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Detaljeret guide kommer snart
Vi arbejder på en omfattende uddannelsesguide til 3D Print Material Cost. Kom snart tilbage for trin-for-trin forklaringer, formler, eksempler fra virkeligheden og eksperttips.
The 3D Print Material Cost Calculator computes the filament cost per model based on model weight in grams, spool price, spool weight (typically 1 kg), and waste percentage (5–15% accounts for purge towers, brims, supports, failed prints). Standard PLA averages $0.020–0.030 per gram ($20–30 per 1 kg spool); PETG $0.025–0.035; ABS/ASA $0.020–0.030; TPU $0.040–0.060; specialty materials (carbon fiber composites, metal-filled, glow-in-dark) $0.05–0.15 per gram. This calculator gives per-print material cost — essential for pricing custom orders, Etsy/Shopify listings, or comparing brand value. Get model weight from slicer estimate (Cura, PrusaSlicer, OrcaSlicer all show grams after slicing) or weigh the printed model on a kitchen scale post-print. Waste accumulates from: skirt/brim (1–3 g), purge tower for multi-color (10–30 g), supports (10–30% of model), failed prints (full waste of attempt), and color changes (purge per color). For solo prints with no supports, 5–10% waste is realistic; for complex multi-material prints with supports, 20–30%. For commercial use (Etsy shop, custom print services), material cost is typically 10–20% of total job cost. The other 80–90% covers: machine hour (depreciation + electricity $0.50–2.00/hr), labor (slicing, post-processing, packaging $5–30/hr), shipping, platform fees (Etsy 6.5% + payment processing), and profit margin (40–60% on hobby-level work, 100%+ on specialized engineering parts). Underpricing based on material cost alone is the most common first-year mistake for print-for-hire operators. For maker hobbyists: knowing material cost helps decide print-vs-buy. A 200g phone stand at $0.025/g costs $5 in filament — competitive with Amazon. A 500g organizer at $0.025/g costs $12.50 — often beats Amazon since the print is custom. Calculator helps make these tradeoffs explicit. For schools and libraries operating shared printers, charging $0.10–0.20 per gram covers material + wear + supervision and remains affordable for students.
- 1Step 1 — Get model weight from slicer estimate (slice the file first; Cura/PrusaSlicer report grams)
- 2Step 2 — Enter spool price (your actual purchase cost, not MSRP)
- 3Step 3 — Enter spool weight (typically 1000g; sometimes 750g for premium brands)
- 4Step 4 — Enter waste percentage (5% for simple prints, 15% for supports, 25%+ for multi-material)
- 5Step 5 — Calculator computes cost per gram: SP / SW
- 6Step 6 — Computes total filament used: W × (1 + Waste%)
- 7Step 7 — Outputs cost per gram, total grams used, and total material cost
100 × 1.10 × ($25/1000) = $2.75. Most hobby prints fall in this range.
Bigger prints amplify cost — and PETG is slightly more expensive than PLA. Add this to machine hour cost for accurate pricing.
TPU runs 2× PLA cost. Justifies higher pricing on flexible parts.
Premium materials warrant 2–3× pricing markup over PLA versions
Custom print pricing for Etsy/Shopify shops
Print farm cost accounting
School/library print fee calculation
Maker hobbyist print-vs-buy decision
Quote generation for commission work
Filament inventory budgeting
How does machine hour cost factor in?
Material is typically only 10–20% of total job cost for commercial work. Machine hour ($0.50–2.00/hr including depreciation + electricity + wear) often equals or exceeds material. A 10-hour print at $1/hr machine = $10 plus material. Add labor (slicing, post-processing, packaging) and platform fees on top. Set commercial pricing as Material × 5–10 to cover everything.
Does color affect filament cost?
Standard colors (white, black, gray) usually cheapest. Special effects (silk, glow, metallic, carbon-fiber) run 1.5–3× cost. Multi-color prints add waste from purge towers (10–30g per color change). Single-color prints are most economical; switch to multi-color only when the visual outcome justifies the cost.
What waste percentage should I use?
Simple model, no supports: 5%. Standard model with skirt/brim: 7–10%. Model with supports: 12–18%. Multi-material with purge tower: 25–40%. Always include failed prints in your real waste calculation — print farms report 10–15% failure rates costing full waste of attempted prints.
Are name-brand filaments worth the premium?
Sometimes. Premium brands (Polymaker, Prusament, Sunlu) cost 1.5–2× generic. Premium gives: tighter diameter tolerance (smoother surface), cleaner color, less moisture absorption, fewer failures from contaminants. For visible/aesthetic parts, premium pays back. For prototypes/functional parts where appearance doesn't matter, generic is fine — save $10–20 per spool.
How do I reduce filament waste?
Print without brim when bed adhesion is good. Reduce supports via model orientation. Use single-extrusion mode for multi-color (paint vs print colors). Tune retraction to minimize stringing. Calibrate first layer to avoid waste from re-prints. Most-experienced print operators run 5–8% waste; beginners often run 20%+ until tuned.
Pro Tip
For commercial pricing, set selling price at 5–10× material cost to cover machine time, labor, post-processing, packaging, and platform fees. Underpricing based on material alone is the #1 first-year mistake for print-for-hire operators — material is typically only 10–20% of total job cost.