G-code flavor (gcode_flavor)

The firmware the printer runs. It decides which G-code commands the slicer writes. The slicers declare 2 to 13 names each.

What does each slicer call it?

Five slicers, five spellings of one setting. The scope column is which preset the key belongs to, which is what decides whether changing it follows the printer, the filament, or the print profile.

Slicer Key Scope
PrusaSlicer gcode_flavor machine
Bambu Studio gcode_flavor machine
OrcaSlicer gcode_flavor machine
Cura machine_gcode_flavor machine
Creality Print gcode_flavor machine

Where does it live in the file?

All five slicers agree on which preset this belongs to. A .3mf is a zip, so unzip it and search for gcode_flavor and machine_gcode_flavor, or open the file in preslice and read the Raw tab, which searches every member at once.

Four of the five slicers write their settings into a sidecar part beside the geometry. Cura writes them into the model XML itself, so there is no config part to open.

Slicer Part Format
PrusaSlicer Metadata/Slic3r_PE.config INI, one key = value per line
Bambu Studio Metadata/project_settings.config JSON, one flat object
OrcaSlicer Metadata/project_settings.config JSON, one flat object
Cura 3D/3dmodel.model XML metadata inside the model part, under a cura namespace
Creality Print Metadata/project_settings.config JSON, one flat object

What values are valid?

Each slicer declares its own type, default, and bounds for its key. They do not always agree, and where they disagree the file is still valid in both: the slicer that wrote it is the one that enforced its own rule.

Slicer Type Unit Default Range
PrusaSlicer enum not declared marlin 13 named values
Bambu Studio enum not declared marlin 2 named values
OrcaSlicer enum not declared marlin 5 named values
Cura enum not declared RepRap (Marlin/Sprinter) 11 named values
Creality Print enum not declared marlin 4 named values

This value is not a number, so PrusaSlicer, Bambu Studio, OrcaSlicer, Cura and Creality Print declare no unit for it.

The slicers do not accept the same names, which is what a value has to survive when a file moves between them:

  • Cura accepts BFB, BambuLab, Cheetah, Griffin, MACH3, Makerbot, RepRap (Marlin/Sprinter), RepRap (RepRap), RepRap (Volumetric), Repetier, UltiGCode
  • Bambu Studio accepts marlin, klipper
  • Creality Print accepts marlin, klipper, reprapfirmware, marlin2
  • OrcaSlicer accepts marlin, klipper, reprapfirmware, repetier, marlin2
  • PrusaSlicer accepts reprap, reprapfirmware, repetier, teacup, makerware, marlin, marlin2, klipper, sailfish, mach3, machinekit, smoothie, no-extrusion

Every type, default, and bound above is read from the slicer's own field definitions rather than from measurement: PrusaSlicer's PrintConfig.cpp, Bambu Studio's PrintConfig.cpp, OrcaSlicer's PrintConfig.cpp, Cura's fdmprinter.def.json and Creality Print's PrintConfig.cpp.

Can I read it from my own file?

Yes, without installing a slicer. Open preslice and drop a .3mf on the page. It unzips and parses the file in your browser, and shows g-code flavor under its own name alongside the rest of the print settings. The file stays in your browser; see what leaves it.