How to Calculate the Unit Price of 3D Printing? Um guia abrangente

jewelry 3d printing

Whether you’re a hobbyist making small prototypes or a business sourcing industrial parts, knowing how to calculate the unit price of 3D printing is essential to avoid overspending. The unit price isn’t a fixed number—it depends on materials, printing time, tecnologia, e mais. Este guia quebra o 5 most common calculation methods, principais fatores de influência, and practical tips to help you get accurate, cost-effective quotes.

1. 5 Common Methods to Calculate the Unit Price of 3D Printing

Different 3D printing service providers use different pricing models. Below are the most widely used methods, each with clear formulas, exemplos, and best-use scenarios:

Método 1: Material Weight-Based Calculation (Most Popular for Hobbyists)

This method focuses on the weight of the 3D-printed part and the cost of the raw material, plus a profit margin.

Formula: Unit Price = (Part Weight × Material Unit Price) × Profit Margin

Key ComponentDescrição
Part WeightMeasured in grams (g); can be found via 3D modeling software (Por exemplo, Tratamento).
Material Unit PriceVaries by material type (Por exemplo, PLA is cheaper than metal).
Profit MarginTypically 1.5–3x, set by the service provider to cover labor and overhead.

Exemplo:

  • Part weight: 100 gramas
  • Material: PLA (0.3 RMB/grama)
  • Profit margin: 2x

Unit Price = (100 × 0.3) × 2 = 30 × 2 = 60 RMB

Método 2: Printing Time-Based Calculation (Common for Industrial Use)

This method charges based on how long the printer runs, combining equipment depreciation, energia, and labor costs into an hourly rate.

Formula: Unit Price = Printing Time (Horas) × Hourly Rate (RMB/Hour)

Hourly rates vary drastically by printer type:

Tipo de impressoraHourly Rate (RMB/Hour)Melhor para
Ordinary FDM Printer20 ~ 50Simple PLA/ABS parts (Por exemplo, brinquedos, Pequenos colchetes)
High-Precision Curing Printer (SLA/DLP)50 ~ 150Detailed resin parts (Por exemplo, joia, modelos dentários)
Industrial-Grade Metal Printer (SLM/EBM)200 ~ 500Heavy-duty metal parts (Por exemplo, Componentes aeroespaciais)

Exemplo:

  • Printing time: 3 horas
  • Printer type: High-precision curing printer (80 RMB/hour)

Unit Price = 3 × 80 = 240 RMB

Método 3: Model Volume-Based Calculation (Useful for Resin/Metal Parts)

Some providers charge by the part’s volume (cubic centimeters, cm³), as volume better reflects material usage for complex shapes.

Formula: Unit Price = Model Volume (cm³) × Rate per cm³ (RMB/cm³)

Rates per cm³ depend on material:

Tipo de materialRate per cm³ (RMB/cm³)Aplicações típicas
PLA0.1 ~ 0.5Projetos de hobby, low-strength prototypes
Resina (Photosensitive)0.5 ~ 2Peças de alto detalhamento (Por exemplo, miniaturas)
Metal (Aço inoxidável)5 ~ 20Peças industriais, functional components

Exemplo:

  • Model volume: 80 cm³
  • Material: Resina (1 RMB/cm³)

Unit Price = 80 × 1 = 80 RMB

Método 4: Service Type-Based Calculation (Flexible for Custom Needs)

This method splits costs into separate services: impressão, pós-processamento, e design. You only pay for what you need.

Service CategoryIntervalo de custos (RMB)What It Covers
Print Service20 ~ 5,000Basic printing (billed via weight, tempo, or volume).
Post-Processing Service10 ~ 500Lixar, pintura, revestimento, ou montagem.
Design Service100 ~ 1,0003D model modification or optimization.

Exemplo:

  • Print service: 50 RMB (via weight method)
  • Pós-processamento: Lixar (30 RMB) + Pintura (80 RMB)
  • No design service needed

Total Unit Price = 50 + 30 + 80 = 160 RMB

Método 5: Batch-Based Calculation (Best for Large Orders)

Quanto mais peças você encomenda, the lower the unit price—since fixed costs (Por exemplo, configuração da impressora) are spread across more units.

Formula: Unit Price (Batch) = (Single Unit Price × Batch Quantity × Discount Rate) ÷ Batch Quantity

Exemplo:

  • Single unit price (1–10 peças): 100 RMB
  • Batch quantity: 20 peças
  • Discount rate: 80% (comum para 11+ peças)

Total Batch Price = 100 × 20 × 0.8 = 1,600 RMB

Unit Price (Batch) = 1,600 ÷ 20 = 80 RMB

2. 6 Key Factors That Affect the Unit Price of 3D Printing

Even with the right calculation method, the unit price can change based on these critical factors. Understanding them helps you optimize costs:

(1) Custo do material (Biggest Price Driver)

Material is the single most influential factor—cheap materials like PLA keep prices low, while metals and special resins drive costs up.

Tipo de materialUnit Price (RMB/grama)Principais recursos
PLA (Normal)0.1 ~ 0.5Baixo custo, ecológico, Para peças simples
Abs (Normal)0.2 ~ 0.8Durável, resistente ao calor, Para partes funcionais
Resina (Photosensitive)1 ~ 5High-detail, superfície lisa, Para peças de precisão
Nylon (Pó)2 ~ 10Flexível, forte, for industrial prototypes
Aço inoxidável10 ~ 50De serviço pesado, resistente à corrosão, for machinery parts
Liga de titânio50 ~ 100Ultra-forte, leve, for aerospace/medical parts

(2) Model Complexity

Complex models take longer to print and need more post-processing, raising the unit price:

  • Modelos simples (Por exemplo, solid blocks): Sem suportes, short print time → Lower price (20 ~ 100 RMB).
  • Complex models (Por exemplo, hollow structures with thin walls <2milímetros): More supports, longer print time → Higher price (100 ~ 500 RMB).

