MatterControl
MatterControl is an open-source 3D design and slicing software for 3D printing, maintained by MatterHackers. It allows users to design, modify, and prepare 3D models for printing on consumer FDM 3D printers. The app includes CAD-like tools (holes, boolean operations, parametric components), a materials library with tested print settings, real-time preview of prints with support geometry visualization, and G-code generation for printer control. It supports MatterHackers' Crane series printers as well as other common 3D printer models, and stores designs in the MCX portable file format or standard STL/OBJ formats. The software is used by makers, product designers, engineers, and hobbyists who want integrated design-to-print workflows.
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1 suggestionMatterControl's release notes show active development through 2022, with the most recent documented release being version 2.22.05 in May 2022. We could not confirm from the available search results whether a native Apple Silicon build currently exists or is planned. Since the last visible release is nearly four years old and predates widespread native Apple Silicon adoption (which accelerated significantly after 2022), there is uncertainty about the app's current status. Contact MatterHackers directly through their GitHub repository or support channels to ask whether a native Apple Silicon build has been released or is planned before macOS 28 ships in late 2027. If the app is no longer actively maintained, the Intel build will stop working entirely on macOS 28 (late 2027) when Apple removes Rosetta 2. As alternatives, Fusion 360 (free for personal use, runs natively on Apple Silicon), FreeCAD (free, open-source), and Prusa Slicer (free, actively maintained with native support) are all well-maintained options for 3D model design and slicing.
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