M3DP FDM 3D Print Cost Calculator




M3DP FDM 3D Print Cost Calculator

A comprehensive tool based on the Seregi & Ficzere (2025) cost model, expanded for business and hobbyist quoting.

Saves/Loads all machine, tooling, power, and markup settings. Job-specific parameters are not saved.

1. Job Parameters

2. Material & Labor

3. My Material Library

4. Machine Operation

5. Tooling (Eq 5)

6. Finishing & Post-Processing (Optional)

Mechanical Finishing

Chemical Post-Processing (Eq 2)

7. Markup (Optional)

Reference Guides

Nozzle Lifespan Reference Guide

Nozzle lifespan depends on the nozzle material and the filament being printed. Abrasive filaments (carbon fiber, glow-in-the-dark, wood-fill) will destroy brass nozzles very quickly.

Nozzle Material Filament Type Est. Lifespan (kg)
Brass Standard (PLA, ABS, PETG) 10 - 25 kg+
Brass Abrasive (CF, Wood, Glow) < 1 kg (as low as 0.25 kg)
Stainless Steel Standard & Light Abrasive 20 - 50 kg+
Hardened Steel All, incl. Heavy Abrasive 50 - 100 kg+
Ruby / Nozzle X All, incl. Heavy Abrasive 100 kg++
Nozzle Size Reference Guide

Nozzle diameter (size) is a trade-off between print speed and detail.

Nozzle Size (mm) Typical Use Case
0.15 - 0.25 Extreme detail (e.g., miniatures), very slow. Prone to clogging.
0.40 (Standard) Best all-around balance of speed and detail. Default on most printers.
0.60 Faster prints, stronger parts. Good for abrasive filaments. Loses fine detail.
0.80 - 1.00+ Very fast "draft" prints or large structural parts. Very low detail.

References

  • Seregi, B.L.; Ficzere, P. (2025). Refined Cost Calculation Framework for FDM Parts. jmmp-09-00321
  • Simplify3D (n.d.). Filament Properties Table. simplify3d.com
  • Nozzle material & lifespan guides (All3DP, Sovol, Creality, 3DJake, etc.)
  • Build plate guides (All3DP, Bambu Lab Forum, Reddit, etc.)
  • Fusion3 Design (n.d.). How Much Does a 3D Printer Cost? fusion3design.com
  • Machine maintenance guides (EufyMake, Raise3D, Qidi, etc.)

Cost Summary

$0.00
($0.00 base cost + $0.00 markup)
Total Build Plate Cost (for 1 part): $0.00
Base Cost (per Part): $0.00

Cost Breakdown (per Build Plate)

Material
$0.00 (0%)
Labor
$0.00 (0%)
Machine
$0.00 (0%)
Tooling
$0.00 (0%)
Finishing
$0.00 (0%)
1. Material Cost $0.00
2. Labor Cost $0.00
3. Machine Operation $0.00
4. Tooling $0.00
5. Finishing & Post-Processing $0.00
Subtotal (Base Cost) $0.00
Failure Rate Markup (5%) $0.00
Total Build Plate Cost $0.00

Quick Metrics

Total Print Time 1.00 hr
Total Mass 10 g
Cost per Print Hour $0.00
Cost per Gram $0.00