The testing phase has concluded, and we are very confident to present to you the official release of Ultimaker Cura 3.2.
In this version of Ultimaker Cura, we have optimized the user interface to reduce the GPU burden from back-face culling, added new UI elements,
allowed for the creation of mesh objects in per-model settings, and even further shortened startup times by loading only necessary data.
Read on to learn more about the new features.
Enhanced Slicing Features
Adaptive Layers - Up until now, slicing has been limited to a fixed layer size. Adaptive layers offer an alternative method where the print thickness of layers
is adjusted according to the angle of the model's surface.
The slicing algorithm assigns narrower layer thicknesses to sloped surfaces and wider layer thicknesses to vertical surfaces. This achieves high-quality surface finishes but requires
a slight increase in print duration. This setting can be found under the experimental category.
The "Layer Thickness" color scheme is available in "Layer View" mode, allowing you to preview the printed layer thickness.
Colors from yellow (thickest) to blue (thinnest) indicate the relative thickness of each layer.
Tree Supports - Tree supports are an experimental support method that uses "branches" to "grow" towards areas needing support, resulting in fewer contact points on the model
and a smoother surface finish. This makes them an ideal choice for printing organic shapes. Tree supports can also be used in conjunction with other support methods.
Tree supports can be used for organically shaped objects.
UI Elements
Multiple Build Plates. By enabling multiple build plates in the software preferences, a new panel can be added to the workspace, allowing you to manage individual print jobs with shared settings in a single menu.
Each individual print job will be added to the Cura Connect print queue.
This eliminates the need to clear print platforms multiple times, enabling better scaling of operations and maximizing uptime.
Sliced files for multiple build plates in a single menu.
Faster Startup - Printer definitions are now loaded when a printer is added, instead of loading all available printers at startup, reducing startup time compared to previous versions.
Mesh Per Model Settings - Additional options have been added to the per-model settings, providing a simplified method for assigning models to be printed as meshes. When in custom mode,
different slicing settings can be assigned to different parts of the print. For example, a mesh can be used as a custom support, where automatically generated support material will not be placed in undesired locations.
The dropdown list allows you to specify the mesh's function:
Normal model - Prints the mesh as a normal model.
Print as support - Prints the mesh as support material.
Don't overlap support with other models - No support material will be generated in areas where the mesh overlaps.
Modify settings for overlap with other models - Prints the mesh in overlapping areas with other models instead of the model itself.
Modify settings for infill of other models - The mesh will be printed as infill in areas where it overlaps with other models.
Modify settings for infill of other models
This carabiner is a rectangular mesh sliced with "Modify settings for infill of other models" selected.
The mesh, compared to the rest of the model assigned a denser infill setting, provides greater durability to the overlapping parts.
Back-face Culling - Improves performance in layer view by rendering only visible surfaces of the model, instead of the entire model. This significantly increases frame rate
and reduces GPU load.
Updated Sidebar to QtQuick 2.0 - The application sidebar has been updated for improved speed, appropriate width and style, and provides users with a dropdown menu to match
the enabled Ultimaker Cura theme, rather than the operating system's theme.
Hide Sidebar - The sidebar can now be hidden or shown by selecting View > Expand / Collapse Sidebar, or by using the hotkey CMD + E (Mac) or CTRL + E
(PC and Linux). This is to provide a wider print platform, allowing for greater visibility of the print platform on smaller screens.
Hide the sidebar for a better view
Disable "Send Slicing Messages" - A shortcut to disable "Send Slicing Messages" has been added at first launch, making it easier for privacy-conscious users to keep slicing messages private. Clicking the disable button will take the user to preferences, where they can edit the preferences themselves.
Signed Binaries (Windows) - For security-conscious users, Windows installers and Windows binaries have been digitally signed to prevent "Unknown Application" warnings and false positives from virus scanners.
Per Extruder Start/End G-code Files - It is now possible to view and edit g-code snippets that vary between the start and end of two extruders, allowing for consistency in profiles across different slicing environments.
View Optimization - Quick camera controls introduced in version 3.1 have been revised to create more accurate isometric, front, top, left,
and right views.
Quick camera controls
OctoPrint Plugin Added to Plugin Browser - This plugin has moved to the plugin browser.This plugin allows printers managed with OctoPrint to print via the Ultimaker Cura
interface (version 3.2 or later).
Bug Fixes
With the help of our community, we have fixed incompatible Mirror tool and Center model settings, fixed a bug when configuration files were located on a remote drive,
updated the Arduino drivers to prevent issues updating the Ultimaker Original, and optimized the Auto-arrangeall models option, for reliable positioning
of multiple small models on the build plate.
Download now!
We'd like to thank all of our beta testers for helping us to test this release, and a special thanks to fieldOfView for his contributions.
Download Ultimaker Cura 3.2 today to explore its benefits!
Original article: https://ultimaker.com/en/blog/52484-discover-ultimaker-cura-32