How Is 3D Printing Charged? A Detailed Professional Guide

art 3d printing

If you’re planning to use 3D printing for prototypes, peças personalizadas, ou produção em pequenos lotes, 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, e tamanho do lote. Este guia quebra o 4 core charging methods, principais fatores de influência, 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 (Por exemplo, Tipo de material, order size). Abaixo estão os métodos mais comuns, with clear formulas, exemplos, 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, Abs, e resina.

Formula: 3D Printing Fee = Part Weight (gramas) × Material Unit Price (RMB/grama)

Material unit prices vary widely by type—here’s a practical reference:

Tipo de materialUnit Price (RMB/grama)Aplicações típicasExemplo (100g Parte)
PLA (Normal)0.1 ~ 0.5Projetos de hobby, low-strength prototypes10 ~ 50 RMB
Abs (Normal)0.2 ~ 0.8Partes funcionais (Por exemplo, Casos de telefone, Suportes)20 ~ 80 RMB
Resina (Photosensitive)1 ~ 5Peças de alto detalhamento (Por exemplo, joia, modelos dentários)100 ~ 500 RMB
Nylon (Pó)2 ~ 10Durable industrial prototypes200 ~ 1,000 RMB
Aço inoxidável10 ~ 50Peças pesadas (Por exemplo, small machinery components)1,000 ~ 5,000 RMB
Liga de titânio50 ~ 100Peças de alto desempenho (Por exemplo, Aeroespacial, implantes médicos)5,000 ~ 10,000 RMB

Observação: Some providers include a small markup (10–20%) to cover material waste (Por exemplo, unused powder, Estruturas de suporte). Por exemplo, a 100g PLA part with 10% waste would be charged for 110g, totalizando 11 ~ 55 RMB.

Método 2: Charged by Model Volume or Size (Ideal for Complex Shapes)

For parts with irregular or complex geometries (Por exemplo, estruturas ocas, detalhes complexos), some providers charge based on model volume (length × width × height) ou number of sliced layers, as volume better reflects material usage than weight alone.

Charging BasisUnit Price RangeMelhor paraExemplo
Volume (para cm³)0.5 ~ 5 RMB/cm³Resin or metal parts with complex shapesA 50cm³ resin part: 25 ~ 250 RMB
Layers (per layer)0.01 ~ 0.1 RMB/layerSimple FDM parts with uniform layer heightA 1,000-layer PLA part: 10 ~ 100 RMB

Exemplo:

  • 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, pós-processamento, and design—so you only pay for what you need. It’s ideal for projects requiring extra steps beyond basic printing.

Service CategoryIntervalo de custos (RMB/peça)What It Covers
Basic Printing Service50 ~ 1,000Core printing (billed via weight or volume)
Post-Processing Service50 ~ 300Lixar, pintura, revestimento, conjunto, or deburring
Design Service100 ~ 1,0003D model modification, optimization, or custom design

Exemplo:

  • A PLA part requires basic printing (80 RMB) + lixar (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+ pedaços), providers offer descontos por volume—the more parts you order, the lower the unit price. This is because fixed costs (Por exemplo, configuração da máquina, programação) are spread across more units.

Tamanho do loteDiscount Rate (vs.. Single Piece)Exemplo (Single-Piece Fee: 100 RMB)Unit FeeTotal Batch Fee
1 ~ 10 pedaços0% (No Discount)100 RMB × 5100 RMB500 RMB
11 ~ 50 pedaços20 ~ 50%100 RMB × 20 × 0.880 RMB1,600 RMB
51 ~ 100 pedaços30 ~ 60%100 RMB × 50 × 0.770 RMB3,500 RMB
100+ pedaços40 ~ 70%100 RMB × 100 × 0.660 RMB6,000 RMB

Exemplo:

  • Pedindo 30 pieces of a part with a single-piece fee of 150 RMB
  • Discount rate: 30% (para 11 ~ 50 pedaços)
  • 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) Custo do 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 (PLA, Abs): 0.1 ~ 0.8 RMB/gram → Keep fees low (50 ~ 200 RMB/piece for simple parts).
  • High-cost materials (liga de titânio, 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, e pós-processamento, increasing charges:

  • Modelos simples (solid blocks, sem suportes): Lower fees (50 ~ 200 RMB/peça) → Fast printing, desperdício mínimo.
  • Complex models (estruturas ocas, paredes finas <2milímetros, detalhes complexos): Higher fees (200 ~ 1,000 RMB/peça) → Longer print time, more support material, and extra post-processing.

