Getting Started
Get one vase-mode G-code file onto a printer, then explore the other modules. You always start from the empty canvas unless you Open a saved .3dsynth project. Printer, material, and nozzle presets in the Print tab stay global across modules.
Walkthrough with video: Tutorial 1: Your First Profile Shape (school icon in the toolbar, G-code Sculptor list). This page is the short path; the tutorial is the guided one.
First print
1. Empty canvas → G-code Sculptor
On the empty canvas, open G-code Sculptor. That is the vase-mode module: a radius-vs-height profile, optional wall effects, live toolpath preview, and G-code export without an external slicer first.
Leave Mesh Sculptor, Node Sculptor, SynthBlocks, and the utility row for later. They are listed under Other modules.
2. Print tab (machine)
Open the left dock Print tab. Set machine, material, and nozzle to match the printer you will use. Match the real nozzle diameter (for example a 0.4 mm preset for a 0.4 mm nozzle).
3. Confirm the profile
The Create tab shows the default silhouette and total height. For a first print, keep it simple: a cylinder or gentle vase is enough. You can add effects after this file prints cleanly.
4. Generate the preview
With Auto-update on (the default), the 3D viewer builds the toolpath. If the viewport shows Needs Update, click it. Orbit the model and use the viewer layer range on the right if you want to inspect a band of layers.
5. Download G-code
Use the toolbar G-code button. If the Inspector lists warnings, read them before the file save (blocking issues must be fixed; non-blocking can continue). Send the file to the printer. Do not rely on Creality Print or Bambu Studio to preview non-planar paths—see G-code preview compatibility.
Other modules
Pick a different card on the empty canvas (or Open a .3dsynth project). Switching modules and saving: Presets & Projects.
| Module | Primary output | Role |
|---|---|---|
| G-code Sculptor | G-code (vase / spiral) | Profile curve and stacked effects; vase-mode toolpath. |
| Mesh Sculptor | STL | Mesh and vertex effects. Export STL to slice elsewhere. |
| Texturize | STL | Displace any mesh (live Mesh Sculptor or imported STL). Derived layer — shape stays clean. |
| Node Sculptor | G-code | Node graph drives geometry and toolpaths. |
| SynthBlocks | G-code | Visual block programming for custom G-code. |
| Custom G-code | Edited G-code | Import, edit, analyze, and debug G-code files. Switch back to other modules in the same project with the toolbar module list. |
| Fabric Sculpt | G-code | Line generators and filters. Stacked extrusion paths. |
| Predefined Models | G-code | Catalog parametric parts. No graph or profile editor. |
| Hex Grid | G-code | Painted hex pattern. Vase toolpath and floor preview. |
Next steps
- Tutorial 1: Your First Profile Shape — school icon in the toolbar (G-code Sculptor / Beginner).
- G-code Sculptor: mental model, effects stack, preview vs export.
- Interface overview: docks, viewer, inspector, status bar.
- Presets & Projects:
.3dsynthprojects and design presets. - Numeric controls and Printer best practices.