How to Choose the Right Slicing Method
Decision Matrix
| Your situation | Recommended method |
|---|---|
| Part has overhangs > 45° | Multi-Planar |
| Need smooth curved surfaces | Non-Planar |
| Building on existing part | Conformal |
| Multi-material or graded | Voxel-Based |
| Standard flat-substrate print | Multi-Planar or standard 3-axis |
Multi-Planar Slicing
Best for: Parts with overhangs, bridges, or multiple optimal build directions.
Use when you need to change the build direction within a single part. Each region gets its own build plane, and the slicer handles transitions between them.
Common applications: structural components, architectural elements, parts with cantilevers.
Non-Planar Slicing
Best for: Curved surfaces where layer lines must be invisible.
The layers follow the surface curvature instead of being flat. This is ideal for tooling, molds, and any application where surface finish matters.
Common applications: shoe molds, aerodynamic surfaces, medical implants.
Conformal Slicing
Best for: Repair, coating, and cladding on existing parts.
Layers conform to whatever surface you’re building on. Essential for DED repair operations and surface coating applications.
Common applications: turbine blade repair, die refurbishment, protective coatings.
Voxel-Based Slicing
Best for: Research and advanced applications requiring spatial control.
Decomposes the volume into voxels for per-region parameter assignment. Useful for functionally graded structures and multi-material research.
Common applications: FGM research, multi-material printing, hybrid manufacturing.
Combining Methods
In practice, many parts benefit from combining methods. The 5 Axis Slicer supports using different methods for different regions of the same build — for example, conformal layers on the substrate interface transitioning to multi-planar layers for the bulk geometry.