STEP 1
Define exactly what the quote includes
The same model can produce very different quotes depending on the work promised. Determine whether the customer supplies a finished model, whether repair or redesign is required, and whether support removal, surface finishing, inspection and packing are included. This calculator covers print production and basic handling. It does not automatically include design work, shipping, paint, rush service or product certification.
Confirm quantity, final slicer profile, material, finishing level, packing method and sales channel. A clear scope prevents the inputs from changing halfway through the quote.
STEP 2
Base material cost on material actually consumed
Divide spool price by spool weight to get a cost per gram, then multiply by adjusted material use and quantity. If the slicer estimate already includes supports, brims and purge material, do not add those items again as an extra-use percentage.
(Spool price ÷ spool weight) × adjusted grams per item × quantityAdjusted grams = slicer grams × (1 + extra-use rate)Recurring losses outside the slicer—such as unusable tail ends, color-change waste or calibration parts—can be measured over several jobs and included as an extra-use allowance. Keep it separate from one-time research or a customer-requested prototype.
STEP 3
Separate machine hours from human hours
Electricity depends on print duration, average power draw and the local energy rate. A printer's rated maximum can differ from its average while printing, so a measured average under similar bed and nozzle temperatures is preferable when available.
Print hours × (average watts ÷ 1,000) × price per kWh × quantityThe machine hourly rate recovers purchase cost and maintenance while the printer is occupied. Labor should cover the time a person actually spends on file preparation, setup, part removal, support cleanup, inspection and packing. Do not automatically charge every unattended print hour as labor.
STEP 4
Treat failures as an expected repeat-print cost
Adding 10% to every cost does not describe what is repeated when a print fails. MechModel Lab applies the failure rate to material, electricity, machine time and per-part consumables—the costs usually incurred again for a reprint.
Repeatable print cost ÷ (1 − failure rate) − repeatable print costRepeatable cost = material + electricity + machine time + consumablesUse records from similar materials, geometry, nozzle size and support difficulty. If your sample is small, compare several scenarios rather than treating one percentage as a universal truth.
STEP 5
Profit markup and selling fees are different
A cost markup adds a return to expected cost. A marketplace fee is then deducted as a percentage of the amount charged, so the price must be grossed up. To keep a target amount after a 6% fee, divide that amount by 0.94 instead of simply adding 6%.
(Expected cost + target profit) ÷ (1 − marketplace fee rate)The tax field is a user-entered allowance, not tax advice. VAT, sales tax, marketplace collection rules and business registration differ by country and seller. Verify the treatment that applies to your transaction.
STEP 6
Review the quote before sending it
- Have support and purge material been counted only once?
- Does labor include setup, cleanup, inspection and packing?
- Is the failure rate based on comparable prints?
- Are shipping, design changes and purchased hardware handled separately?
- Do marketplace fees include payment processing and optional services?
- Does the final price make sense for the value, risk and market?