General Operating Costs and Metrics
Are there any studies or charts/graphs/tables available detailing the operating costs, exclusive of filaments, for various model printers using different filaments? I am doing a large (in excess of 30 hours) project for a friend. He is providing the filament but I need to charge him a realistic price for electricity. Because each filament has its own nozzle and bed temperature profile, power draw will vary accordingly. If I had the wattage draw of a given printer using a given filament, I could use my local utility rates to calculate the power costs. Unfortunately, I do not have the instrumation necessary to measure the draw of individual devices such as these. Suggestions?
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RE:
MK3S consumes approx. 120 W when printing ABS according to Prusa. This is also my own experiency (measured it on my own.)
30 h printing is 3,5 KWh consumed, which is even in Germany only ~ 1.5 $ /€
You do not charge this to a friend...
There are other costs; filament drying, cad/slicing, cleaning/maintenance, the occasional failed print (especially likely with other people's designs unless they are well versed in 3D printing) - all the usual costs of operating a business.
As a ballpark base charge I use the weight of filament and the rated power supply max for the predicted print hours. For your 30 hour print with a Mk3 that would be just under six kilowatt hours. But I don't actually charge for simple printing unless I have to buy in a specific filament. My printer creates fixes for some the problems I encounter and quite often I don't supply the part. I have printed prototypes for local testing then emailed the files to the Mediterranean for printing in port. I have prototyped parts that have then been sent for stainless steel or phospher bronze fabrication, and, yes I *have* printed parts that have been fitted to an engine to adapt obsolete connectors...
As a rough guide, in most cases, double the obvious costs is about your actual cost not counting your time.
Cheerio,
RE: General Operating Costs and Metrics
Are there any studies or charts/graphs/tables available detailing the operating costs, exclusive of filaments, for various model printers using different filaments? I am doing a large (in excess of 30 hours) project for a friend. He is providing the filament but I need to charge him a realistic price for electricity. Because each filament has its own nozzle and bed temperature profile, power draw will vary accordingly. If I had the wattage draw of a given printer using a given filament, I could use my local utility rates to calculate the power costs. Unfortunately, I do not have the instrumation necessary to measure the draw of individual devices such as these. Suggestions?
To approximate the costs, I often use this site: https://blog.prusa3d.com/3d-printing-price-calculator_38905/
wbr,
Karl
Statt zu klagen, dass wir nicht alles haben, was wir wollen, sollten wir lieber dankbar sein, dass wir nicht alles bekommen, was wir verdienen.
RE: General Operating Costs and Metrics
I recognize those costs (in addition to electricity), I just judged them to be small in proportion, but thanks for the insight.
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RE: General Operating Costs and Metrics
Ah, that's a very helpful link, don't know how I missed it. Thanks.
Hear ye, Hear ye! Step right up folks and get your Government salvation here! Less than $.002 per word! Amazon.com/dp/B0B8XMMFP4