For those of you running your printers from a Linux PC, what slicer software works for you? I switched from Windows to Kubuntu about 6 weeks ago. Had been using Orca for about 2 years, but the Linux version doesn’t fully function for me. The build plate preview and functions are just a blank page. Trying to link a 3d printer causes Orca to crash. From comments online, there are plenty of people with the same issue and no resolution yet, using various Linux distros. So is anyone having luck with a slicer program using Linux, Wayland, and a nvidia graphics card?

Update 07Aug25: so far seen that Orca does not work with the latest versions of Kubuntu (25.04) nor Ubuntu (25.04). That’s trying both flatpack and app image. Installed Mint Cinnamon 22.1 (based off Ubuntu 24.04), and Orca partly runs from a flatpack install. The build plate image and features do show up rather than a blank page, which is a start. Unfortunately trying to link my printer by IP address causes the software to crash after I click on the Device tab. Now Orca won’t reopen without immediately freezing up, then crashing after about 20 seconds. I think I read about a workaround on Discord for this, need to find that discussion. Downloaded Prusa, just need to try that as well when I can get back to this. Cura refuses to connect to my printer at all so far. It’s been revamped to align with Ultimaker printers, changed a lot from when I used it a couple years ago. I don’t think it likes my Klipper setup. May work if I went back to stock Creality firmware, but I have no desire to do that.

Update 09AUG25: Right now running the LTS version of Ubuntu (24.04.3) and Orca is usable. Installed using the flatpak. Like under Mint, I can get a visible buildplate and work with a model under the Prepare and Preview tabs. I entered the IP address for the printer under Hostname (using Octo/Klipper for Type since I’m on Klipper) and can upload files to the printer. So long as I don’t touch the Device tab in Orca, it doesn’t crash or lock up. Access the printer through the web interface, just put the printer IP address into Firefox and can run from there. So, I have something that works at the moment. Thanks everyone for suggestions, it helped point me toward something workable!

  • ExcessShiv@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
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    8 days ago

    Huh, I have not had any issues with orca slicer on Linux Mint at all, I’ve been using it exclusively for over a year now. Haven’t had issues linking my printer via WiFi either, I just put the IP and port and it worked right away.

  • schmaker@schmaker.eu
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    8 days ago

    @EchoCranium Exactly same thing happened to me when I tried to use AnyCubic slicer, that did not had Linux build, but only Windows binary installer. AnyCubic slicer is fork of Orca.

    Are you sure you are using Linux version of the slicer?

    • EchoCranium@lemmy.zipOPEnglish
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      8 days ago

      Yep, downloaded the flatpack from Ubuntu repository. Sounds like folks are having similar issues with Orca, Cura, possibly Prusa if I remember what I read correctly. Since AnyCubic is a fork from Orca, not surprised it’s plagued with the same problems.

  • Soapbox@lemmy.zipEnglish
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    8 days ago

    I use Cura and a flash drive with my newer printer. But with my old printer that required being tethered (a Solidoodle2 from 2012) I was using MatterControl, as it was much easier and more reliable than Pronterface which came with the printer.

    Though, the old PC I was using struggled when I did anything else on it while it was running the printer. The print speed would actually slow down or occasionally stop when loading a heavy webpage in a browser, for example.

  • sylver_dragon@lemmy.worldEnglish
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    8 days ago

    The problem you’re seeing is likely related to this bug. There seems to be a lot of overlap in issues with Wayland and slicers. I’m using the AppImage version of the Creality Print slicer, and it suffers the same issue. I have to use the following command line to launch it:
    __EGL_VENDOR_LIBRARY_FILENAMES=/usr/share/glvnd/egl_vendor.d/50_mesa.json WEBKIT_FORCE_COMPOSITING_MODE=1 WEBKIT_DISABLE_COMPOSITING_MODE=1 WEBKIT_DISABLE_DMABUF_RENDERER=1 ~/.local/bin/CrealityPrint_Ubuntu2404-V6.2.1.3044-x86_64-Release.AppImage %F

    That’s all on a single line. Ultimately, I created a .desktop file: ~/.local/share/applications/CrealityPrint.desktop
    To run the slicer with that command in the EXEC line and everything works fine. Assuming the modified command to launch the slicer works for you, you should be able to create/modify the .desktop file to launch Orca Slicer similarly. Desktop File:

    [Desktop Entry]
Categories=Utility;
Comment=
Exec= __EGL_VENDOR_LIBRARY_FILENAMES=/usr/share/glvnd/egl_vendor.d/50_mesa.json WEBKIT_FORCE_COMPOSITING_MODE=1 WEBKIT_DISABLE_COMPOSITING_MODE=1 WEBKIT_DISABLE_DMABUF_RENDERER=1 ~/.local/bin/CrealityPrint_Ubuntu2404-V6.2.1.3044-x86_64-Release.AppImage %F
Icon=CrealityPrint
MimeType=model/stl;application/vnd.ms-3mfdocument;application/prs.wavefront-obj;application/x-amf;
Name=CrealityPrint
NoDisplay=false
Path=
StartupNotify=true
Terminal=false
TerminalOptions=
Type=Application
X-KDE-SubstituteUID=false
X-KDE-Username=
  • papalonian@lemmy.worldEnglish
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    8 days ago

    Linux (Mint) and Nvidia GPU here. I use Cura. There is a weird bug where, if you open a file right after the program loads, it will act as if nothing happened (you can open menus, rotate the view etc) for maybe a minute until the model pops up and you can go about your business. Other than that, no issues.

  • Faildini@lemmy.worldEnglish
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    8 days ago

    I use Orca on EndeavorOS and it works perfectly. There’s an AUR package for it so it’s simple and well supported (would work as well on anything Arch based).

    • EchoCranium@lemmy.zipOPEnglish
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      8 days ago

      That sounds like another possible option. I did see there was an Orca package for Arch; I would like to keep running Orca since I’m used to it, so going with an Arch distro might be the way to go.

  • OnfireNFS@lemmy.worldEnglish
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    8 days ago

    I use PrusaSlicer from Flathub. I was using PrusaSlicer on Windows before switching to Linux. I’ve been using it since the original Slic3r stopped getting updates. Because it’s available as a flatpak it should work on pretty much any distro and immutable distros

    • onnekas@sopuli.xyzEnglish
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      8 days ago

      +1 for PrusaSlicer. It’s great and I like it’s tools for minimal editing of parts: cutting, placing and scaling…

    • squaresinger@lemmy.worldEnglish
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      7 days ago

      It bugs out on me on Fedora 42. Dropdowns all have graphical glitches making it impossible to read the contents.

      Also, PrusaSlicer on Linux doesn’t have the ability to fix broken meshes because apparently they rely on a Windows function for that.

  • fluxx@lemmy.worldEnglish
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    8 days ago

    I use cura on Ubuntu without issues, the appimage version. I did also try prusa/super slicer not too long ago and it worked without issues as well.

  • John@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
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    8 days ago

    OrcaSlicer has now a Flatpak Version on there Github. I always used Cura but since one year i use Orca