1. What is the 3D Printer Job Cost Calculator?

The 3D Printer Job Cost Calculator helps Australian businesses and hobbyists accurately estimate the total cost of a 3D printing job, including material, electricity, labor, and equipment depreciation costs.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the following formula:

Where:

• \( Material \) — Cost of printing materials in AUD
• \( Electricity \) — Energy costs for the print job in AUD
• \( Labor \) — Labor costs associated with the print in AUD
• \( Depreciation \) — Equipment wear and tear costs in AUD

Explanation: The equation sums all direct and indirect costs associated with a 3D printing job to determine the total cost in Australian Dollars.

3. Importance of Accurate Cost Calculation

Details: Proper cost calculation is essential for pricing jobs competitively, managing business profitability, and understanding the true cost of 3D printing projects.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter all cost components in Australian Dollars. For accurate results, measure actual electricity usage and include all relevant labor costs.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: How do I calculate material costs?
A: Multiply the weight of material used by its cost per gram/kg. Most slicer software provides material usage estimates.

Q2: What's included in electricity costs?
A: Calculate printer power consumption (watts) × hours printing × electricity rate (AUD/kWh).

Q3: How to estimate labor costs?
A: Include time spent on design, setup, post-processing, and supervision at appropriate hourly rates.

Q4: What about depreciation?
A: Divide printer cost by estimated lifespan in print hours, then multiply by job duration.

Q5: Should I include other costs?
A: For business use, consider adding overheads like rent, software licenses, and maintenance.