Start with grams and machine time
Slice the actual model with the intended printer and settings. Record the total grams and time for the whole plate, including supports and purge. An STL file by itself does not contain a dependable print time or the weight of an infilled, supported print.
The $7.65 example
Labor is the largest line in this particular example. That is a property of these chosen inputs, not a claim about every printer or every job. If hands-on time is zero, this same example drops to $2.645 before any selling margin.
| Cost | Assumption | Displayed amount |
|---|---|---|
| Filament | 100 g; $20/1,000 g | $2.00 |
| Electricity | 2 h; 150 W; $0.15/kWh | $0.05 |
| Machine wear | $500; 10,000 productive hours | $0.10 |
| Labor | 15 minutes; $20/h | $5.00 |
| Extras | Packaging or hardware for this plate | $0.50 |
| Total | Unrounded sum: $7.645 | $7.65 |
Why a price per gram can mislead
A material rate is useful for checking a spool purchase. A complete print cost per gram also includes machine time, labor and other costs. Two models with the same weight can take different amounts of printing and finishing time.
For multiple pieces, decide whether each input is per plate or per piece before calculating. In these tools, print weight and time are for the whole plate.
Cost is not selling price
Cost estimates help you see a floor. They do not tell you what a customer is willing to pay. For a quote, choose an explicit pricing method, check the achieved margin, and include only the information the customer should see.
Use your own values
Replace the sample spool price, energy rate, productive lifetime and hands-on time with your actual values. If a number is unknown, label the estimate accordingly rather than treating the sample as a measurement.