If you’re using 3D printing for aluminum alloy parts—whether for aerospace components, industrial fixtures, or custom accessories—understanding the cost per gram is critical for budgeting. Unlike resin or PLA 3D printing, 3D printed aluminum alloys balance strength and lightweight properties but come with higher costs, от 70 RMB/gram for mass-produced parts к 450 RMB/gram for small-batch, high-precision components. This guide breaks down core cost drivers, provides practical price references, shares cost-saving tips, and answers common questions to help you make informed decisions.
1. 4 Core Factors That Impact the Cost of 3D Printed Aluminum Alloys Per Gram
The cost per gram of 3D printed aluminum alloys is shaped by tangible factors—from the printing technology used to post-processing complexity. Below is a detailed breakdown with real numbers to illustrate their impact:
(1) 3D Тип технологии печати
Technology is the primary cost driver, as different methods vary in precision, скорость, and equipment investment. The three most common technologies for aluminum alloy 3D printing are:
| Технологический тип | Стоимость за грамм (юаней/грамм) | Ключевые характеристики | Типичные приложения |
| Селективное лазерное плавление (СЛМ) | 150 ~ 450 | Ультра-высокая точность (Допуск ± 0,02 мм), ideal for complex, small-batch parts; high equipment and material costs | Аэрокосмические компоненты (НАПРИМЕР., двигатели кронштейны), Медицинские имплантаты |
| Electron Beam Fusion (EBM) | 80 ~ 250 | Suitable for large-scale industrial parts; lower cost than SLM but slightly reduced precision (Допуск ± 0,05 мм) | Industrial fixtures (НАПРИМЕР., drone mounts), Автомобильные структурные детали |
| Binding Jetting | 70 ~ 230 | Lowest unit cost for mass production; requires post-processing (дебютирование, спекание) but efficient for bulk orders | Mass-produced small parts (НАПРИМЕР., custom fasteners, decorative accessories) |
Пример: A 30g aluminum alloy part printed via SLM costs 4,500 ~ 13,500 юаней. The same part printed via Binding Jetting costs 2,100 ~ 6,900 RMB—50% cheaper—though it needs additional post-processing steps.
(2) Aluminum Alloy Grade
The grade of aluminum alloy directly affects material costs, as specialized grades (НАПРИМЕР., аэрокосмический класс, высокая сила) require refined raw materials and production processes:
| Aluminum Alloy Grade | Стоимость за грамм (Только материал, юаней/грамм) | Ключевые свойства | Типичные приложения |
| AL6061 (Industrial Grade) | 20 ~ 80 | Хорошая механизм, Умеренная сила; рентабельный | Промышленные кронштейны, non-critical structural parts |
| ALSI10MG (Aerospace Grade) | 50 ~ 150 | Высокое соотношение прочности к весу, теплостойкий; meets aerospace standards | Самолетные компоненты, high-performance drone parts |
Ключевая нота: Imported aluminum alloy powders (НАПРИМЕР., from EOS, Adaro) расходы 2 ~ 3x more than domestic powders (НАПРИМЕР., from Chinese suppliers). Например, imported AlSi10Mg powder costs 100 ~ 150 юаней/грамм, while domestic AlSi10Mg powder costs 50 ~ 80 юаней/грамм.
(3) Требования к постобработке
Nearly all 3D printed aluminum alloy parts need post-processing to meet strength, точность, and appearance standards. Each step adds significantly to the total cost per gram:
| Поступ-обработка шага | Стоимость за грамм (юаней/грамм) | Цель |
| Basic Polishing/Sanding | 10 ~ 50 | Remove surface roughness (Ra from 3.2μm to 1.6μm); eliminate layer lines |
| High-Precision CNC Trimming | 50 ~ 200 | Достичь жестких допусков (± 0,01 мм); refine critical features (НАПРИМЕР., резьбовые отверстия, спаривающиеся поверхности) |
| Electroplating/Coating | 30 ~ 150 | Enhance corrosion resistance (НАПРИМЕР., Анодирование) or add aesthetic finish (НАПРИМЕР., matte silver) |
| Термическая обработка | 20 ~ 80 | Improve strength (НАПРИМЕР., T6 heat treatment for Al6061); reduce internal stress |
Пример: A 50g part needing basic sanding costs 500 ~ 2,500 RMB in post-processing. The same part needing CNC trimming + anodizing costs 4,000 ~ 11,500 RMB—8x more.
(4) Заказать объем
Order volume drastically impacts cost, as fixed costs (equipment setup, программирование) are spread across more parts. Small batches are far more expensive than large-scale production:
| Заказать объем | Стоимость за грамм (Общий, юаней/грамм) | Discount vs. Single Piece | Пример: 50g AlSi10Mg Part (Технология SLM) |
| Single Piece/Small Batch (<10 куски) | 250 ~ 450 | 0% (Нет скидки) | 50g × 350 RMB/gram = 17,500 юаней |
| Средняя партия (10 ~ 100 куски) | 150 ~ 250 | 20 ~ 40% | 50g × 200 RMB/gram = 10,000 юаней |
| Большая партия (>100 куски) | 70 ~ 150 | 40 ~ 70% | 50g × 100 RMB/gram = 5,000 юаней |
Пример: A single 50g aerospace bracket (СЛМ, ALSI10MG) расходы 17,500 юаней. Заказывающий 100 of the same brackets drops the cost to 5,000 RMB each—71% cheaper.
