e.g., the estimated time your printer will run for this print.
e.g., $0.15 per kWh in your region.
e.g., your 3D printer's average power draw.
e.g., cost attributed to printer wear & tear, maintenance, etc. per hour of operation.
e.g., $1.00 for wear, tear, maintenance per hour.
Understanding 3D Printing Costs
Calculating the cost of a 3D print is essential for hobbyists, small businesses, and manufacturers alike. It allows for accurate pricing of prints, better cost management, and an understanding of the true expenses involved in additive manufacturing. The total cost is typically broken down into several key components: material cost, electricity cost, and machine/labor cost.
Key Cost Components:
Material Cost: This is the cost of the filament or resin used for the print. It's usually calculated based on the weight or volume of the material consumed and its price per unit (e.g., per kilogram or liter).
Electricity Cost: 3D printers consume electricity to heat the nozzle, the print bed, and run the motors. The cost depends on the printer's power consumption (in Watts), the duration of the print, and the local electricity price per kilowatt-hour (kWh).
Machine/Labor Cost: This accounts for the wear and tear on the 3D printer, maintenance, and potentially the time spent by an operator. It's often estimated as a cost per hour of printer operation. For businesses, this can also include labor costs for post-processing or supervision.
The Calculation Explained:
Our calculator simplifies this by using the following formulas:
Filament Cost:
Filament Cost = (Filament Weight in grams / 1000) * Filament Cost per Kilogram
We divide grams by 1000 to convert to kilograms.
Electricity Cost:
Electricity Cost = (Printer Power in Watts / 1000) * Print Time in hours * Electricity Cost per kWh
We divide Watts by 1000 to convert to Kilowatts (kW).
Machine Cost:
Machine Cost = Print Time in hours * Machine Cost per Hour
This detailed breakdown helps in understanding where your printing costs originate and how to optimize them. Factors like print speed, infill density, and layer height can significantly affect filament usage and print time, thereby influencing the overall cost.
function calculate3dPrintCost() {
var filamentWeight = parseFloat(document.getElementById("filamentWeight").value);
var filamentCostPerKg = parseFloat(document.getElementById("filamentCostPerKg").value);
var printTimeHours = parseFloat(document.getElementById("printTimeHours").value);
var electricityCostPerKwh = parseFloat(document.getElementById("electricityCostPerKwh").value);
var printerPowerWatts = parseFloat(document.getElementById("printerPowerWatts").value);
var machineHours = parseFloat(document.getElementById("machineHours").value); // Not directly used in the core calculation but relevant for context/future enhancements
var machineCostPerHour = parseFloat(document.getElementById("machineCostPerHour").value);
var resultElement = document.getElementById("result");
resultElement.innerHTML = "; // Clear previous results
// Input validation
if (isNaN(filamentWeight) || filamentWeight <= 0 ||
isNaN(filamentCostPerKg) || filamentCostPerKg < 0 ||
isNaN(printTimeHours) || printTimeHours <= 0 ||
isNaN(electricityCostPerKwh) || electricityCostPerKwh < 0 ||
isNaN(printerPowerWatts) || printerPowerWatts <= 0 ||
isNaN(machineCostPerHour) || machineCostPerHour < 0) {
resultElement.innerHTML = 'Please enter valid positive numbers for all fields.';
return;
}
// Calculations
var filamentCost = (filamentWeight / 1000) * filamentCostPerKg;
var electricityCost = (printerPowerWatts / 1000) * printTimeHours * electricityCostPerKwh;
var machineCost = printTimeHours * machineCostPerHour;
var totalCost = filamentCost + electricityCost + machineCost;
// Display result
resultElement.innerHTML = 'Total Estimated Cost: $' + totalCost.toFixed(2) + '';
}