How to Choose a Desktop 3D Printing Technology? Comparing Prices
3D printing prices can vary depending on the technology used in a specific 3D printer. In-house 3D printing is one of the most cost-effective methods for manufacturing single prototypes and custom parts. 3D printers do not require expensive tooling or lengthy setups. They can produce parts 80-95 percent cheaper than traditional manufacturing methods like machining or outsourcing to service providers.
However, when comparing the costs of different 3D printers and accurately calculating the cost per part, you need to consider more than just the sticker price.
To estimate the production cost of a single printed part for a specific technology, you need to assess the contribution of expenses such as:
- the cost of acquiring and maintaining the equipment itself;
- the cost of raw materials and consumables;
- and the cost of labor required to operate this equipment and post-process the printed parts.
These variables can change dramatically depending on the 3D printer's throughput and your specific needs. They are important factors to consider before deciding which technology is right for you.
Let's compare the costs for the three most common plastic 3D printing technologies: FDM, SLA, and SLS.
1. Equipment Acquisition
Fixed costs, such as the 3D printer price, service contracts, installation, and maintenance, make up the cost of equipment ownership. These are costs you will have to pay regardless of whether your printer sits idle or produces dozens of parts a week.
Calculate the approximate allocation of these costs to each part by adding all projected fixed costs over the machine's entire lifespan, and then divide the resulting sum by the number of parts it is expected to produce.
Example of calculating the cost per part depending on the 3D printer utilization:
$5000 ÷ (5 per week * 52 weeks * 4 years) = $4.80
$5000 ÷ (70 per week * 52 weeks * 4 years) = $0.35
As you can see, the equipment acquisition cost can become almost negligible when divided across the thousands of parts the machine can produce during its lifespan.
Generally, FDM 3D printers offer the lowest initial cost for 3D printing:
Hobbyist printer prices: under $1,000
Professional printer prices: from $2,000 to $8,000
SLA 3D printers provide higher precision and a smoother surface finish at minimal cost.
However, they typically come with a slightly higher price tag.
SLA price: from $3,500 to $10,000
SLS 3D printing has only recently become available in the form of small and affordable desktop solutions.
But it is still significantly more expensive than FDM or SLA.
SLS price: from $10,000 and up
Equipment price. FDM, SLA, and SLS 3D printing:
2. 3D Printing Prices. Raw Materials and Consumables
Raw materials and other consumables needed to create parts are recurring costs that highly depend on the number of
parts you produce.
When calculating material costs, measure the amount of material required to build one part
and multiply it by the material cost. Also, don't forget to include support structures, waste, and any other
consumables needed to produce the parts:
Calculation example: (25 ml ÷ 1000 ml) * $150 = $3.75
On average, FDM materials usually cost the least. But FDM printing has a higher need for generating support structures or using separate support materials required for more complex parts. This can significantly increase material costs. FDM materials: $50 — $150/kg. Supports: $100 — $200/kg
SLA materials typically have a higher cost: $149 — $200 per liter
The cost of SLS material falls between FDM and SLA, but since SLS 3D printing does not require support structures, the unfused powder can be reused, and the material cost can be significantly reduced. SLS materials: $100/kg
Consumables cost ratio in a finished part printed using FDM, SLA, and SLS technologies:
3. 3D Printing Prices. Labor Costs
Labor costs are often overlooked. Yet, they can significantly impact the cost per part, especially with high print
volumes.
Although desktop 3D printers usually require less labor than traditional manufacturing methods, the
workflow for setting up and maintaining the printers, along with post-processing the parts, can be quite
labor-intensive.
In most cases, setting up and maintaining FDM printers is fairly straightforward. Part post-processing can also be fast, but only for simple parts and rough prototypes. Complex parts require support structures. These must be removed manually or dissolved in water or using chemicals. To achieve a better surface finish, extensive manual sanding and finishing are often required.
When it comes to setup and maintenance, SLA printers are even simpler and faster than FDM. Post-processing for SLA involves washing the parts in a solvent and, depending on the material, post-curing them. However, these steps can be automated to minimize time and labor. Thanks to the fine design of the contact points, supports can be removed quickly. At the same time, the parts have a high-quality surface finish straight out of the printer.
SLS 3D printers require more setup time to handle the powder material and significantly more maintenance time between
different print jobs.
But this time is usually spread across many prints in a single print job. Therefore, print
preparation and post-processing of SLS parts can be the least labor-intensive processes when handling a full batch
of parts. The parts simply need to be removed from the surrounding powder and cleaned of excess material.
The share of labor costs in the cost of a finished part printed using FDM, SLA, and SLS technologies:
Let's summarize the choice of 3D printing prices. FDM will give you the cheapest option if you are only printing relatively simple prototypes in limited quantities.
SLA offers higher quality with a slight premium in cost. But the difference quickly narrows when printing complex designs or large batches due to less labor-intensive post-processing.
Finally, SLS is the most cost-effective production process for medium and large volumes of high-quality functional parts.
However, costs will vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. Make sure you ask the right questions before making a purchase.
This is one of three articles helping you choose a 3D printing technology for your needs, in which we compared 3D printing prices. See also other materials on this topic:
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