2. Typical Cost Per Gram: Разбивка по сценариям
To see how all these factors align, below are three common scenarios for 3D printed aluminum alloy parts:
| Сценарий | Технология | Aluminum Alloy Grade | Пост-обработка | Стоимость за грамм (юаней/грамм) | Пример (10g Part Total Cost) |
| Small-Batch High-Precision Part | СЛМ | ALSI10MG | CNC Trimming + Термическая обработка | 250 ~ 450 | 2,500 ~ 4,500 юаней |
| Medium-Batch Industrial Part | EBM | AL6061 | Basic Polishing + Анодирование | 100 ~ 200 | 1,000 ~ 2,000 юаней |
| Large-Batch Mass-Produced Part | Binding Jetting | AL6061 | Шлифование + Выслушивание | 70 ~ 150 | 700 ~ 1,500 юаней |
3. Practical Cost Reference for Common 3D Printed Aluminum Alloy Parts
To quickly gauge reasonable prices, below is a table of common part types and their typical costs:
| Тип частично | Размер/Вес | Технология | Стоимость за грамм (юаней/грамм) | Total Part Cost (юаней) |
| Custom Decorative Keychain | 2см / 10глин | Binding Jetting | 70 ~ 120 | 700 ~ 1,200 |
| Industrial Drone Mount | 10см / 50глин | EBM | 100 ~ 180 | 5,000 ~ 9,000 |
| Аэрокосмический кронштейн двигателя | 8см / 40глин | СЛМ | 250 ~ 400 | 10,000 ~ 16,000 |
| Mass-Produced Fasteners | 1см / 5глин | Binding Jetting | 70 ~ 100 | 350 ~ 500 |
4. 4 Practical Tips to Reduce the Cost of 3D Printed Aluminum Alloys Per Gram
While 3D printed aluminum alloys are more costly than basic plastics, these strategies can lower expenses without sacrificing quality:
(1) Optimize Part Design to Cut Material Use
- Simplify geometry: Remove redundant features (НАПРИМЕР., unnecessary curves, oversize walls) to reduce part weight by 15 ~ 30%. Например, a 50g bracket optimized to 35g saves 15g of material—cutting costs by 30%.
- Use hollow structures: For non-load-bearing parts (НАПРИМЕР., decorative keychains), design thin-walled (≥1mm) hollow interiors to reduce material consumption by 20 ~ 40%.
(2) Choose Domestic Aluminum Alloy Powders
Domestic powders (НАПРИМЕР., from Chinese manufacturers) являются 50 ~ 60% cheaper than imported alternatives and meet most industrial standards. Например, using domestic AlSi10Mg powder (50 ~ 80 юаней/грамм) instead of imported (100 ~ 150 юаней/грамм) cuts material costs by half.
(3) Batch Orders to Unlock Discounts
Even small increases in order volume yield significant savings. Если вам нужно 50 parts over 6 месяцы, order all 50 at once instead of 10 per month—this unlocks a 20 ~ 40% discount, reducing the cost per gram by 20 ~ 30%.
(4) Simplify Post-Processing When Possible
- Пропустить ненужные шаги: For non-precision parts (НАПРИМЕР., decorative keychains), avoid CNC trimming and use basic sanding instead—saving 50 ~ 200 юаней/грамм.
- Combine post-processing: Handle heat treatment and anodizing at the same facility to avoid shipping costs, reducing overall fees by 10 ~ 15%.
Yigu Technology’s Perspective on 3D Printed Aluminum Alloy Costs
В Yigu Technology, Мы верим matching technology and alloy grade to project needs is key to cost-effective 3D printed aluminum alloys. Many clients overspend by using SLM for mass-produced parts or imported powders for non-critical components—for example, using SLM (300 юаней/грамм) for a simple bracket that works with Binding Jetting (100 юаней/грамм). Our team recommends SLM with domestic AlSi10Mg for small-batch aerospace parts and Binding Jetting with Al6061 for mass-produced industrial components. We also optimize designs to reduce material use by 15 ~ 30% and negotiate bulk powder discounts. Our goal is to deliver high-quality 3D printed aluminum alloy parts at the lowest possible cost per gram.
Часто задаваемые вопросы
- Why is 3D printed aluminum alloy more expensive than 3D printed plastic?
3D printed aluminum alloy requires high-cost equipment (SLM/EBM machines cost 1 ~ 10 million RMB vs. 10 ~ 30,000 RMB for resin printers) and specialized metal powders (20 ~ 150 RMB/gram vs. 0.02 ~ 0.2 RMB/gram for resin). Пост-обработка (НАПРИМЕР., CNC trimming, термическая обработка) is also more complex and costly for metal parts.
- Can I use 3D printed aluminum alloy for small decorative parts (НАПРИМЕР., Клавицы) без перерасхода?
Yes—use Binding Jetting with Al6061 powder and basic sanding (no electroplating). A 10g keychain made this way costs 700 ~ 1,200 юаней, affordable for small-batch custom orders. Avoid SLM or high-grade AlSi10Mg for decorative parts, as they double or triple costs.
- How much does post-processing add to the total cost per gram of 3D printed aluminum alloy?
Post-processing typically adds 10 ~ 350 юаней/грамм, depending on steps. Basic sanding adds 10 ~ 50 юаней/грамм, while CNC trimming + anodizing adds 80 ~ 350 юаней/грамм. Для большинства промышленных частей, post-processing accounts for 20 ~ 50% of total cost per gram.