The open source software Cura Slicer is the primary slicer used by Ultimaker printers. It is a free-of-charge, powerful, easy-to-use program that provides users with the most extensive control over print quality settings.

In terms of ease-of-use, Cura offers an intuitive interface that organizes print, filament, and printer settings in a left panel. Users can expand or collapse the sections to get access to more complex settings. Moreover, the software allows custom print profiles to be created for various materials. This feature is particularly useful for schools with multi-material or SLA printers as it helps to save filament costs by enabling optimal setting recommendations.

Cura vs PrusaSlicer: Which 3D Slicer Should You Use?

Moreover, the software also provides a wide range of options to choose from when it comes to layer height and infill patterns. Besides these basic parameters, there are many other advanced settings like cooling, plate adhesion, travel speed, infill density, and wall thickness to fine-tune print quality to the finest details.

Cura also offers a dark mode, a visual preview, and tooltips to improve user experience. Moreover, the plugin marketplace enables users to install new features and integrations such as OctoPrint connectivity, CAD software integration (SolidWorks and Siemens NX), and UI themes for a customized look.

Its lightweight design and minimal system requirements make it suitable for desktop computers with modest computing power. It is an excellent option for KS2 and KS3 schools as it is quick to slice and simple for students to use, even with no prior experience of 3D printing.