About

Professional estimation of 3D printing jobs requires more than simple geometry. This tool utilizes a Kinematic Volumetric Engine to simulate the physical constraints of the machine. Unlike standard calculators that assume constant velocity, we account for Acceleration, Jerk, and Volumetric Flow Limits.

Hardware limitations often dictate that a printer cannot physically melt plastic fast enough to sustain high speeds at thick layer heights. This calculator identifies that bottleneck using the formula Q = v × h × w. It is designed for print farm operators, freelancers, and engineers who need accurate time and cost quotes without waiting for a slicer to process the STL files.

Formulas

The core accuracy comes from determining the Effective Speed (v_eff). We first calculate the Volumetric Flow Rate required by the settings:

Q_req = v_target × h_layer × w_line

If Q_req exceeds the hotend's max flow (Q_max), the speed is clamped. Then, we apply a kinematic efficiency factor (η) derived from acceleration (a):

η ≈ 1 − v_effa × t_{avg_move}

Total Time T is the summation of Print Time and Non-Print Moves (Travel/Retract), scaled by complexity C:

T = VolumeQ_clamped × η × C

Reference Data

Material	Density g/cm³	Cost/kg $	Flow Temp °C	Shrinkage
PLA (Polylactic Acid)	1.24	20.00	200	0.3%
PETG (Glycolized Polyester)	1.27	22.00	240	0.6%
ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene)	1.04	18.00	245	1.5%
ASA (Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate)	1.07	25.00	250	0.8%
TPU 95A (Thermoplastic Polyurethane)	1.21	30.00	220	1.2%
PC (Polycarbonate)	1.20	45.00	270	2.5%
Nylon (PA6/PA12)	1.15	50.00	255	1.8%
PVB (Polyvinyl Butyral)	1.10	35.00	215	0.5%
HIPS (High Impact Polystyrene)	1.05	18.00	240	0.5%
Carbon Fiber PLA	1.29	35.00	210	0.1%

Frequently Asked Questions

Volumetric Flow Rate (measured in mm³/s) is the volume of plastic the printer melts per second. Every hotend has a physical limit (e.g., ~12 mm³/s for a standard Mk8, ~24 mm³/s for a Volcano). If your settings (Speed × Layer Height × Line Width) exceed this number, the printer will under-extrude, causing weak parts or jams. This tool calculates if you are hitting that wall.

It is a crucial heuristic. "Simple" models (like a vase) run at roughly 95% of the target speed because there are few stops. "Complex" models (like a D&D miniature) have thousands of retractions and direction changes. On a complex model, the printer spends more time accelerating and decelerating than moving at full speed, often doubling the print time.

No. This tool estimates the "active printing time" (G-code execution). Warm-up times vary wildly (2 minutes for a Prusa Mini vs. 15 minutes for a large heated bed) and are generally negligible for prints longer than 2 hours.

3D printers are surprisingly efficient. Once the bed is heated, maintaining temperature takes very little power (often 50-100W). A 10-hour print might only use 1 kWh, which costs roughly $0.15-$0.30 depending on your local energy rates.