On Tue, Oct 28, 2025 at 09:06:11AM -0400, Colin McGregor via Talk wrote:
I have / like my 3D printer, but... At present I go to sites like Thingiverse where I can (normally) search for / find a .stl file to download that describes an object that I want. My 3D printer wants to see a .gcode file which describes what path the 3D printer's print nozzle should follow (ie: devil is in the details, a perfect .gcode file for a Brand A printer could cause problems for a Brand B printer). Okay, there is software available that will take .stl files and convert them to .gcode files while taking into account the ... quirks ... of different printer makes/models.
For the last while I have been using the program "Slic3r" to do this .stl to .gcode conversion, because it is good, fast, easy to use, and free. Problem, in early August I moved my main desktop PC from Debian 12 to Debian 13 and the "Slic3r" program isn't available in the default Debian 13 repository. Also I have been unable so far to get the "Slic3r" flatpack file to run, all meaning getting "Slic3r" to run on my desktop machine will be no joy :-( . I have tried to find another .stl to .gcode conversion program for my main machine, so far without success :-( .
My solution while not perfect, does work is to put one of my Raspberry Pi 5's to work, running "PrusaSlicer"... I'll do the grumpy old guy thing of noting I'm not super keen on the differences between "Slic3r" and "PrusaSlicer", but ... better a working but flawed (or at least different) ... software tool than no software tool.
Debian does have this one: lsorense@mythtv64:~$ apt-cache show prusa-slicer Package: prusa-slicer Source: slic3r-prusa Version: 2.9.3+dfsg-2 Installed-Size: 164130 Maintainer: Debian 3-D Printing Packages <3dprinter-general@lists.alioth.debian.org> Architecture: amd64 Depends: libboost-chrono1.83.0t64 (>= 1.83.0), libboost-filesystem1.83.0 (>= 1.83.0), libboost-log1.83.0 (>= 1.83.0), libboost-nowide1.83.0 (>= 1.83.0), libboost-thread1.83.0 (>= 1.83.0), libc6 (>= 2.38), libcurl3t64-gnutls (>= 7.63.0), libdbus-1-3 (>= 1.10), libexpat1 (>= 2.0.1), libfontconfig1 (>= 2.12.6), libgcc-s1 (>= 7), libgl1, libglew2.2 (>= 2.2.0-4+b2), libglib2.0-0t64 (>= 2.12.0), libgmp10 (>= 2:6.3.0+dfsg), libgtk-3-0t64 (>= 3.11.7), libimath-3-1-29t64 (>= 3.1.12), libjpeg62-turbo (>= 1.3.1), libmpfr6 (>= 3.1.3), libnlopt0 (>= 2.2.4), libocct-data-exchange-7.8 (>= 7.8.1+dfsg1), libocct-foundation-7.8 (>= 7.8.1+dfsg1), libocct-modeling-algorithms-7.8 (>= 7.8.1+dfsg1), libocct-modeling-data-7.8 (>= 7.8.1+dfsg1), libocct-ocaf-7.8 (>= 7.8.1+dfsg1), libopenvdb10.0t64 (>= 10.0.1), libpango-1.0-0 (>= 1.14.0), libpng16-16t64 (>= 1.6.46), libqhull-r8.0 (>= 2020.1), libqhullcpp8.0 (>= 2020.1), libsoup-3.0-0 (>= 2.24.3), libssl3t64 (>= 3.0.0), libstdc++6 (>= 14), libtbb12 (>= 2022.0.0), libtbbmalloc2 (>= 2017~U7), libwebkit2gtk-4.1-0 (>= 2.19.2), libwxbase3.2-1t64 (>= 3.2.8+dfsg), libwxgtk-gl3.2-1t64 (>= 3.2.8+dfsg), libwxgtk-webview3.2-1t64 (>= 3.2.8+dfsg), libwxgtk3.2-1t64 (>= 3.2.8+dfsg), libz3-4 (>= 4.13.3), zlib1g (>= 1:1.1.4), fonts-noto-core, fonts-noto-cjk Description-en: G-code generator for 3D printers PrusaSlicer converts digital 3D models into printing instructions (G-code) for your 3D printer. It cuts the model into horizontal slices (layers), generates toolpaths to fill them and calculates the amount of material to be extruded. . PrusaSlicer supports input in the STL, AMF and OBJ formats, and can output G-code for several series of 3D printers, including RepRap, Ultimaker, Makerbot, as well as SVG files for DLP printers. . It can be used with a graphical interface, or in batch mode via the command-line. -- Len Sorensen