(3) 3D Tecnologia de impressão

Different technologies have varying equipment and maintenance costs:

  • Fdm (Modelagem de deposição fundida): Cheapest (20 ~ 50 RMB/hour) → Best for PLA/ABS parts.
  • SLA/DLP (Light Curing): Intervalo intermediário (50 ~ 150 RMB/hour) → Best for high-detail resin parts.
  • SLM/EBM (Impressão 3D de metal): Most expensive (200 ~ 500 RMB/hour) → Best for industrial metal parts.

(4) Requisitos de pós-processamento

Basic post-processing (Por exemplo, simple sanding) adds little cost, but complex steps can double the unit price:

Etapa de pós-processamentoCusto (RMB/part)Impact on Unit Price
Simple Sanding10 ~ 50Adiciona 5 ~ 25% to base price
Pintura50 ~ 200Adiciona 25 ~ 100% to base price
Revestimento100 ~ 500Adiciona 50 ~ 250% to base price
Conjunto50 ~ 200Adiciona 25 ~ 100% to base price

(5) Precisão & Qualidade da superfície

Maior precisão (Por exemplo, ± 0,01 mm de tolerância) or smoother surfaces (Por exemplo, mirror effects) require slower printing and more quality checks:

  • Baixa precisão (± 0,5 mm): Sem custo extra.
  • Precisão média (± 0,1 ~ 0,3 mm): Adiciona 10 ~ 30% to unit price.
  • Alta precisão (±0,01 ~ 0,05 mm): Adiciona 30 ~ 60% to unit price.

(6) Service Provider Type

Small studios and large industrial providers have different pricing:

  • Hobbyist studios: Lower prices (20 ~ 200 RMB/part) → Good for simple projects.
  • Industrial service providers: Higher prices (100 ~ 5,000 RMB/part) → Better for high-quality, bulk orders (with volume discounts).

3. Reference Range of 3D Printing Unit Prices

To help you gauge if a quote is reasonable, here’s a breakdown of typical unit prices by material and technology:

Material/TechnologyUnit Price Range (RMB/part)Casos de uso comuns
PLA (Fdm, Simples)20 ~ 100Brinquedos, Pequenos protótipos, itens decorativos
Abs (Fdm, Complexo)50 ~ 200Partes funcionais (Por exemplo, Casos de telefone)
Resina (SLA, High-Precision)100 ~ 500Joia, modelos dentários, detailed miniatures
Metal (Slm, Industrial)500 ~ 5,000Componentes aeroespaciais, implantes médicos
Parts with Post-Processing100 ~ 1,000Painted prototypes, assembled parts

4. 5 Practical Tips to Reduce the Unit Price of 3D Printing

You don’t have to sacrifice quality to cut costs. Try these strategies:

  1. Optimize model design: Remove unnecessary supports (Por exemplo, use self-supporting angles) and simplify geometry to reduce print time by 10 ~ 25%.
  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: Ask for volume discounts (Por exemplo, 80% para 10+ peças) to lower unit prices by 20 ~ 40%.
  4. Do self-post-processing: Handle simple steps like sanding or cleaning yourself instead of paying the service provider—saving 10 ~ 50 RMB/part.
  5. Pick economical technology: Use FDM instead of SLA for large, low-detail parts—hourly rates for FDM are 30 ~ 60% lower than SLA.

Yigu Technology’s Perspective on 3D Printing Unit Price

Na tecnologia Yigu, acreditamos transparency and customization are key to fair 3D printing pricing. Many clients overpay because they use the wrong calculation method (Por exemplo, time-based for simple PLA parts) or don’t optimize their models. Our team helps clients choose the right method—for example, weight-based for hobby projects and time-based for industrial metal parts—and optimizes designs to cut support use by 20 ~ 30%. We also offer flexible volume discounts: até 10+ parts get 20% desligado, e 100+ parts get 40% desligado. By breaking down quotes into material, tempo, and post-processing costs, we ensure clients know exactly where their money goes—making 3D printing accessible and cost-effective for all needs.

Perguntas frequentes

  1. Which calculation method is best for small hobby projects (Por exemplo, PLA toys)?

For small hobby projects, o material weight-based method é o melhor. It’s simple to calculate (just need part weight and material price) and most hobbyist studios use it. For a 50-gram PLA toy, the unit price would be around 30 ~ 60 RMB—affordable and easy to verify.

  1. Why does titanium alloy 3D printing have such a high unit price (500 ~ 5,000 RMB/part)?

Titanium alloy is expensive (50 ~ 100 RMB/grama) and requires industrial-grade SLM/EBM printers (200 ~ 500 RMB/hour). It also needs complex post-processing (Por exemplo, tratamento térmico) to meet strength standards. All these factors combine to push the unit price much higher than PLA or resin parts.

  1. Can I negotiate the unit price with a 3D printing service provider?

Yes—especially for bulk orders or simple parts. If you order 50+ peças, ask for a 20 ~ 30% desconto. For simple designs, you can also negotiate to lower the profit margin (Por exemplo, from 3x to 2x) or skip unnecessary post-processing steps to cut costs by 10 ~ 25%.

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