If you’re planning to use 3D printing for prototypes, piezas personalizadas, o producción de lotes pequeños, understanding how it’s charged is key to budgeting effectively. 3D printing fees aren’t a one-size-fits-all number—they depend on material type, model complexity, service scope, y tamaño por lotes. Esta guía desglosa el 4 core charging methods, Factores de influencia clave, reference price ranges, and cost-saving tips to help you navigate quotes and avoid overspending.
1. 4 Core Charging Methods for 3D Printing
Different 3D printing service providers use distinct pricing models, each tailored to specific scenarios (P.EJ., tipo de material, tamaño de pedido). A continuación se muestran los métodos más comunes, with clear formulas, ejemplos, and best-use cases:
Método 1: Charged by Material Weight (Most Common for Basic Materials)
This method calculates fees based on the weight of the printing material usado, making it simple and transparent for common materials like PLA, Abdominales, y resina.
Fórmula: 3D Printing Fee = Part Weight (gramos) × Material Unit Price (RMB/gramo)
Material unit prices vary widely by type—here’s a practical reference:
| Tipo de material | Unit Price (RMB/gramo) | Aplicaciones típicas | Ejemplo (100g Part) |
| Estampado (Normal) | 0.1 ~ 0.5 | Proyectos de pasatiempo, low-strength prototypes | 10 ~ 50 RMB |
| Abdominales (Normal) | 0.2 ~ 0.8 | Partes funcionales (P.EJ., fundas telefónicas, corchetes) | 20 ~ 80 RMB |
| Resina (Photosensitive) | 1 ~ 5 | Piezas de alta detonancia (P.EJ., joyas, modelos dentales) | 100 ~ 500 RMB |
| Nylon (Polvo) | 2 ~ 10 | Durable industrial prototypes | 200 ~ 1,000 RMB |
| Acero inoxidable | 10 ~ 50 | Piezas de servicio pesado (P.EJ., small machinery components) | 1,000 ~ 5,000 RMB |
| Aleación de titanio | 50 ~ 100 | Piezas de alto rendimiento (P.EJ., aeroespacial, implantes médicos) | 5,000 ~ 10,000 RMB |
Nota: Some providers include a small markup (10–20%) to cover material waste (P.EJ., unused powder, estructuras de soporte). Por ejemplo, a 100g PLA part with 10% waste would be charged for 110g, total 11 ~ 55 RMB.
Método 2: Charged by Model Volume or Size (Ideal for Complex Shapes)
For parts with irregular or complex geometries (P.EJ., estructuras huecas, detalles intrincados), some providers charge based on model volume (length × width × height) o number of sliced layers, as volume better reflects material usage than weight alone.
| Charging Basis | Unit Price Range | Mejor para | Ejemplo |
| Volumen (para cm³) | 0.5 ~ 5 RMB/cm³ | Resin or metal parts with complex shapes | A 50cm³ resin part: 25 ~ 250 RMB |
| Layers (per layer) | 0.01 ~ 0.1 RMB/layer | Simple FDM parts with uniform layer height | A 1,000-layer PLA part: 10 ~ 100 RMB |
Ejemplo:
- A resin model with a volume of 30cm³ (unit price: 2 RMB/cm³)
- 3D Printing Fee = 30 × 2 = 60 RMB
Método 3: Charged by Service Type (Flexible for Custom Needs)
This method splits fees into separate service categories—printing, postprocesamiento, and design—so you only pay for what you need. It’s ideal for projects requiring extra steps beyond basic printing.
| Service Category | Rango de costos (RMB/Piece) | What It Covers |
| Basic Printing Service | 50 ~ 1,000 | Core printing (billed via weight or volume) |
| Post-Processing Service | 50 ~ 300 | Lijado, cuadro, enchapado, asamblea, or deburring |
| Design Service | 100 ~ 1,000 | 3D model modification, optimization, or custom design |
Ejemplo:
- A PLA part requires basic printing (80 RMB) + lijado (50 RMB) + simple painting (100 RMB)
- Total 3D Printing Fee = 80 + 50 + 100 = 230 RMB
Método 4: Charged by Batch (Cost-Effective for Large Orders)
For bulk orders (10+ piezas), providers offer volume discounts—the more parts you order, the lower the unit price. This is because fixed costs (P.EJ., configuración de la máquina, programación) are spread across more units.
