4 Ways How to Fix Cura Not Slicing Model
Reading Time: 7 minutes Some people have issues with Cura not slicing their models which can be pretty frustrating, especially when you don’t know how to fix it. I decided to write an article showing some possible fixes for this issue and some related problems as well.
To fix Cura not slicing models, you need to first update your Cura slicer to its latest version if you haven’t already. If you already have the latest version, you can restart the Cura slicer. Also, ensure that your print settings and material settings are correct. Then verify that the STL file is not corrupted.
Keep reading to learn the details of these solutions and other important information that will help you fix Cura not slicing your model.
How to Fix Cura Not Slicing Model
To fix Cura not slicing your models, make sure you are using the latest version of Cura. A simple fix that can work is to restart Cura and try to slice the model again. An STL file that is damaged can cause issues, so try to repair the file using a software like 3D Builder or Meshmixer.
Here’s how to fix Cura not slicing your model:
- Reduce the size of the model
- Restart Cura and your computer
- Update your Cura slicer
- Verify that the STL file is not damaged
1. Reduce the Size of the Model
You can reduce the complexity or size of a model if Cura is unable to slice it. If a model has too many faces or vertices, Cura may struggle to slice it correctly. Therefore, you will need to simplify the model by reducing the number of faces in the model.
Also, if a model is larger than Cura’s print area, it will not be able to slice it. You will need to scale your model to fit the dimensions of Cura’s build volume.
You just have to fit the model in the light gray area on the build plate.
2. Update Your Cura Slicer
One way to fix Cura not slicing your model is to update your Cura slicer. This is to ensure that the version of Cura you have is still fully supported by Cura. Also, updating your Cura slicer ensures that you have up-to-date features and functionality to help slice your models properly.
Updating your Cura will help eliminate bugs that are currently on your current version of Cura that is preventing it from slicing the model. This is because the bugs will have been fixed in the newer version.
Here’s how to update your Cura slicer:
- Search for Cura slicer in your browser.
- Click on the link from Ultimaker
- Click on “Download for Free” at the bottom of the page.
- Select the download file compatible with your current operating system and download it.
- Once the download is completed, click on the Installer and “Run as Administrator”
- Choose “Yes” on the dialogue box that pops up to uninstall the older version.
- On the next dialogue box that pops up, select “Yes” or “No” to keep your older configuration files.
- Then click on “I agree” to the terms and conditions and complete the Setup Wizard.
Here’s a video from “Learn As We Go” on how to update your Cura slicer.
3. Restart Cura and Your Computer
Another way to fix Cura not slicing your model is to restart Cura and your computer. As simple as this may sound, this is one way to fix errors in most software.
This is because other apps are running in the background which may have taken up space on the RAM of your computer needed to run the Cura slicer efficiently. Once you restart your computer, you can remove background apps that could have a negative effect.
One user was having no issues with slicing files on his Mac with Cura, but after a while he ran into issues. He had opened an STL file from Thingiverse, sliced the file and exported the G-Code file but then the “Slice” button didn’t show up.
It only had the “save to file” option and got an error message when he tried to use it. He simply restarted Cura and it brought back the “Slice” button which worked just fine.
4. Verify that the STL File is not Damaged
Another way to fix Cura not slicing your model is to verify that the model is not damaged or corrupted. To verify that the model is not corrupted, try slicing the model on other slicer software.
You may also want to try slicing another STL file on Cura to see if it slices it. If it can slice it, then there is an issue with the other STL file. You can try repairing the model using Netfabb, 3DBuilder, or MeshLab.
How to Fix Cura Unable to Slice One at a Time
To fix Cura being unable to slice one model at a time by ensuring the height of the model is not more than the specified height for using this special feature. You want to ensure only one extruder is enabled.
Also, you will need to space out the models to ensure that the models do not get in each other’s way during printing. This is to prevent collision between the extruder assembly and other models on the print bed.
Here’s a video from CHEP about the “Print one at a time” feature on Cura.
One user talked about the size of the print head’s dimensions in Cura might be decreasing the amount of space that is set in the slicer.
He suggested adding your own custom 3D printer and putting in the print head dimensions in yourself, though you need to watch for safety issues when trying this out.
How to Fix Cura Unable to Slice Build Volume
To fix Cura not being able to slice the build volume, you need to make sure that the model is not larger than Cura’s build volume. Also, you need to ensure that the model does not lie in the gray areas of Cura’s print area.
Here’s how to fix Cura not slicing build volume:
- Reduce the size of the model
- Maximize the print volume of your Cura slicer
Reduce the Size of the Model
One way to fix Cura not slicing build volume is to reduce the size of the model. Once the model is larger than the size of Cura’s print volume, the model becomes gray with yellow stripes across it.
Hence, you need to reduce its build volume using the “Scale” tool on Cura which can be found on the left toolbar in Cura’s home interface. You can easily locate the “Scale” tool by searching for the icon with a picture of two models of different sizes.
Once you locate the icon, click on it and decide how much you want to scale the model. Vary the new dimensions of your model till it’s just right.
One user stated that he designed a simple mini figure shelf with Inventor, saved it as an STL file, and opened it with Cura. The model appeared in gray and yellow stripes and was unable to print. He stated that the largest dimension of the model was 206mm so that it could fit within the build volume of his Ender 3 V2 (220 x 220 x 250mm).
He was told to turn off the brims/skirts/rafts on his model since it added about 15mm to the dimensions of the model. He turned off the settings and Cura was able to slice the model.
Check out this video from Technivorous 3D Printing on how to scale your model.
Maximize the Print Volume of Your Cura Slicer
Another way to fix Cura not slicing build volume is to maximize Cura’s build volume by increasing its size in the settings. This is to remove the gray areas on your Cura’s print bed interface.
One thing to note is that, this only adds a little space to your print. Maximizing your print area only helps when you only need a little room to contain your model.
Here’s how to remove the gray areas on Cura’s print area:
- Open your File Explorer and go into your “C:” Drive, then click on “Program Files”.
- Scroll down and find your latest version of Cura.
- Click on “Resources”.
- Then click on “Definitions”
- Select your 3D printer’s .json file, for example, creality_ender3.def.json, and open it with a text editor like Notepad++
- Find the section underneath the “machine_disallowed areas” and delete the lines with values to remove the disallowed area in Cura.
- Save the file and restart the Cura slicer.
Here’s a video from CHEP that goes through these steps in more detail on how to maximize Cura’s build volume.
