Sketch-first parametric CAD, built right inside the slicer

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1

Looks promising; probably coming soon to OrcaSlicer.

Design tab: sketch → constrain → solid features → commit to plate. The feature recipe persists inside the 3MF, so reopening a project restores an editable model rather than a frozen mesh.

This feature is now on mainline OrcaSlicer as an open pull request:
→ Design tab: sketch-first parametric CAD inside the slicer by tommasobbianchi · Pull Request #15238 · OrcaSlicer/OrcaSlicer · GitHub

Walkthrough: 1) design & sketch → 2) extrude → 3) chamfer → 4) sketch on face + slot → 5) extrude cut → 6) hole + thread → 7) commit to plate → 8) print parameters → 9) slice. The full parametric workflow, without ever leaving the slicer. Real constraint solver, OpenCASCADE B-rep kernel, STEP import, in-canvas gizmos.

Open source. Made by Native Research.

Not a replacement for a separate CAD program, but a major advance for creating simple models in a slicer.

2

My first 3D designs and remixes were actually made in slicer with primitive objects and negative items, for threaded holes I would add a STL of a bolt as a negative item. Basic CAD function like this inside the slicer would be a great gateway and introduction to full CAD software for beginners.

3

Interesting but the video that slowly zooms in and puts the sidebar (where all the magic happen) out of frame is an odd choice.

Much prefer the previous video the channel released.

4

Seems like a neat set of features, limited but neat. I think something like this might be better for the modification of parts instead of the creation of parts.

Being able to do threads in there is impressive.

5

Thanks, that’s a much better video. I tried the Orca development version and quickly gave up because I did not understand the interface. Now I know I’m not totally stupid, the drawing tools were missing from the build I used. I will try it again later.

6

That would actually be really handy. There’s been many times I needed something simple like a jig that didn’t need all of the features of CAD to design and print. Being able to do it in the slicer would be great for quick little parts.