· Austin Prysock

Orca Slicer for Bambu Lab: Why Many Users Switch from Bambu Studio

Complete guide to using Orca Slicer with Bambu Lab printers. What it adds, how to set it up, calibration tools, and when Bambu Studio is still better.

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Orca Slicer for Bambu Lab: Should You Switch?

Orca Slicer is a free, open-source slicer forked from Bambu Studio. It works with all Bambu Lab printers and adds features that power users have wanted since day one. Here’s what it offers and whether you should switch.

What Orca Slicer Adds

Orca is built on the same Bambu Studio codebase, so every feature in Bambu Studio exists in Orca. What Orca adds on top:

Built-in Calibration Suite

This is the headline feature. Orca includes automated calibration tests that Bambu Studio doesn’t:

  • Flow rate calibration: Automated test that finds your optimal flow rate per filament
  • Pressure advance calibration: Tower test that dials in PA without manual gcode
  • Temperature tower: Auto-generates a temp tower for any filament
  • Max volumetric speed: Tests your hotend’s max flow capacity
  • Retraction test: Finds optimal retraction length and speed

In Bambu Studio, you either use the built-in calibration (limited) or manually create these test prints. Orca automates all of it.

Advanced Print Settings

  • Precise wall control: Inner/outer wall ordering per region
  • Arachne perimeter generator: Variable-width perimeters for better thin wall handling
  • Custom gcode per object: Different gcode for different objects on the same plate
  • Exclude objects during print: If one object fails, exclude it and continue the rest
  • More infill patterns: Including adaptive cubic and lightning infill

Better Multi-Printer Support

Orca handles multiple printer profiles more cleanly than Bambu Studio. If you run a fleet of different Bambu printers (X1C + P1S + A1 Mini), switching between them is smoother.

Profile Sharing

Orca has a community profile system where users share calibrated filament profiles. Instead of calibrating every new filament from scratch, you can import someone else’s tested profile as a starting point.

Setting Up Orca Slicer

Installation

  1. Download from github.com/SoftFever/OrcaSlicer
  2. Install like any application (Windows, Mac, Linux)
  3. On first launch, it imports your Bambu Studio profiles automatically

Connecting to Your Printer

Orca connects to Bambu Lab printers the same way Bambu Studio does:

  • Cloud mode: Log in with your Bambu account
  • LAN mode: Enter your printer’s IP and access code (found on the printer touchscreen under Network)

LAN mode is recommended for Orca — faster connection, no cloud dependency.

Importing Profiles

Your existing Bambu Studio profiles import automatically. If you’ve calibrated filament profiles in Bambu Studio, they carry over.

Running Orca’s Calibration Suite

Flow Rate Calibration

  1. Calibration menu → Flow Rate
  2. Select your printer and filament
  3. Orca generates a two-step test: coarse then fine
  4. Print the coarse test, identify the best section
  5. Input the result, print the fine test
  6. Optimal flow rate is determined to ±0.5%

This is significantly more precise than Bambu Studio’s built-in flow calibration.

Pressure Advance (PA) Test

  1. Calibration menu → Pressure Advance
  2. Select line method or tower method
  3. Print the test
  4. Read the PA value from the cleanest section
  5. Enter the value in your filament profile

Temperature Tower

  1. Calibration menu → Temperature
  2. Set range (e.g., 190-220°C for PLA, 5°C steps)
  3. Print the tower
  4. Examine each section for stringing, bridging, layer adhesion
  5. Pick the temp that balances all three

When Bambu Studio Is Still Better

Orca isn’t universally superior. Bambu Studio wins in these areas:

First-party integration: Bambu Studio’s cloud features (remote monitoring, print history, shared profiles) are more tightly integrated. If you rely on Bambu Handy phone monitoring, Bambu Studio’s cloud sync is better.

Firmware updates: Bambu Studio handles printer firmware updates. Orca can’t update firmware — you’ll need Bambu Studio installed for that.

AMS management: The AMS color mapping and filament assignment UI in Bambu Studio is slightly more polished.

Simplicity: If the default profiles work for you and you don’t need advanced calibration, Bambu Studio’s simpler interface is less overwhelming.

The Verdict

Use Orca Slicer if:

  • You want precise calibration for each filament
  • You print with many different materials
  • You want features like object exclusion and adaptive infill
  • You run multiple printers and want better profile management
  • You’re comfortable with more complex software

Stick with Bambu Studio if:

  • Default profiles give you good results already
  • You value simplicity over features
  • You rely heavily on cloud features and Bambu Handy
  • You’re new to 3D printing (learn Bambu Studio first, then consider Orca)

My recommendation: Install both. Use Orca for production printing and calibration. Keep Bambu Studio for firmware updates and when you want the simpler interface.

More software guides: Bambu Studio Speed Settings, Pressure Advance Guide, Flow Rate Calibration.