| Tamaño por lotes | Discount Rate (VS. Single Piece) | Ejemplo (Single-Piece Fee: 100 RMB) | Unit Fee | Total Batch Fee |
| 1 ~ 10 piezas | 0% (No Discount) | 100 RMB × 5 | 100 RMB | 500 RMB |
| 11 ~ 50 piezas | 20 ~ 50% | 100 RMB × 20 × 0.8 | 80 RMB | 1,600 RMB |
| 51 ~ 100 piezas | 30 ~ 60% | 100 RMB × 50 × 0.7 | 70 RMB | 3,500 RMB |
| 100+ piezas | 40 ~ 70% | 100 RMB × 100 × 0.6 | 60 RMB | 6,000 RMB |
Ejemplo:
- Pedido 30 pieces of a part with a single-piece fee of 150 RMB
- Discount rate: 30% (para 11 ~ 50 piezas)
- Unit Fee = 150 × (1 – 0.3) = 105 RMB
- Total Batch Fee = 105 × 30 = 3,150 RMB
2. 5 Key Factors That Affect 3D Printing Charges
Even with the same charging method, fees can vary significantly based on these critical factors. Understanding them helps you optimize costs and negotiate better quotes:
(1) Costo de material (Biggest Price Driver)
Material is the single most influential factor—common materials like PLA are cheap, while specialized metals or resins drive up costs:
- Low-cost materials (Estampado, Abdominales): 0.1 ~ 0.8 RMB/gram → Keep fees low (50 ~ 200 RMB/piece for simple parts).
- High-cost materials (aleación de titanio, super resins): 50 ~ 100 RMB/gram → Push fees to 5,000+ RMB/piece for small parts.
(2) Model Complexity
Complex models require more time, material, y postprocesamiento, increasing charges:
- Modelos simples (solid blocks, No hay soportes): Lower fees (50 ~ 200 RMB/piece) → Fast printing, desperdicio mínimo.
- Complex models (estructuras huecas, paredes delgadas <2milímetros, detalles intrincados): Higher fees (200 ~ 1,000 RMB/piece) → Longer print time, more support material, and extra post-processing.
(3) 3D Tecnología de impresión
Diferentes tecnologías tienen diferentes costos de equipo y mantenimiento., which affect fees:
| Tipo de tecnología | Nivel de costo | Hourly Rate (RMB/Hour) | Mejor para |
| MDF (Modelado de deposición fusionada) | Bajo | 20 ~ 80 | PLA/ABS parts, hobby projects |
| SLA/DLP (Fotopolimerización) | Medio | 50 ~ 150 | High-detail resin parts |
| MST/EBM (Impresión 3D de metal) | Alto | 200 ~ 500 | Industrial metal parts (P.EJ., aeroespacial) |
(4) Requisitos de postprocesamiento
Postprocesamiento básico (P.EJ., simple cleaning) agrega poco costo, but complex steps can double or triple fees:
| Paso postprocesado | Costo (RMB/Piece) | Impact on Total Fees |
| Simple Cleaning/Deburring | 10 ~ 50 | Agrega 5 ~ 10% to base printing fees |
| Lijado/pulido | 50 ~ 150 | Agrega 20 ~ 50% to base printing fees |
| Painting/Plating | 100 ~ 300 | Agrega 50 ~ 100% to base printing fees |
| Asamblea | 80 ~ 200 | Agrega 30 ~ 80% to base printing fees |
(5) Service Provider Type
Small studios and industrial-grade providers have distinct pricing strategies:
- Personal/Hobby Studios: Lower fees (50 ~ 500 RMB/piece) → Good for simple, low-precision projects.
