Prusa, the Czech 3D printing machine, material and software manufacturer, has launched an early access program for its new cloud slicing service called Prusa EasyPrint, designed to make 3D printing more accessible by allowing users to prepare models for printing directly from phones, tablets, and laptops without installing specialised software. The new service aims to remove barriers to entry for beginners while offering convenient features for experienced users, continuing Prusa’s mission of making 3D printing technology more approachable.
The company describes EasyPrint as a “total game-changer” that streamlines the slicing process through a clean, responsive web application. It integrates with Prusa’s existing services like Printables and the Prusa mobile app, automatically detecting connected printers, applying appropriate print profiles, and enabling one-click printing from any web-enabled device.
How Prusa EasyPrint Works?
Prusa EasyPrint functions as a web front-end that generates 3MF files compatible with most modern slicers. When using the service, the interface runs on the user’s device while the actual slicing computation happens in the cloud on Prusa’s servers, which run the same version of PrusaSlicer that is publicly available with source code on GitHub.
The workflow is designed to be straightforward: users browsing Printables can find a model, click for a 3D preview, make basic adjustments if needed, and send it directly to their printer. The system automatically detects connected Prusa printers through PrusaConnect and applies appropriate settings based on the printer model and loaded materials.
The service includes basic model manipulation tools such as moving, rotating, scaling, and the place-on-face feature. Users can also auto-arrange multiple models on one or more virtual print beds and adjust fundamental settings like print quality, infill density, and support generation. More complex settings are intentionally kept behind the scenes and automatically configured.
For users who want more control, EasyPrint offers seamless integration with the desktop PrusaSlicer application. At any point, users can download their project as a 3MF file, open it in PrusaSlicer, make advanced adjustments, and then either send the G-code to their printer or save it to a USB drive.
Who Can Benefit from Cloud Slicing Service?
Prusa has identified several user groups who may find particular value in the new cloud slicing service. The most obvious beneficiaries are beginners who might find traditional slicing software overwhelming. EasyPrint removes this barrier by eliminating complicated settings and profile setups, allowing new users to start printing with minimal friction.
Educational environments using Chromebooks will benefit from not having to install specialised software or deal with system restrictions. Students and teachers can prepare 3D models and send them to print directly from a browser tab or download G-code to a USB device.
Tablet power users who create 3D models using applications like Shapr3D can now slice their designs without transferring files to a computer first. The service also enables family members without 3D printing experience to prepare and start prints independently.
Even experienced users may appreciate the convenience of starting prints from a phone while relaxing, particularly for projects that would use default settings anyway. The service also works with offline printers through an “Add offline printer” button, allowing users to generate G-code for manual transfer via USB or SD card.
Early Access and Future Plans
The current release is described as a large-scale test to help Prusa understand server requirements, costs, and performance needs in real-world usage. The company has been testing EasyPrint internally since December 2023 and is now expanding access through an invite system.
During this early access phase, users are limited to one slicing job at a time through an internal queue system. The service currently refuses to process extremely detailed models or designs requiring extensive supports that would take a long time to slice even on powerful computers. There is also a daily slicing time limit, though Prusa does not expect typical users to reach this under normal circumstances.
Looking ahead, Prusa is considering additional features such as cloud storage for projects, faster or unlimited slicing, and shared storage with PrusaConnect. While the company hopes to keep the basic service free for everyone (with reasonable limitations), more advanced features might be offered as part of a paid package if they provide sufficient value.
Prusa emphasises that EasyPrint is completely optional and users can continue using the desktop PrusaSlicer if preferred. The company also plans to eventually open the service to non-Prusa 3D printer users, reinforcing their commitment to making 3D printing more accessible for everyone rather than creating a closed ecosystem.
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