Como calcular o preço unitário da impressão 3D? Um guia abrangente

Quer você seja um hobby que faz pequenos protótipos ou uma empresa que fornece peças industriais, saber calcular o preço unitário da impressão 3D é fundamental para evitar gastos excessivos. O preço unitário não é um número fixo – depende dos materiais, tempo de impressão, tecnologia, e mais. Este guia detalha o 5 métodos de cálculo mais comuns, 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:

Method 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

Example:

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

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

Method 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 (Hours) × Hourly Rate (RMB/Hour)

Hourly rates vary drastically by printer type:

Example:

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

Unit Price = 3 × 80 = 240 RMB

Method 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:

Example:

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

Unit Price = 80 × 1 = 80 RMB

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

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

Example:

• Print service: 50 RMB (via weight method)
• Post-processing: Sanding (30 RMB) + Painting (80 RMB)
• No design service needed

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

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

The more parts you order, the lower the unit price—since fixed costs (por exemplo, printer setup) are spread across more units.

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

Example:

• Single unit price (1–10 parts): 100 RMB
• Batch quantity: 20 parts
• Discount rate: 80% (common for 11+ parts)

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) Material Cost (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.

(2) Model Complexity

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

• Simple models (por exemplo, solid blocks): No supports, 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) 3Tecnologia de impressão D

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): Mid-range (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) Post-Processing Requirements

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

(5) Precisão & Surface Quality

Higher precision (por exemplo, ±0.01mm tolerance) or smoother surfaces (por exemplo, mirror effects) require slower printing and more quality checks:

• Low precision (±0.5mm): No extra cost.
• Medium precision (±0.1 ~ 0.3mm): Adds 10 ~ 30% to unit price.
• High precision (±0.01 ~ 0.05mm): Adds 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:

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. Choose the right material: Use PLA instead of ABS for non-functional parts, or resin instead of metal for small, detailed items—saving 50 ~ 80% on material costs.
3. Order in bulk: Ask for volume discounts (por exemplo, 80% off for 10+ parts) 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, we believe 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: even 10+ parts get 20% off, e 100+ parts get 40% off. 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 is best. 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.

2. 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, heat treatment) to meet strength standards. All these factors combine to push the unit price much higher than PLA or resin parts.

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

Yes—especially for bulk orders or simple parts. If you order 50+ parts, ask for a 20 ~ 30% discount. 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%.