diff --git a/slicer-api/README.md b/slicer-api/README.md
index 1f203a74d..2080f4d00 100644
--- a/slicer-api/README.md
+++ b/slicer-api/README.md
@@ -38,6 +38,11 @@ at all. For ARM64 hosts (Raspberry Pi 4/5, Apple Silicon Linux), run
 the sidecar on a separate x86_64 box and point Bambuddy at it via the
 **Sidecar URL** field — the sidecar doesn't need to live next to Bambuddy.
 
+If a separate x86_64 box isn't an option, the amd64 images can be run on
+an ARM64 host under emulation — experimental, roughly 3-6x slower than
+native, and a stopgap until native ARM64 images ship. See
+[Experimental setup for ARM64](#experimental-setup-for-arm64) below.
+
 ## Ports
 
 | Service | Default host port | Why this port |
@@ -114,6 +119,48 @@ To roll back to the sidecar that shipped with a previous Bambuddy
 release, set `SIDECAR_TAG=bambuddy-X.Y.Z` in `.env` and re-run the two
 commands above.
 
+## Experimental setup for ARM64
+
+Runs the `linux/amd64` images on an ARM64 host under QEMU emulation, via
+the `docker-compose.arm64.yml` override in this folder. Expect roughly
+3-6x slower slicing than native, worsening with model complexity. This is
+a stopgap until native ARM64 images ship, not a replacement for running
+the sidecar on an x86_64 box — if you have one, use it.
+
+**Set up QEMU binfmt on the host first**, or the containers fail with
+`exec format error`. On Debian/Ubuntu that is `qemu-user-static` plus
+`binfmt-support`; Docker Desktop on Apple Silicon already has it. The
+per-distribution commands are in the
+[wiki](https://wiki.bambuddy.cool/features/slicer-api/) — do that before
+the steps below.
+
+### Quick start for ARM64
+
+```bash
+cd slicer-api/
+cp .env.example .env       # edit ports if you like
+
+# Make every later `docker compose` command pick up the ARM64 override:
+echo 'COMPOSE_FILE=docker-compose.yml:docker-compose.arm64.yml' >> .env
+
+# OrcaSlicer only (default profile):
+docker compose up -d
+curl http://localhost:3003/health
+
+# Both slicers:
+docker compose --profile bambu up -d
+curl http://localhost:3001/health   # bambu-studio-api
+curl http://localhost:3003/health   # orca-slicer-api
+```
+
+That `COMPOSE_FILE` line is what makes the rest of this README work
+unchanged on ARM64 — **Updating** included. Without it every command has
+to name both files (`docker compose -f docker-compose.yml -f
+docker-compose.arm64.yml …`), and the first bare `docker compose pull` or
+`up -d` drops the override: on a host with no amd64 emulation registered
+for that image you get a manifest error, and once native ARM64 images
+exist you would silently switch between them and back.
+
 ## Troubleshooting
 
 - **`address already in use` on port 3000 or 3002** — Bambuddy's
diff --git a/slicer-api/docker-compose.arm64.yml b/slicer-api/docker-compose.arm64.yml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..fded4d7b2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/slicer-api/docker-compose.arm64.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+# Override file for the slicer-api sidecar stack on ARM64 (experimental).
+#
+# Pins both sidecars to the linux/amd64 images so they run under QEMU
+# emulation on an ARM64 host. The host must have QEMU binfmt registered
+# first (qemu-user-static + binfmt-support on Debian/Ubuntu) or the
+# containers fail with "exec format error". Expect roughly 3-6x slower
+# slicing than native — a stopgap until native ARM64 images ship.
+#
+# This file is not meant to be used on its own. It is intended to be used in
+# combination with the default docker-compose file, for example:
+#   docker compose -f docker-compose.yml -f docker-compose.arm64.yml up -d
+#
+# Both -f flags are needed on EVERY compose command, not just the first, so
+# put this line in .env instead and the plain commands in the README work
+# unchanged:
+#   COMPOSE_FILE=docker-compose.yml:docker-compose.arm64.yml
+#
+# For any setup questions, see the 'Server-Side Slicing (Slicer API)' page in
+# the Bambuddy wiki. Also check the README and default compose file in this
+# directory for usage instructions and other details.
+
+services:
+  orca-slicer-api:
+    platform: linux/amd64
+
+  bambu-studio-api:
+    platform: linux/amd64
diff --git a/slicer-api/docker-compose.yml b/slicer-api/docker-compose.yml
index a814f540c..bfe081b6d 100644
--- a/slicer-api/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/slicer-api/docker-compose.yml
@@ -28,7 +28,10 @@
 #
 # Both images are linux/amd64 only. OrcaSlicer's ARM64 path is on hold
 # pending an upstream extraction fix; BambuStudio doesn't publish ARM64
-# at all.
+# at all. ARM64 hosts are best served by running the sidecar on a separate
+# x86_64 box; failing that, `docker-compose.arm64.yml` in this directory
+# runs these same images under QEMU emulation — experimental, ~3-6x slower,
+# and it needs binfmt set up on the host. See the README.
 
 services:
   orca-slicer-api: