The Czech company Dolphin Printer s.r.o. has developed SliceDog, a plug-in for common slicing programs that is designed to significantly reduce material consumption in 3D printing. According to the manufacturer, up to 50 percent of filament can be saved in certain applications without compromising the stability of the components.
In practice, strength in 3D printing is often achieved through higher infill density. However, this method is costly and results in longer printing times. A more efficient solution is to use material only in those areas that are actually subjected to greater stress. This would normally require a complex mechanical analysis, followed by manual adjustment of the infill structure. This process requires specialized software and expertise.
SliceDog aims to automate this step. The plug-in allows users to define force points and attachment points directly in the slicer. Based on this, the software calculates which areas are exposed to higher loads and adjusts the fill density of the components accordingly. The tool thus combines elements of finite element analysis with the usual functions of a slicer.
SliceDog is currently available as an extension for UltiMaker Cura. After installation, a separate tab appears in the slicer where the relevant entries can be made. However, registration is required for optimization, as the calculations are performed on the provider’s servers.
The plug-in is still in the beta phase, and no specific information on pricing is available yet. If the software delivers what it promises, it could enable significant savings, especially for expensive materials such as engineering plastics or composite filaments. At the same time, it would simplify the workflow for users who previously had to rely on external simulation programs.
