Slicer
A slicer is software that converts a 3D model into the layer-by-layer instructions a 3D printer follows to build the object.
A slicer takes a 3D model (such as an STL) and "slices" it into horizontal layers, then generates the toolpaths, temperatures, and movements the printer needs. It is the bridge between a digital model and a physical print.
Slicer settings — layer height, infill, print speed, supports — largely determine print quality, strength, and time. Dialing these in is a core making skill, and the same model can succeed or fail based on them.
G-code
G-code is the set of text instructions, produced by a slicer, that tells a 3D printer exactly how to move, heat, and extrude.
Infill
Infill is the internal lattice structure printed inside a 3D object to give it strength without filling it completely solid.
Supports
Supports are temporary printed structures that hold up overhanging parts of a model during printing and are removed afterward.
Layer height
Layer height is the thickness of each printed layer, which controls the trade-off between surface detail and print time.
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