3D Printer Buy vs Outsource Calculator

Deciding to Buy a 3D Printer vs. Outsourcing

3D printing has become an accessible technology for hobbyists, engineers, and product designers alike. However, before investing in a 3D printer, it is crucial to analyze whether owning a machine makes financial sense compared to using a professional 3D printing service bureau. This calculator helps you compare the total cost of ownership of a 3D printer with the costs of outsourcing.

How the Calculations Work

The comparison is split into two primary components:

• In-House Printing Cost: Calculated as the sum of fixed setup costs (printer price, extra accessories, and tools) and recurring costs (filament material weight cost, electricity consumption, and any digital model design costs).
• Outsourcing Cost: Calculated as the price per model charged by the service bureau multiplied by the total number of prints, plus shipping costs.

Formula for Unit Economics

To determine the cost per model printed in-house, the calculator uses the following formulas:

• Material Weight (g) = Model Volume (cm³) × Filament Density (g/cm³)
• Material Cost per Model ($) = (Material Weight / 1000) × Filament Price ($/kg)
• Power Cost per Model ($) = (Printer Power (W) × Print Time (hours) / 1000) × Electricity Cost ($/kWh)
• Total Print Cost per Model ($) = Material Cost per Model + Power Cost per Model

The break-even point is the number of prints required for buying to become cheaper than outsourcing:
Break-Even Quantity = (Printer Price + Accessories - Shipping Cost) / (Outsource Price per Model - Print Cost per Model)