Accurately determine the final cost of your 3D printing project by factoring in material consumption, machine time, labor, and necessary failure buffer.
3D Print Cost Calculator
3D Print Cost Formula
$$ \text{Cost} = \frac{(\text{Material Cost}) + (\text{Machine Cost}) + (\text{Labor Cost})}{1 – \text{Failure Rate}}$$
Variables
- Filament Weight (grams): The total mass of material required for the final part.
- Filament Price ($/kg): The price per kilogram of the specific material (e.g., PLA, ABS).
- Print Time (hours): The duration the 3D printer actively spends producing the part.
- Machine Hourly Rate ($/h): The estimated cost to run the machine per hour (including electricity, maintenance, and depreciation).
- Labor Hourly Rate ($/h): The rate paid to the technician for setup and post-processing.
- Setup Time (hours): Time spent preparing the print, slicing, and leveling the bed.
- Post-Processing Time (hours): Time spent cleaning, curing, or finishing the print after completion.
- Failure Rate (%): The expected percentage of prints that fail and must be reprinted, acting as a contingency buffer.
What is 3D Print Cost?
The 3D Print Cost represents the comprehensive, all-inclusive expense required to produce a single 3D-printed part successfully. It goes far beyond the simple cost of filament, encompassing machine operation, human labor, overheads, and the critical factor of print failure probability.
Accurate cost calculation is essential for commercial viability, service bureaus, and hobbyists alike. It allows for correct pricing, optimizing print settings, and making informed decisions on material and machine investments. Ignoring elements like labor or failure rate leads to significantly underestimated final costs and reduced profitability.
How to Calculate 3D Print Cost (Example)
- Calculate Material Cost: A part uses 50g of $30/kg filament. Material Cost = (50g * $30/kg) / 1000 = $1.50.
- Calculate Machine Cost: The print takes 3 hours, and the machine rate is $0.40/h. Machine Cost = 3h * $0.40/h = $1.20.
- Calculate Labor Cost: Setup (0.1h) + Post-processing (0.2h) = 0.3h total labor. Labor Rate is $25/h. Labor Cost = 0.3h * $25/h = $7.50.
- Calculate Base Cost: Base Cost = $1.50 + $1.20 + $7.50 = $10.20.
- Apply Failure Rate: Assuming a 10% failure rate (0.10). Total Cost = $10.20 / (1 – 0.10) = $10.20 / 0.90 = $11.33.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the biggest hidden cost in 3D printing?
The biggest hidden cost is often the technician’s labor for setup, post-processing, and, crucially, the time wasted on failed prints. The failure rate can dramatically increase the overall cost per successful part.
How often should I update my Machine Hourly Rate?
Your Machine Hourly Rate should be reviewed at least annually, or immediately following any major maintenance or component replacement, to accurately reflect depreciation and operational costs.
Should I include the cost of support material in the calculation?
Yes, absolutely. If the support material is a different, dissolvable, or separate filament, its weight and price should be calculated separately and added to the total Material Cost component.
Why does the calculator use a failure rate divisor instead of just adding a percentage?
Using the divisor $1 – \text{Failure Rate}$ ensures the cost covers the *expected number of attempts* needed for one successful print. If a 10% failure rate means you need $10.20$ to make a part, you must charge more than $10.20 \times 1.1 = $11.22$ because that only covers the cost of the first failure, not the total cost of production.