CHITUBOX is a slicer for resin (SLA, DLP and LCD) 3D printers, made by CBD-Tech in Shenzhen. It takes an STL or OBJ file, lets you orient, hollow and support it, and then slices it into the file format your printer reads. Dental labs and clinics use it to print models, splints and other parts from intraoral scans on a wide range of desktop resin printers. Most people searching for “CHITUBOX download” want the current free edition and want to know what it can do without paying.
Since September 2025 there is one application called simply CHITUBOX. It replaced the separate CHITUBOX Basic and CHITUBOX Pro programs. The Basic tier costs nothing. The Advanced, Pro and Team tiers are paid, and so is CHITUBOX Dental, a dental mode with its own trial. That makes CHITUBOX shareware (conditionally free): the core slicer is free, and the advanced and dental tools are paid.
CHITUBOX at a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Latest version | CHITUBOX v1.3.1 (19 August 2026) |
| Licence | Shareware (conditionally free): the Basic tier is free; the Advanced, Pro, Team and Dental editions are paid |
| Platforms | Windows; macOS (Apple silicon and Intel builds) |
| Developer | CBD-Tech, Shenzhen, China |
| Official website | chitubox.com (dental edition: dental.chitubox.com) |
| Best for | Preparing resin prints for consumer and prosumer LCD printers, including dental models |
What it does
- Automatic and manual support generation, with overhang detection. Island, cavity and collision checks help you find risky areas before you print.
- Automatic and manual layout and orientation, plus hollowing and hole drilling. Since v1.1.0 you can set the direction of drilled holes.
- Basic model repair is free. Advanced repair, splitting and Boolean operations are in the paid tiers.
- Slices for mainstream resin printers from Anycubic, Elegoo, Phrozen, Creality, EPAX, Uniformation and others. Printer profiles are added in regular updates. v1.3.1 added the Anycubic Photon P1 Max and the HALOT-X1 Neo.
- The RMA (Resin Material Alliance) library gives you ready resin parameters from resin makers and from other users.
- ChituAction runs a one-click automated preparation workflow. ChituManager sends sliced files to printers over your local network.
- Imports STL and OBJ files. Since v1.2.0 it also imports GLB and glTF.
- The free tier can use up to two build platforms at once. The paid tiers can use up to 100 platforms for batch work.
How dental teams use it
Print a study or orthodontic model from an intraoral scan
- Export the arch as STL from your scanner software, for example Medit Link or 3Shape Unite. If the scan has no base, add one in your model software first.
- In CHITUBOX, choose your printer and a resin profile for your dental model resin.
- Orient the model, hollow it and drill drain holes near the base, so that no resin is trapped in a closed cavity.
- Generate supports, or print the model flat on the build plate if the base is designed for that. Then check the island and cavity results.
- Slice, then copy the file to the printer on a USB stick or send it over the network with ChituManager.
Automate preparation with CHITUBOX Dental
CHITUBOX Dental is a paid dental mode inside CHITUBOX. It keeps the full Pro toolset. CBD-Tech lists these applications: orthodontic models, restorative models, implant guides, casting wax, aligners, and temporary crowns and bridges. You import the files and click “Auto Processing”. The software then orients, fills, hollows, drills, supports and lays out the parts. CBD-Tech states that it ships optimized dental printing profiles for more than 160 resin printers. A free trial is available on the dental site.
Batch several cases overnight
Import several arches, auto-layout them on the plate and run collision detection. More than two platforms at a time needs a paid tier.
Keep in mind that a slicer does not make a part safe for the mouth. For splints, guides or temporaries, use a resin validated for that indication, with the printer and settings its manufacturer specifies.
Install and first run
- Windows: run the installer, accept the licence agreement and keep the default path. For the Basic 2 generation, CHITUBOX’s documentation lists 64-bit Windows 10 or 11, 16 GB RAM as the minimum (32 GB recommended) and a graphics card with at least 1 GB of memory (4 GB recommended).
- macOS: the version history lists separate builds for Apple silicon and Intel Macs. The macOS version of the new CHITUBOX was released in v1.0.1 (October 2025).
- Linux: the older CHITUBOX Basic 2 had an Ubuntu build. For the new CHITUBOX, only Windows and macOS builds are listed.
Common problems, from the official FAQ:
- OpenGL must be version 2.0 or higher.
- If you see “no Qt platform plugin could be initialized”, remove the QT_OPENGL and QT_PLUGIN_PATH environment variables.
- Antivirus software, PowerToys, Google Drive and the Windows touch keyboard service can make the program stop responding.
- An “SSL handshake failed” error during activation usually means the system clock is wrong.
Limitations
- Many advanced tools need a paid tier: splitting and Boolean operations, advanced repair, text labels, freehand region supports and batch platforms.
- The dental automation needs CHITUBOX Dental. The free tier gives you the general tools only.
- There is no Linux build of the current version.
- It is a slicer, not dental CAD. Design bases, trims and appliances in your model or CAD software first.
- CBD-Tech makes no regulatory claims for the software. Validation of the parts you print is your responsibility.
CHITUBOX vs alternatives
| Tool | Licence | Printers | Dental angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHITUBOX | Shareware (free Basic tier) | Many brands | Paid Dental mode with automation |
| Lychee Slicer | Shareware (free Lite edition) | 750+ resin and FDM printers | General tools, no dental module |
| Anycubic Photon Workshop | Free | Anycubic only | General tools |
| PrusaSlicer | Free, open source | Prusa SL1/SL1S and a few Anycubic resin printers | General tools |
If you own a Formlabs or Asiga printer, use the maker’s own software instead: Formlabs PreForm or Asiga Composer.
FAQ
Is CHITUBOX free?
The Basic tier is free and includes slicing, auto and manual supports, layout, orientation, hollowing and basic repair. The Advanced, Pro, Team and Dental editions are paid.
What is the difference between CHITUBOX free and Pro?
Pro adds advanced repair, text labels, freehand region supports and multi-parameter slicing. It also includes the Advanced tools: splitting, Boolean operations, more support settings and up to 100 platforms.
Is there CHITUBOX for Mac?
Yes. The current CHITUBOX has macOS builds for Apple silicon and Intel Macs. The macOS version was first released in v1.0.1.
Is there CHITUBOX for Linux?
The older CHITUBOX Basic 2 had an Ubuntu version. For the current CHITUBOX, only Windows and macOS builds are listed.
What is CHITUBOX Dental?
It is a paid dental mode of CHITUBOX. It automates orientation, hollowing, drilling, supports and layout for dental models, guides, aligner models, casting wax and temporaries. A free trial is offered.
CHITUBOX vs Lychee: which is better?
Both prepare resin prints for many printers. CHITUBOX has a dedicated dental edition. Lychee runs on Linux too and also slices for FDM printers. Try the free edition of each with your own printer and resin.
Where do I get the CHITUBOX Basic download?
The free Basic tier is part of the current CHITUBOX application. Get it and its changelog from the official website, chitubox.com.
Last checked against official sources: 28 September 2026 (developer website: chitubox.com). Versions and licence terms change — confirm on the developer's site before deploying in a clinic.
