Contrary to popular belief, there isn't a one-size-fits-all approach to 3D Printing. This principle also applies to pricing as each material has its own criteria that influence its price. Most 3D printing materials are priced on the basis of a startup cost and the volume of your model. However, for some materials, model surface, orientation, and density also come into play. Below is a list of all possible criteria that can be used to calculate prices:
- Startup Cost: A fixed cost independent of the parameters of your model (EUR/piece or USD/piece).
- Minimum Price: The minimum price you have to pay per-ordered piece. Unlike the startup cost, this cost vanishes when the price is higher than the minimum price (EUR/piece or USD/piece).
- The box around your model: An imaginary box around your model determines how much space your design will take up in the printer (X x Y x Z = mm³).
- Model Volume: The volume of your model is used to calculate the material cost (mm³).
- Orientation: The way your model is positioned on the print platform will impact the support generation and therefore the price.
- Density: The ratio of the box surrounding your model to the model volume will influence the price, and for example, will allow price corrections in designs with a low model volume and a large surrounding box (% mm³/mm³).
- Quantity Discount: If you order two or more copies of a model, the price automatically decreases, mainly because the preparation of multiple copies can be carried out more efficiently.
- Required Machine Volume: The volume of your models and the space around it that your model requires in the build chamber in order to build it successfully.
You will find the exact criteria for each material on our Pricing Info page.