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Does Prusaslicer Work With Anycubic Photon? Best Settings

Prusaslicer has some fantastic features for SLA 3D printing, but unfortunately, it doesn't natively support all 3D printers. However, since Prusa is always open-source, some workarounds will allow you to use Prusaslicer with almost any 3D printer, including the Anycubic Photon. 

Written by:
Ben
Last updated:
11/11/2023

Prusaslicer has some fantastic features for SLA 3D printing, but unfortunately, it doesn’t natively support all 3D printers. However, since Prusa is always open-source, some workarounds will allow you to use Prusaslicer with almost any 3D printer, including the Anycubic Photon. 

Prusaslicer works with Anycubic Photon, but you must set a custom printer profile. Prusaslicer only includes pre-configured printer files for Anycubic’s FFF printers, so you’ll need to create a new profile and add the configuration manually to use this slicer. 

Since you’ll need to customize your printer settings on Prusaslicer to use an Anycubic Photon with it, you’ll need to know the best settings for your custom printer profile on this slicer. That’s why I’m here to walk you through the configuration wizard setup and help you adjust the settings so that you can use your printer with Prusaslicer

How Do You Slice 3D Models for Anycubic Photon on Prusaslicer?

Although Prusaslicer doesn’t natively support Anycubic Photon, that doesn’t mean that you can’t use it to print models on your SLA printer. You’ll just need to configure Prusaslicer after installation and add an extra step when exporting the file. 

Here’s how you can slice models for Anycubic Photon on Prusaslicer: 

  1. Download Prusaslicer and enter the configuration wizard. 
  2. Set the printer to Prusa SL1. 
  3. Enter and adjust the custom printer settings. 
  4. Pick your material in SLA materials. 
  5. Enter the slicer and edit your model. 
  6. Slice and export your file as an STL. 
  7. Make your file readable. 
  8. Upload and print your file. 

Let’s go through the steps together and get your first Prusa-sliced model printed on your Photon printer. 

1. Download Prusaslicer and Enter the Configuration Wizard

First, ensure that you have Prusaslicer on your computer. You can download it here for free on the Prusa website. They have options available for Mac, Linux, Windows, Chromebooks, etc. However, you may also be able to download Prusaslicer more easily via your OS’s app/snap store. 

2. Set the Printer to Prusa SL1

When you launch Prusaslicer for the first time, it will launch the configuration wizard, where you will set your preferences and specify the printer you will use with the slicer. If you have already set up another printer on Prusaslicer, find the Configuration tab and select “Configuration Wizard…” to launch it. 

If you’ve already gotten to this step, you may have noticed that Prusaslicer supports some Anycubic printers but not their SLA printers. 

Since there’s no preset for the Anycubic Photon, go to “Prusa MSLA” on the taskbar to the left of the window. Then select the “Prusa SL1” printer. 

This printer has very similar specs to the Anycubic Photon (available on amazon.com), so selecting it will give you a few presets that you can work with when you customize them in the next step. In addition, selecting this printer will open up a few different menus and settings for SLA printers, which we will need to access later. 

3. Enter and Adjust the Custom Printer Settings

Next, navigate to the “Custom Printer” in the taskbar to the left of your window. You’ll need to fine-tune Prusaslicer to work with your Photon in the custom printer settings. Since it can get a bit number-y and technical, let’s walk through each menu as it appears in the configuration wizard: 

  1. Click the checkbox that says “Define a custom printer profile” next to it. 
  2. Name your custom print profile (I recommend naming it “Anycubic Photon” so you can find it easily later). 
  3. Click “Next” at the bottom of your window. 
  4. The firmware selection menu should pop up next. On the drop-down menu, select “no extrusion,” then select “Next.” 
  5. Set the “Bed Size” to your Photon’s build surface dimensions. If you’re unsure of your Photon’s specs, you can find the build volume for your model in the product listings on the Anycubic website here

After setting the bed size, you can skip to the “SLA Materials” menu, located in the taskbar on the left-hand side of the window. 

4. Pick Your Material in SLA Materials

In the “SLA Materials” menu, select the options for “Original Prusa SL1,” then choose any resins that you want to use. Prusa offers various filament choices from reputable brands, but if you don’t see what you usually use or have on hand, you can add a custom SLA material later. 

5. Enter the Slicer and Edit Your Model

Select “Finish” in the configuration wizard to enter Prusaslicer. 

Be sure to look at the drop-down menus in the right-hand panel of the window and select the printer you just set up. It will likely be under the name “Original Prusa SL1” or “Anycubic Photon,” but if you try that and the bed size is wrong, then change it to the “My Settings” selection which will look like a standard grid. 

Now, you can upload your model’s file and add supports, cut, hollow out, pad, and fill the object at the click of a button. 

6. Slice and Export Your File as an STL

Once you are happy with how your model looks in Prusaslicer, slice it by clicking on the “Slicing” icon in the bottom left corner of the window (the icon looks like a stack of layers in a cube shape). If you are happy with how it looks, export the file as an STL by opening the “File” tab at the top of the window. 

7. Make Your File Readable

Now that you have successfully sliced your print on Prusaslicer, you’ll need to find a way to convert the file into a Photon file. Photon printers can only read Photon files, so this step is critical. 

There are a couple of ways to do this: 

  • Upload and re-slice your model in Chitubox or Anycubic’s slicer. This method is best since it doesn’t leave any room for errors. To do it, upload your STL sliced file into your SLA slicer and re-slice it. Be sure to check the dimensions and scale your model appropriately for your specific printer. Then, export the file and print it. 
  • Convert your file from SL1 to Proton with a converter. You may be able to convert your SL1 to a proton file with a converter like this SL1toPhoton one on Github. However, if your plate size in Prusaslicer did not match your Photon’s build plate size, this method will likely fail. 

8. Upload and Print Your File

Once your file is in Photon format, it’s time to send it over to your printer! You shouldn’t have any issues after this point, but you may not have exported the file correctly if you do. Ensure that your file is in Photon and is the correct size for your build plate if you experience an error. 

Final Thoughts

It takes a couple of extra steps to use Prusaslicer for slicing and printing objects with an Anycubic Photon, but it is still simple. You’ll need to customize your printer on Prusaslicer to create a build plate with enough surface area for your Photon, then use another program or converter to turn your SL1 file into a Photon file. 

Once you get the hang of these steps and get set up, SLA printing with Prusaslicer should be a breeze, and it’ll allow you to use the fantastic features that this slicer has to offer!

Written by:
Ben
Last updated:
11/11/2023

About Ben

I started 3D printing since 2013 and have learned a lot since then. Because of this I want to share my knowledge of what I have learned in the past years with the community. Currently I own 2 Bambulab X1 Carbon, Prusa SL1S and a Prusa MK3S+. Hope you learn something from my blog after my years of experience in 3D printing.