Slicer software for a Linux system?
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!
Schmaker
in reply to 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?
3DPrinting reshared this.
EchoCranium
in reply to Schmaker • • •Schmaker likes this.
Schmaker
in reply to EchoCranium • •3DPrinting reshared this.
forgedchaos
in reply to EchoCranium • • •old.reddit.com/r/OrcaSlicer/co…
EchoCranium
in reply to forgedchaos • • •ExcessShiv
in reply to EchoCranium • • •EchoCranium
in reply to ExcessShiv • • •pro_user
in reply to EchoCranium • • •Install PrusaSlicer on Linux | Flathub
FlathubSoapbox
in reply to EchoCranium • • •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.
BOFH666
in reply to EchoCranium • • •Bluewing
in reply to BOFH666 • • •BOFH666
in reply to Bluewing • • •Releases · supermerill/SuperSlicer
GitHubBluewing
in reply to BOFH666 • • •papalonian
in reply to EchoCranium • • •DavidP
in reply to papalonian • • •papalonian
in reply to DavidP • • •DavidP
in reply to papalonian • • •Markaos
in reply to papalonian • • •papalonian
in reply to Markaos • • •beeng
in reply to EchoCranium • • •sylver_dragon
in reply to EchoCranium • • •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:
Wayland - Viewport doesn't render
uwumdoescomputershit (GitHub)philpo
in reply to EchoCranium • • •Which has the advantage that you can use it from a tablet,etc. as well.
StrixUralensis
in reply to EchoCranium • • •EchoCranium
in reply to StrixUralensis • • •StrixUralensis
in reply to EchoCranium • • •Good luck !
Faildini
in reply to EchoCranium • • •EchoCranium
in reply to Faildini • • •uss_entrepreneur
in reply to EchoCranium • • •OnfireNFS
in reply to EchoCranium • • •onnekas
in reply to OnfireNFS • • •squaresinger
in reply to OnfireNFS • • •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.
OnfireNFS
in reply to squaresinger • • •BastingChemina
in reply to OnfireNFS • • •fluxx
in reply to EchoCranium • • •John
in reply to EchoCranium • • •I always used Cura but since one year i use Orca
Nibodhika
in reply to EchoCranium • • •EchoCranium
in reply to Nibodhika • • •Bluewing
in reply to Nibodhika • • •AppearanceBoring9229
in reply to EchoCranium • • •I use orca, ideamaker (for the cr30)
And for resin printing i use chitubox
I think all of them I downloaded the appimage from the repo or their main site.
EchoCranium
in reply to AppearanceBoring9229 • • •Bluewing
in reply to EchoCranium • • •Bluewing
in reply to EchoCranium • • •I'm using Fedora KDE 42 and I found that to run Orca well I had to switch to the flatpak of the nightly builds. It still crashes sometimes, but not very often.
Bambu Studio was stable, but I have ditched it for Orca. I also use Prusa Slicer to run my Klipperized Mk3s. Prusa Slicer has always been rock solid for me no matter the distro or OS.
JakoJakoJako13
in reply to EchoCranium • • •Lychee and Cura.
Lychee because I always liked the feature set for supports better than Chitubox.
Cura because I spent a couple days comparing prints side by side with Prusa and my printer liked Cura better. It gave me better prints all around. Prusa needed an endless amount of tweaking. I don't mind tweaking but at some point enough is enough.
MysteriousSophon21
in reply to EchoCranium • • •