We teased PrusaControl for quite some time already and the first version is finally here. But first let me recap before I give you a download link 🙂 We are quite good at making the hardware and firmware easy to use, simplifying and distilling everything to the core and if absolutely needed we try to do the heavy lifting in the background. Let’s take a look at our unique calibration. When you assemble the printer for the first time, the printer will give you feedback on how well you did and if possible seamlessly compensate for misalignments. Tinkering is not necessary unless you love it and your OCD won’t let you print without the “Axes are perpendicular” message. But something similar still lacked in slicing software.

Slic3r Prusa Edition was the first step with a great success and I am most proud when people mentioned they switched back from S3D. But Slic3r has one problem, it is rather complex and intimidating for new users. We cannot do much about this, it is its nature. And that is why PrusaControl was born. It is parallel to Slic3r PE for newcomers to 3D printing, we distil the settings down for the user and put our knowledge to the backend to get the same results. The main goal is to open an object and hit print.

I started to think about the custom software because I do not know any slicer with proper settings management. Slic3r (BTW PrusaControl is using wonderful slicing core from Slic3r PE) is close but allows people to use wrong combinations of print settings and material. Let’s say printing flexibles at an unreasonable speed. Wood composites at ultra low layer heights and so on. Just this alone will prevent a lot of tries and fails in the early phase of getting to know the printer. Auto update of the print settings is also done at each start up (internet is not required for the program to work).

Then the GUI, it, of course, has to be in orange on black and very simple. At least in the first version. There are some very sweet features which are rather uncommon like Undo and Redo.

PrusaControl main window

Nice rotation UI is also implemented as I hated using the dialogue to type in the exact angle. Here you can rotate by 1° outside the circle and by 45° inside the circle.

PrusaControl rotating object

Our ColorPrint is also included. When you get into the simple G-code preview, you can always add a change on the highlighted layer. Very easy and convenient! Multi Material printing is not yet supported, but planned. 

PrusaControl integrated ColorPrint

Very important but always overlooked feature is a multi-language support. We now have English and Czech, but we are looking for translators 🙂 

PrusaControl settings

So all in all, PrusaControl is not an “it can do all” Simplify3D alternative. Slic3r PE might turn into that. But it is easy, smart and lean slicer with perfect integration.

We would greatly appreciate your feedback. There is a handy link in the help menu. Or go to our Github and add an issue.

Download over at PrusaControl.org 😉