How to Calculate the Unit Price of 3D Printing? Комплексное руководство

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, технология, и еще. Это руководство разрушает 5 most common calculation methods, Ключевые влиятельные факторы, 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, примеры, and best-use scenarios:

Метод 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.

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

Пример:

• Вес детали: 100 граммы
• Материал: Плата (0.3 юаней/грамм)
• Profit margin: 2х

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

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

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

Формула: Unit Price = Printing Time (Часы) × Hourly Rate (RMB/Hour)

Hourly rates vary drastically by printer type:

Пример:

• Время печати: 3 часы
• Printer type: High-precision curing printer (80 RMB/hour)

Unit Price = 3 × 80 = 240 юаней

Метод 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.

Формула: Unit Price = Model Volume (cm³) × Rate per cm³ (юаней/см³)

Rates per cm³ depend on material:

Пример:

• Model volume: 80 cm³
• Материал: Смола (1 юаней/см³)

Unit Price = 80 × 1 = 80 юаней

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

This method splits costs into separate services: печать, пост-обработка, и дизайн. You only pay for what you need.

Пример:

• Print service: 50 юаней (via weight method)
• Пост-обработка: Шлифование (30 юаней) + Рисование (80 юаней)
• No design service needed

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

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

The more parts you order, the lower the unit price—since fixed costs (НАПРИМЕР., Настройка принтера) are spread across more units.

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

Пример:

• Single unit price (1–10 деталей): 100 юаней
• Batch quantity: 20 части
• Discount rate: 80% (общий для 11+ части)

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

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

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) Стоимость материала (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:

• Простые модели (НАПРИМЕР., solid blocks): Нет поддержки, short print time → Lower price (20 ~ 100 юаней).
• Complex models (НАПРИМЕР., hollow structures with thin walls <2мм): More supports, longer print time → Higher price (100 ~ 500 юаней).

(3) 3D Технология печати

Different technologies have varying equipment and maintenance costs:

• ФДМ (Моделирование сплавленного осаждения): Cheapest (20 ~ 50 RMB/hour) → Best for PLA/ABS parts.
• SLA/DLP (Light Curing): Средний диапазон (50 ~ 150 RMB/hour) → Best for high-detail resin parts.
• SLM/EBM (Металлическая 3D -печать): Most expensive (200 ~ 500 RMB/hour) → Best for industrial metal parts.

(4) Требования к постобработке

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

(5) Точность & Качество поверхности

Более высокая точность (НАПРИМЕР., ± 0,01 мм толерантность) or smoother surfaces (НАПРИМЕР., mirror effects) require slower printing and more quality checks:

• Низкая точность (± 0,5 мм): Нет дополнительных затрат.
• Medium precision (±0.1 ~ 0.3mm): Adds 10 ~ 30% to unit price.
• Высокая точность (±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 (НАПРИМЕР., 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% на материальные затраты.
3. Order in bulk: Ask for volume discounts (НАПРИМЕР., 80% уйти за 10+ части) 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

В Yigu Technology, Мы верим transparency and customization are key to fair 3D printing pricing. Many clients overpay because they use the wrong calculation method (НАПРИМЕР., time-based for simple PLA parts) or don’t optimize their models. Our team helps clients choose the right method—for example, с учетом веса для хобби-проектов и с учетом времени для промышленных металлических деталей, а также оптимизирует конструкции для сокращения использования опор 20 ~ 30%. Мы также предлагаем гибкие скидки за объем: даже 10+ части получить 20% выключенный, и 100+ части получить 40% выключенный. Разбивая цитаты на материалы, время, и стоимость постобработки, мы гарантируем, что клиенты точно знают, куда идут их деньги, делая 3D-печать доступной и экономически эффективной для всех нужд..

Часто задаваемые вопросы

1. Какой метод расчета лучше всего подходит для небольших хобби-проектов (НАПРИМЕР., ПЛА-игрушки)?

Для небольших хобби-проектов, а метод на основе веса материала лучше. Это просто посчитать (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 юаней/грамм) and requires industrial-grade SLM/EBM printers (200 ~ 500 RMB/hour). It also needs complex post-processing (НАПРИМЕР., термическая обработка) 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+ части, ask for a 20 ~ 30% discount. For simple designs, you can also negotiate to lower the profit margin (НАПРИМЕР., from 3x to 2x) or skip unnecessary post-processing steps to cut costs by 10 ~ 25%.