, printing temperature 210°C and build plate temperature 60°C. Your printer's profile overrides many of them, so read the values shown in your own Cura rather than relying on these.
Useful settings to learn next are layer height, infill and retraction.
Tip. Cura saves modified settings as a custom profile on top of the built-in one. Change one setting at a time and re-slice, so you know what caused any difference.
Cura or another slicer?
Cura offers community-managed print profiles for many printers. Bambu Lab owners usually prefer Bambu Studio or Orca Slicer. For a side-by-side view, see Cura vs Orca vs PrusaSlicer.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cura free?
Yes. Cura is open source under the LGPL-3.0 license and free to download for Windows, macOS and Linux from its GitHub releases page.
Which Cura mode should a beginner use?
Start with Recommended mode. It shows quality, strength, support and adhesion in a short list. Switch to Custom when you want to change individual settings.
Why does my printer not appear in Cura?
Cura's printer list covers many machines but not all. Look for a profile from your printer maker, or use the custom printer option and enter the build volume and nozzle size from your printer's specifications.
Does Cura work with Bambu Lab printers?
Cura is built for general FDM printers. Bambu Lab's own slicer is Bambu Studio, and OrcaSlicer also supports Bambu Lab printers according to its README, so owners often use one of those.
What file formats can Cura open?
STL and 3MF are the common ones. Check the File, Open File(s) dialog for the full list in your version.
Sources
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Software engineer since 2009 and Head of Engineering by day, a maker who has owned several 3D printers, writing practical guides to 3D printers, filament and running costs, with every article saying what was and was not tested.
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