- Industrial-Grade Providers: Higher fees (200 ~ 5,000+ RMB/piece) → Better for high-precision, large-batch, or metal parts (with stricter quality checks).
3. Reference Price Ranges for 3D Printing Services
To help you gauge if a quote is reasonable, here’s a breakdown of typical fees by service type and material:
| Service/Material Type | Gama de precios (RMB/Piece) | Casos de uso comunes |
| Simple PLA/ABS Printing | 50 ~ 200 | Proyectos de pasatiempo, Prototipos básicos |
| High-Detail Resin Printing | 200 ~ 1,000 | Joyas, modelos dentales, detailed miniatures |
| Industrial Metal Printing (Acero inoxidable) | 1,000 ~ 5,000 | Small machinery parts, componentes funcionales |
| Postprocesamiento (Lijado + Cuadro) | 100 ~ 400 | Partes estéticas (P.EJ., custom figurines) |
| Batch Printing (10+ Piezas) | 50 ~ 80% of Single-Piece Price | Producción de lotes pequeños (P.EJ., 20 corchetes) |
4. 4 Practical Tips to Reduce 3D Printing Charges
You don’t have to compromise on quality to lower costs—try these strategies:
- Optimize model design: Remove unnecessary support structures (P.EJ., utilizar ángulos autoportantes) and simplify geometry (P.EJ., replace complex curves with straight lines) to cut material use by 15 ~ 30%.
- Elige el material adecuado: Utilice PLA en lugar de ABS para piezas no funcionales, o resina en lugar de metal para pequeños, elementos detallados: guardar 50 ~ 80% sobre costos de material.
- Ordene al por mayor: Even small batch increases (P.EJ., de 5 a 15 piezas) can unlock 20 ~ 30% discounts, lowering unit fees significantly.
- Hacer auto-postprocesamiento: Handle simple steps like cleaning or sanding yourself instead of paying the service provider—saving 50 ~ 200 RMB/piece.
Yigu Technology’s Perspective on 3D Printing Charges
En la tecnología yigu, creemos La transparencia y la personalización son la base de unos precios justos en la impresión 3D.. Muchos clientes pagan de más porque no se dan cuenta de cómo el diseño del modelo o la elección del material afectan las tarifas, por ejemplo, usando aleación de titanio para piezas que solo necesitan PLA, o incluir posprocesamiento innecesario. Nuestro equipo trabaja con los clientes para optimizar los diseños. (P.EJ., Reducir las estructuras de soporte mediante 20 ~ 40%) y seleccionar materiales rentables, recortando cargos por 15 ~ 30%. También ofrecemos descuentos por lotes flexibles.: 10+ piezas obtienen 20% apagado, y 100+ piezas obtienen 50% apagado. Desglosando las citas en material, impresión, y costos de posprocesamiento, we ensure clients understand every expense—making 3D printing accessible and cost-effective for projects of all sizes.
Preguntas frecuentes
- Why do some providers charge by volume instead of weight for 3D printing?
Volume better reflects material usage for complex shapes (P.EJ., partes huecas, detalles intrincados) where weight doesn’t fully capture the material needed to build the structure. Por ejemplo, a hollow resin model may weigh little but have a large volume—charging by volume ensures the provider covers the actual material used.
- How much extra does expedited 3D printing cost?
Servicio acelerado (P.EJ., 24-hour turnaround instead of 3–5 days) typically adds 50 ~ 100% to the base fee. Por ejemplo, a 100 RMB PLA part with standard delivery would cost 150 ~ 200 RMB with expedited service, as it requires prioritizing machine time and overtime labor.
- Can I negotiate 3D printing charges with a service provider?
Yes—especially for bulk orders or simple parts. Para 50+ piezas, ask for 30 ~ 50% discounts. For simple designs, you can also negotiate to skip unnecessary post-processing (P.EJ., polishing non-visible surfaces) or use a lower-cost material, cutting fees by 20 ~ 40%.