About

Additive manufacturing shifts the paradigm from centralized production to local fabrication. However, for the maker community and small-scale manufacturers, accurate cost estimation is the divide between a hobby and a viable business model. This calculator determines the true economic footprint of a 3D printed object by accounting for material consumption, variable energy rates, and depreciation.

Precision in this calculation is critical for projects like open-source prosthetics or custom repair parts, where the goal is to demonstrate significant savings over commercial alternatives. By factoring in specific filament densities ρ and printer power consumption P, this tool provides a granular breakdown of expenses, validating the efficiency of the "repair and produce" culture.

Formulas

The total cost C_total is the sum of material expenses and energy consumption. The material cost is derived from the mass of the object, while energy cost relies on the print duration and printer wattage.

{

C_mat = m1000 × P_filC_eng = W1000 × t × R_elec

Where m is mass in grams, P_fil is filament price per kg, W is printer power in Watts, t is time in hours, and R_elec is electricity rate per kWh.

Reference Data

Material	Density (g/cm³)	Typical Cost ($/kg)	Temp (°C)	Use Case
PLA (Polylactic Acid)	1.24	20.00	200	General Purpose, Prototyping
ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene)	1.04	22.00	240	High Stress, Mechanical Parts
PETG (Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol)	1.27	25.00	230	Water Resistance, Food Safe
TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane)	1.21	35.00	220	Flexible Seals, Phone Cases
Nylon (Polyamide)	1.15	50.00	250	Gears, Hinges, High Wear
PC (Polycarbonate)	1.20	60.00	270	High Heat, Structural
ASA (Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate)	1.07	30.00	250	Outdoor, UV Resistant
Resin (Standard UV)	1.12	40.00	N/A	High Detail, Miniatures
PEEK (Polyether Ether Ketone)	1.32	400.00	400	Aerospace, Medical Implants
Wood Fill (PLA Composite)	1.28	35.00	210	Aesthetic Decor

Frequently Asked Questions

3D printers vary significantly in power consumption. A standard Ender 3 might draw 150W, while a heated chamber industrial printer can draw over 1000W. Over a 48-hour print, this difference drastically changes the overhead cost.

The core calculation assumes a successful print. To account for failure rates (which can be 10-20% in hobbyist settings), you should manually add a "Failure Margin" to your Filament Cost or Print Time inputs.

While density doesn't directly change the "cost per gram" logic, it impacts the volume of material used. If you are estimating based on volume (cm³) rather than weight, density becomes the critical conversion factor.

This calculator focuses on Variable Costs (Material + Energy). Fixed Costs (Machine Depreciation, Maintenance) are often calculated separately, usually adding $0.50 - $1.00 per print hour depending on the machine's lifespan.