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This guide will walk you through the complete process of using mslicer, from initial setup to exporting your first sliced file ready for printing.

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Before you begin

Make sure you have mslicer installed on your system. If you haven’t installed it yet, check out the installation guide.

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Step 1: Configure your printer settings

Before you can slice anything, you need to tell mslicer about your printer’s specifications.
1

Launch mslicer

Open the mslicer application. You should see the main interface with a 3D viewport and several panels.
2

Open the Slice Config panel

Look for the Slice Config panel on the left side of the interface. This contains all the settings for your printer and slicing parameters.
3

Set platform resolution

Configure the resolution that matches your printer’s LCD screen:
  • Width: Horizontal pixel count (e.g., 11520 for Saturn 3 Ultra)
  • Height: Vertical pixel count (e.g., 5120 for Saturn 3 Ultra)
If these values are incorrect, your printer may fail to load the output file without showing an error message. Always verify these settings match your printer’s specifications.
4

Set build volume

Enter your printer’s build volume dimensions:
  • X, Y, Z: Maximum printable dimensions in millimeters
The default values are for the ElEGOO Saturn 3 Ultra. Check your printer’s manual for the correct dimensions.
5

Review exposure settings

You can also configure exposure times, lift speeds, and other slicing parameters. For your first test, the defaults should work fine.
Mslicer includes printer presets for popular models. Look for preset options in the Slice Config panel to quickly configure your printer.

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Step 2: Import a 3D model

Now you’re ready to load a model to slice.
1

Load the test model (recommended for first time)

To verify everything works, load the built-in test model by pressing:
  • Ctrl+T on Linux/Windows
  • Cmd+T on macOS
This loads the Utah Teapot, a classic test model.
2

Or import your own model

To use your own model:Option 1: Menu import
  • Go to File → Import Model
  • Select an .stl or .obj file
Option 2: Drag and drop
  • Simply drag your model file from your file explorer directly into the mslicer workspace
3

View your model

The model should appear in the 3D viewport. Use these controls to navigate:
  • Scroll: Zoom in/out (move toward/away from target)
  • Left-click drag: Orbit around the model
  • Right-click drag: Pan the view
Mslicer automatically recomputes mesh normals by default to ensure proper rendering and slicing results.

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Step 3: Position and prepare your model

Before slicing, you’ll want to position your model correctly on the build plate.
1

Open the Models panel

Find the Models panel in the interface. It lists all models currently in your project.
2

Access model properties

Click the arrow button next to your model name to expand its properties. You’ll see options for:
  • Position: X, Y, Z coordinates
  • Rotation: Orientation in 3D space
  • Size/Scale: Model dimensions
3

Align to bed

Click the “Align to Bed” action to automatically position your model on the build plate. This ensures the bottom of your model sits at Z=0.
4

Check for warnings

Mslicer will automatically detect and warn you about:
  • Non-manifold meshes: Models with geometry errors
  • Models extending outside the print volume: Parts that won’t fit on your build plate
If you see warnings, consider repositioning or scaling your model.
Models that extend beyond the build volume are rendered in red in the viewport, making it easy to spot potential issues.

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Step 4: Add supports (optional)

For models with overhangs, you’ll need support structures.
The automatic support generator in mslicer is currently under development and not fully functional for most models.
For now, the recommended workflow is:
  1. Use Runebrace (closed-source support placement software) to add supports to your model
  2. Export the model with supports as an STL
  3. Import the supported model into mslicer for slicing
Mslicer does include basic support visualization features:
  • Visualization of overhanging faces and vertices
  • Manual support placement (currently unfinished)

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Step 5: Slice your model

Now for the main event - slicing your model into layers.
1

Start the slice operation

Click the Slice button (typically in the Slice Config panel or main toolbar).
2

Wait for completion

A progress panel will appear showing the slicing operation. Thanks to mslicer’s exceptional performance, this should complete very quickly - often in just seconds even for complex models.Mslicer is 20× to 120× faster than competing slicers, so don’t blink!
3

Review the slice preview

Once slicing completes, you’ll see the slice preview interface with:
  • A layer-by-layer preview of your sliced model
  • A slider on the left to scrub through layers
  • Pan: Click and drag
  • Zoom: Scroll wheel (zoom centers on cursor position)
4

Check slice information

Under the slice preview, you’ll see:
  • Resin volume usage: How much resin the print will consume
  • Estimated print time: How long the print will take
Use this information to plan your printing schedule.
5

Review for islands

If you have island detection enabled, mslicer will identify isolated pieces that might fail during printing. Check for warnings about unsupported islands.
When zoomed into the slice preview, you can scrub through layers to inspect details and verify that your model will slice correctly.

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Step 6: Export for printing

With your model sliced, it’s time to create the file your printer can read.
1

Choose export format

Select the appropriate format for your printer:
  • Chitu (.ctb): For Chitubox-compatible printers (includes encrypted format support)
  • Elegoo (.goo): For Elegoo printers (Saturn, Mars series)
  • NanoDLP (.nanodlp): For NanoDLP-based systems
  • Vector (.svg): For development/analysis purposes
2

Export the file

Click the Export button (or go to File → Export).The export operation runs asynchronously, so you can continue working while it completes. This is especially useful for .nanodlp format, which requires compression.
3

Save to USB drive

Choose a save location, preferably directly to your printer’s USB drive if it’s connected.
4

Verify the file

The exported file should appear in your chosen location. You can verify it using tools like UVtools if you want to inspect it before printing.
If you need to make changes, you can update your slice settings and re-slice. Mslicer’s undo/redo feature (under Edit in the menu bar) lets you track changes to settings.

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Step 7: Save your project (optional)

If you want to come back to your work later, you can save it as a project file.
1

Save the project

Go to File → Save Project or press the save keyboard shortcut.
2

Choose a location

Select where to save your project file. Mslicer will remember this location for future saves.
3

Load later

When you’re ready to continue, use File → Open Project to load your saved work.
Project files store your models, positions, settings, and slice configuration, making it easy to iterate on your designs.

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Next steps

Congratulations! You’ve successfully sliced your first model with mslicer. Here are some things to explore next:

Slice settings

Fine-tune exposure times, lift speeds, and other slicing parameters

Core features

Learn about mslicer’s powerful slicing engine

Output formats

Understand different export formats for various printers

CLI usage

Use the standalone CLI slicer for automated workflows

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Additional resources

  • UVtools: Inspect and post-process sliced files
  • msla-thumbs: Add thumbnail support to KDE for sliced files
  • Runebrace: Recommended tool for support placement

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Getting help

If you encounter issues or have questions:
  1. Check the project page for updates and information
  2. Visit the GitHub repository to report bugs or request features
  3. Review the changelog to see what’s new in recent versions

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