Calculator Basic Inputs
Understanding the fundamental inputs for accurate cost calculations
Overview
The basic inputs section contains the essential information needed for every calculation. These are the core parameters that directly affect your material costs and printing expenses.
Printer Selection
How to Select
Click the printer dropdown to see all available printers. Printers are organized by brand and include:
- •Global Printers: Pre-loaded popular printer models available to all users
- •Your Printers: Custom printers you've added to your account
What This Affects
- •Power Consumption: Each printer has different wattage, affecting electricity costs
- •Purchase Price: Used to calculate depreciation cost per hour
- •Lifespan: Expected operational hours before replacement
Tip: The calculator automatically saves your last selected printer for faster calculations next time.
Filament Selection
How to Select
Choose from available filaments organized by brand. The dropdown shows:
- •Filament Brand & Name: e.g., "Hatchbox PLA"
- •Material Type: PLA, PETG, ABS, TPU, etc.
- •Cost per kg: Your purchase price in your currency
What This Affects
- •Material Cost: Base cost calculated from cost per kg and filament weight used
- •Markup Application: Filament markup is applied to this cost
Note: Currency conversion is automatic - costs are shown in your preferred currency regardless of how the filament was priced.
Print Time
How to Enter
Enter the total print time in hours. You can use decimals for precise timing:
Where to Find Print Time
Get this information from your slicer software:
- • Cura: Bottom right corner after slicing
- • PrusaSlicer: Bottom right after slicing
- • Simplify3D: Process statistics panel
- • Bambu Studio: Right panel after slicing
What This Affects
- •Electricity Cost: Longer prints use more power
- •Printer Depreciation: More hours = more wear on the printer
Filament Weight
How to Enter
Enter the filament weight in grams. This is the total material used including supports.
Where to Find Filament Weight
Your slicer shows the total filament weight needed:
- • Look for "Material used" or "Filament used"
- • May show in grams or meters (use grams)
- • Includes model + supports + purge tower
What This Affects
- •Material Cost: Direct multiplier with filament cost per kg
- •Filament Markup: Applied to the calculated material cost
Important: Always include support material weight in your total. The slicer calculates this automatically.
Electricity Cost per kWh
How to Set
Enter your electricity rate in your local currency per kilowatt-hour (kWh). The default is 0.12.
What This Affects
The calculator uses this rate along with:
- •Printer Power Consumption: Watts used per hour
- •Print Time: Total hours of operation
Printer Depreciation
What Is Depreciation?
Depreciation accounts for the wear and tear on your printer. Every print hour brings your printer closer to needing replacement. This toggle lets you include this cost in your pricing.
How It's Calculated
When enabled, the calculator divides the printer's purchase price by its expected lifespan:
When to Enable
Enable For:
Business/commercial printing, client work, accurate full-cost pricing
Disable For:
Hobby printing, personal projects, when printer is already paid off
Tip: Most professional print services include depreciation to ensure they can replace equipment when needed.