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Desktop 3D printer manufacturer Raise3D has announced the launch of the latest version of its slicing software, the ideaMaker 4.2.0 Beta.
The latest update is designed to enable one-click integrations with the company’s ideaMaker Library software, as well as provide new features such as boolean operations and a search toolbar. Version 4.2.0 also brings with it several bug fixes for a more refined user experience.
An all-in-one Raise3D ecosystem
Raise3D prides itself on its ‘all-in-one’ software portfolio, touting a comprehensive ecosystem that integrates all stages of the 3D printing workflow. The ideaMaker slicer is the first piece of the puzzle, allowing users to orient models and customize print parameters on a layer-by-layer basis.
Once file preparation is complete, sliced models can be imported into the firm’s print management software, RaiseCloud. The program provides users with an avenue to remotely send prints to their fleet of 3D printers and monitor the process in real-time. Once initiated, builds can be controlled through both the website and an easy-to-use app.
The third and final Raise3D software product is the ideaMaker Library. Launched back in May 2020, the Library is an online platform that can be used to access pre-prepared slicing profiles for a wide variety of printers and filaments, both from Raise3D and third-party firms. It also offers tools such as a profile generator and can be used to store STLs and sliced files in a cloud-based environment.
Edward Feng, CEO of Raise3D, said, “We keep working towards the goal of delivering an all-in-one solution that increases productivity. With ideaMaker Library as a valuable asset, and the combination of ideaMaker and RaiseCloud, we are glad we can now provide this full solution and smooth workflow that will be a game-changer for the manufacturing industry.”
With ideaMaker 4.2.0, the slicer’s connection to the Library is stronger than ever. Users will now be able to access the Library directly from the ideaMaker interface and select their desired slicing profiles with just a single click. Prior to the update, users would have had to download the profiles from the Library first, and then import them into ideaMaker manually. The new Library connectivity can be found in ideaMaker under ‘Configuration Wizard’.
New features in ideaMaker 4.2.0
Version 4.2.0 also comes complete with a few new features and bug fixes to enhance the slicing experience. The new Boolean Operations feature enables users to generate intersections, unions, and subtractions of 3D models. The feature is ultimately designed to allow for geometry experimentation without first having to switch to a dedicated 3D modeling software, making for a more streamlined user experience. According to Raise3D, ideaMaker is the first FFF slicer on the market to offer Boolean Operations.
The update also equips the slicer with a new Search Toolbar, which can be used to rapidly locate certain parameters via a keyword search. With a UI as densely packed as ideaMaker’s, text-based search is expected to make print preparation an absolute breeze.
Raise3D’s ideaMaker slicer can be downloaded here.
High-quality software is just as important as hardware when it comes to advancing additive manufacturing. Just last month, 3D printing software developer Dyndrite launched a set of new software APIs enabling 3D printer manufacturers to more easily implement advanced features such as support-free 3D printing. Developed in collaboration with the company’s OEM customers, partners, and members of the Dyndrite Developer Council (DDC), the new toolsets are primarily aimed at smaller-scale manufacturers with limited funding and resources.
Elsewhere, in the design space, engineering software developer Autodesk recently announced a huge price reduction of 80% for the Generative Design Extension of its Fusion 360 CAD software. Commercially launched back in 2018 for an annual subscription of $8,000 per year, the AI-powered extension has always been relatively inaccessible to anyone other than major engineering and manufacturing firms.
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Featured image shows the new Boolean Operations feature in ideaMaker. Image via Raise3D.
