Source: All3DP, Model: Mattes via Printables

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Snap Decision

Snapmaker Commits to Open-Source with Snapmaker Orca

by Adam Kohut
Published Jan 24, 2025

Positioned as a "universal software platform" for 3D printers, Snapmaker Orca is designed with Snapmaker machines in mind, offering users early access to printer-specific presets and more.

Snapmaker has announced a commitment to open-source development with the release of Snapmaker Orca, a customized version of OrcaSlicer built for the OEM’s 3D printers.

In its current beta version (1.1.0), Snapmaker Orca offers better support for multiextrusion functionalities, as well as early access to Snapmaker-specific presets and features. For now, users will need to use Luban (Snapmaker’s current open-source Cura-based slicer) as a “pass-through” until the Orca integration has been fully implemented for “a range of third-party apps”, Snapmaker said in a blog post.

As it evolves, Snapmaker said it envisions Snapmaker Orca as “a universal software platform supporting multi-brand machines” that will encompass model repositories, design, slicing, and printer control and management.

While security is a priority – and a concern for which a full solution has not yet been developed – the company affirms that open-source will remain at the heart of Snapmaker Orca, and says it will not “rely on closed-source or closed-ecosystem approaches”.

The announcement comes hot on the heels of controversy surrounding Bambu Lab’s recent move to – and subsequent semi-walkback of – limiting third-party printer control through a new authorization system.

Given the timing, Snapmaker’s security comment reads more than a little tongue-in-cheek.

For more on Snapmaker Orca, check out Snapmaker’s blog post, where you’ll also find a download link for the software itself.

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About the Author:

Adam Kohut

Adam is a contributing writer who joined All3DP in 2022 and has more than a decade in tech journalism. He has written for UltiMaker, Protolabs, and many other (tech) startups and corporates worldwide.

License: The text of "Snapmaker Commits to Open-Source with Snapmaker Orca" by All3DP is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.