--slice
<option>Slice a specific 1-based plate with --slice N, or all plates at once with --slice 0 (each producing its own plate_N.gcode); omit the flag and the file loads and configures without producing any G-code.
Details
An int option (default 0). This is the action that triggers headless slicing: it loads the model, applies the resolved configuration, and writes per-plate G-code. Without --slice (or another action like --info or --export-settings) the CLI loads geometry and applies settings but produces no G-code, which is useful for inspecting a file or dumping its config.
The integer selects the plate: 0 slices every plate, i slices only the 1-based plate i, and a negative value or one past the project's plate count is rejected. A 'plate' is a virtual build-plate arrangement inside a Bambu/Orca 3MF; each plate records which object instances sit on it plus its own embedded process, filament, and machine presets, while project_settings.config holds the global config. Each instance carries a stable identify ID, surfaced after load as its loaded ID (the same ID --skip-objects keys on). Output is written per plate as plate_N.gcode, so slicing all plates yields one G-code file per plate.
Examples
orca-slicer --slice 1 \
--load-settings "machine.json;process.json" \
--export-3mf out.gcode.3mf model.3mforca-slicer --slice 0 ... model.3mfWatch out for
- ▲ Plain STL or a vanilla (non-Bambu) 3MF has no plate metadata, so a nonzero plate index is silently reset to `0` and the whole model is treated as one plate.
- ▲ Plate indices are 1-based: `--slice 1` is the first plate. `0` means all plates, not 'plate zero'.
- ▲ `--slice 0` is incompatible with `--repetitions`, which duplicates objects onto a single target plate.
Related flags
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