(3) 3D Tecnologia de impressão

Different technologies have varying equipment and maintenance costs, which affect fees:

Tipo de tecnologiaNível de custoHourly Rate (RMB/Hour)Melhor para
Fdm (Modelagem de deposição fundida)Baixo20 ~ 80PLA/ABS parts, hobby projects
SLA/DLP (Light Curing)Médio50 ~ 150High-detail resin parts
SLM/EBM (Impressão 3D de metal)Alto200 ~ 500Industrial metal parts (Por exemplo, Aeroespacial)

(4) Requisitos de pós-processamento

Basic post-processing (Por exemplo, simple cleaning) adds little cost, but complex steps can double or triple fees:

Etapa de pós-processamentoCusto (RMB/peça)Impact on Total Fees
Simple Cleaning/Deburring10 ~ 50Adiciona 5 ~ 10% to base printing fees
Lixamento/polimento50 ~ 150Adiciona 20 ~ 50% to base printing fees
Painting/Plating100 ~ 300Adiciona 50 ~ 100% to base printing fees
Conjunto80 ~ 200Adiciona 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/peça) → Good for simple, low-precision projects.
  • Industrial-Grade Providers: Higher fees (200 ~ 5,000+ RMB/peça) → 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 TypeFaixa de preço (RMB/peça)Casos de uso comuns
Simple PLA/ABS Printing50 ~ 200Projetos de hobby, protótipos básicos
High-Detail Resin Printing200 ~ 1,000Joia, modelos dentários, detailed miniatures
Industrial Metal Printing (Aço inoxidável)1,000 ~ 5,000Small machinery parts, functional components
Pós-processamento (Lixar + Pintura)100 ~ 400Partes estéticas (Por exemplo, custom figurines)
Batch Printing (10+ Pedaços)50 ~ 80% of Single-Piece PriceProdução de pequenos lotes (Por exemplo, 20 Suportes personalizados)

4. 4 Practical Tips to Reduce 3D Printing Charges

Você não precisa comprometer a qualidade para reduzir custos – experimente estas estratégias:

  1. Optimize model design: Remove unnecessary support structures (Por exemplo, use self-supporting angles) and simplify geometry (Por exemplo, replace complex curves with straight lines) to cut material use by 15 ~ 30%.
  2. Escolha o material certo: Use PLA instead of ABS for non-functional parts, or resin instead of metal for small, detailed items—saving 50 ~ 80% em custos de material.
  3. Encomende em massa: Mesmo pequenos lotes aumentam (Por exemplo, de 5 para 15 pedaços) pode desbloquear 20 ~ 30% descontos, lowering unit fees significantly.
  4. Do self-post-processing: Handle simple steps like cleaning or sanding yourself instead of paying the service provider—saving 50 ~ 200 RMB/peça.

Yigu Technology’s Perspective on 3D Printing Charges

Na tecnologia Yigu, acreditamos transparency and customization are the foundation of fair 3D printing pricing. Many clients overpay because they don’t realize how model design or material choice impacts fees—for example, using titanium alloy for parts that only need PLA, or including unnecessary post-processing. Our team works with clients to optimize designs (Por exemplo, reducing support structures by 20 ~ 40%) and select cost-effective materials, cutting charges by 15 ~ 30%. We also offer flexible batch discounts: 10+ pieces get 20% desligado, e 100+ pieces get 50% desligado. By breaking down quotes into material, impressão, and post-processing costs, we ensure clients understand every expense—making 3D printing accessible and cost-effective for projects of all sizes.

Perguntas frequentes

  1. Why do some providers charge by volume instead of weight for 3D printing?

Volume better reflects material usage for complex shapes (Por exemplo, partes ocas, detalhes complexos) where weight doesn’t fully capture the material needed to build the structure. Por exemplo, a hollow resin model may weigh little but have a large volume—charging by volume ensures the provider covers the actual material used.

  1. How much extra does expedited 3D printing cost?

Serviço acelerado (Por exemplo, 24-hour turnaround instead of 3–5 days) typically adds 50 ~ 100% to the base fee. Por exemplo, um 100 RMB PLA part with standard delivery would cost 150 ~ 200 RMB with expedited service, as it requires prioritizing machine time and overtime labor.

  1. Can I negotiate 3D printing charges with a service provider?

Yes—especially for bulk orders or simple parts. Para 50+ pedaços, ask for 30 ~ 50% descontos. For simple designs, you can also negotiate to skip unnecessary post-processing (Por exemplo, polishing non-visible surfaces) or use a lower-cost material, cutting fees by 20 ~ 40%.

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