OrcaSlicer Deep Dive: Every Setting Explained
Why OrcaSlicer?
OrcaSlicer is a fork of Bambu Studio and BambuSlicer, which itself is based on PrusaSlicer/Slic3r. It adds one critical thing the others don't have: a comprehensive calibration workflow built directly into the application. It also supports virtually every FDM printer via community-maintained profiles.
Download: github.com/SoftFever/OrcaSlicer
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Profile Structure
OrcaSlicer has three profile layers that combine into your final sliced output:
Printer Profile: defines your machine — bed size, travel speed, firmware type (Marlin, Klipper, RepRapFirmware), bed temperature limits.
Filament Profile: defines your material — temperatures, retraction, cooling, pressure advance value. One profile per filament roll (or at least per material type).
Process Profile: defines print quality parameters — layer height, infill density, supports, speeds. One profile per quality level (Draft/Standard/Quality).
When you slice, these three combine. Change one without affecting the others.
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Quality / Process Settings
Layer Height
- Layer height: the primary quality vs speed tradeoff. 0.2mm = standard. 0.1mm = detail. 0.3mm = fast/structural.
- First layer height: usually 0.2mm regardless of layer height. Thicker first layer compensates for bed variation.
- Variable layer height: right-click a model → Variable Layer Height. OrcaSlicer can automatically thin layers in detailed areas and thicken in simple areas.
Walls and Shells
- Outer wall count: increases strength and waterproofness. 2-3 is standard. 4+ for mechanical parts.
- Wall order: inner walls before outer walls by default. Outer-first gives slightly better dimensional accuracy.
- Seam position: where each layer's start point is. Aligned = visible seam line (use for invisible inside). Random = speckled (less visible overall). Sharpest corner = hides seam in geometry.
Top and Bottom Shells
- Top shell layers: how many solid layers cap the top. 4-5 is standard. More = stronger top, better looking, more time.
- Bottom shell layers: same for bottom. Usually matches top.
- Top surface pattern: monotonic, lines, or Hilbert curve. Monotonic is the most consistent-looking.
- Fill gap between infill: when infill doesn't quite reach walls, this fills tiny gaps.
Infill
- Density: 15% for decorative, 40% for functional, 80%+ for max strength.
- Pattern: Gyroid = strongest in all 3 axes. Grid = fast. Honeycomb = good strength-to-material. Cubic = good compromise. Lightning = minimum material for support-only infill.
- Infill/wall overlap: how much infill overlaps into the perimeter — increases bonding. 25% default.
Speed
- Print speed: overall speed. OrcaSlicer handles wall speeds separately from infill.
- Outer wall speed: typically 50% of print speed. Slow = better quality.
- Inner wall speed: 75% of print speed.
- Infill speed: 100% of print speed — quality matters less inside.
- Travel speed: how fast non-printing moves happen. 200-300mm/s is typical.
Acceleration
- Print acceleration: default is usually tuned for your printer profile. Higher = faster prints but more ringing artifacts.
- Input shaping (IS): enabled on Klipper machines. Eliminates ringing at high accelerations. OrcaSlicer can read resonance compensation values directly from Klipper.
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Support Settings
- Enable auto supports: OrcaSlicer detects overhangs and adds support automatically.
- Support type: Normal (traditional grid) or Tree (organic, easier removal).
- Support threshold angle: 45° default. Lower = more support generated.
- Support Z distance: gap between support top and model bottom. 0.2mm for PLA, 0.3mm for PETG.
- Support interface layers: dense layers between support and part. 2-3 top interface layers.
- Interface pattern: grid or solid.
- Support painting: right-click model → Paint Supports. Manual control over exact support locations.
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Calibration Workflow (The OrcaSlicer Killer Feature)
Calibration → Flow Rate: corrects for over/under extrusion. Run once per filament type.
Calibration → Pressure Advance: finds correct PA value for sharp corners. Run once per filament.
Calibration → Temperature Tower: finds optimal print temperature for a filament. Run once per new filament brand.
Calibration → Retraction: finds minimum retraction for no stringing.
Calibration → Tolerance Test: prints a tolerance calibration cube to verify dimensional accuracy.
Run these in order when starting with a new filament. Save the values to your filament profile.
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Multi-Color / Multi-Material
OrcaSlicer supports Bambu AMS, Prusa MMU, Enraged Rabbit Carrot Feeder, and similar multi-material systems.
- Right-click model → Split to Parts: separates a single STL into color regions
- Paint on model: assigns colors to surfaces by painting them directly on the 3D model
- Purge tower: manages filament purging between color changes. Size it appropriately for the color transition (dark to light requires more purge than light to dark).
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Network Printing
OrcaSlicer connects directly to:
- Bambu Lab printers via LAN or cloud
- OctoPrint (any printer with an OctoPrint server)
- Klipper/Fluidd/Mainsail via Moonraker API
Configure in Printer Settings → Connection. Once configured, click Print and the file sends directly to the printer without a USB drive.