Printer Settings & Specifications
Detailed explanation of all printer fields and their importance
Overview
Each printer in your library is defined by several key specifications that determine how costs are calculated. Understanding these fields and how to set them accurately is crucial for getting precise cost estimates for your 3D printing projects.
This guide breaks down each field, explains what it means, how it's used in calculations, and provides guidance on choosing appropriate values.
Printer Name
What It Is
The printer name is the display name for your 3D printer. This is what you'll see when selecting a printer in the calculator and throughout the application.
Field Details
- Type: Text (required)
- Used For: Identification and selection
- Impact on Costs: None directly
Naming Best Practices
Good Printer Names:
- • Prusa i3 MK3S+
- • Bambu Lab X1 Carbon
- • Creality Ender 3 V2 (Modified)
- • Anycubic Photon Mono X - Workshop
Less Helpful Names:
- • Printer 1
- • My FDM Printer
- • The new one
Tip: If you have multiple printers of the same model, include distinguishing information like location, modifications, or purpose (e.g., "Ender 3 Pro - Office", "Ender 3 Pro - Workshop").
Brand
What It Is
The brand field stores the manufacturer name of your 3D printer. This helps with organization and sorting, especially if you have printers from multiple manufacturers.
Field Details
- Type: Text (required)
- Used For: Sorting and filtering
- Impact on Costs: None directly
Common 3D Printer Brands
Tip: You can sort your printer library by brand on the Printers page, which makes it easier to find specific printers when you have a large collection.
Price
What It Is
The price is the total cost you paid for the printer. This value is used to calculate depreciation costs, which represent the portion of the printer's value that gets "used up" with each print hour.
Field Details
- Type: Number (required)
- Format: Decimal (e.g., 999.00)
- Currency: Displayed in your preferred currency
- Storage: Always stored in USD
- Used For: Calculating cost per hour
- Impact on Costs: Direct (higher price = higher cost per hour)
What to Include in the Price
For most accurate depreciation calculations, consider including:
Base Printer Cost
The purchase price of the printer itself.
Essential Upgrades (Optional)
If you made essential upgrades immediately (e.g., auto bed leveling, upgraded hotend), you may choose to include these in the total price.
Shipping & Taxes (Optional)
Some users include shipping and taxes to reflect the true total investment.
Currency Handling
The price field automatically adapts to your currency preference:
When You Enter a Price:
- You enter the price in your current currency (e.g., 999.00 USD)
- The system converts it to USD for storage
- The price is displayed back to you in your preferred currency
When You Change Currency:
- All prices automatically convert to the new currency
- No data is lost in the conversion
- The USD value remains the same in the database
Tip: If you bought your printer on sale or used, use the actual price you paid, not the MSRP. This gives you more accurate cost calculations based on your real investment.
Lifespan (Hours)
What It Is
Lifespan is the estimated total number of print hours your printer can operate before it needs to be replaced or requires major refurbishment. This is the most critical value for accurate cost calculations because it directly determines your depreciation rate.
Field Details
- Type: Number (required)
- Unit: Hours
- Format: Whole number (e.g., 6000)
- Used For: Calculating cost per hour
- Impact on Costs: Inverse relationship (higher lifespan = lower cost per hour)
Typical Lifespan Values by Printer Category
Budget Consumer Printers ($200-$400)
Typical Lifespan: 2,000 - 4,000 hours
Examples: Entry-level Creality, Anycubic, Elegoo models
Mid-Range Consumer Printers ($400-$1,000)
Typical Lifespan: 4,000 - 8,000 hours
Examples: Prusa i3 MK3S+, higher-end Creality, Bambu Lab P1P
Premium Consumer Printers ($1,000-$3,000)
Typical Lifespan: 8,000 - 15,000 hours
Examples: Bambu Lab X1 Carbon, Prusa XL, Ultimaker S3/S5
Professional/Industrial Printers ($3,000+)
Typical Lifespan: 15,000 - 30,000+ hours
Examples: Raise3D Pro series, industrial Ultimakers, Formlabs
How Lifespan Affects Costs
The lifespan value has an inverse relationship with cost per hour. Here's how it works:
Example: $600 Printer
• 3,000 hour lifespan → $0.20/hour cost
• 6,000 hour lifespan → $0.10/hour cost
• 10,000 hour lifespan → $0.06/hour cost
Doubling the lifespan cuts the cost per hour in half
Warning: Being too optimistic with lifespan (setting it too high) will underestimate your costs. Being too conservative (setting it too low) will overestimate costs. Research your specific printer model for realistic estimates.
Tip: Check manufacturer specifications, user forums, and community feedback for real-world lifespan data. Many manufacturers provide MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures) ratings that can inform your estimate.
Cost per Hour (Auto-Calculated)
What It Is
Cost per hour represents the depreciation cost of operating your printer for one hour. This value is automatically calculated based on your price and lifespan inputs and cannot be edited manually.
Field Details
- Type: Number (calculated)
- Format: Decimal to 4 places (e.g., 0.1667)
- Editable: No (auto-calculated)
- Currency: Displayed in your preferred currency
- Used For: Calculator depreciation costs
The Calculation Formula
Cost per Hour = Price ÷ Lifespan
This calculation updates automatically whenever you change the price or lifespan
Step-by-Step Example
Printer: Prusa i3 MK3S+
- • Price: $999.00
- • Lifespan: 6000 hours
Calculation:
$999.00 ÷ 6000 = $0.1665 per hour
How It's Used in the Calculator
When you select a printer in the cost calculator and enter your print time, the calculator multiplies the cost per hour by your print time to determine the depreciation cost:
Example Calculation:
- • Printer Cost per Hour: $0.1665
- • Print Time: 5 hours
- • Depreciation Cost: $0.1665 × 5 = $0.83
Note: The cost per hour field updates in real-time as you adjust the price or lifespan in the Add/Edit Printer modal, giving you immediate feedback on how your changes affect the depreciation rate.
Source (Global vs User)
What It Is
The source field determines whether a printer is a personal printer (user) or a global preset available to all users (global). This field is set automatically when you create a printer and cannot be changed after creation.
Field Details
- Type: Text (auto-set)
- Values: 'user' or 'global'
- Editable: No (set at creation)
- Visibility: User printers are private, global are public
User vs Global Comparison
| Feature | User Printers | Global Printers |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility | Only you | All users |
| Who can create | Any user | Admins only |
| Who can edit | Owner only | Admins only |
| Who can delete | Owner only | Admins only |
| Can be imported | No | Yes |
Tip: If you find a global preset for your printer model, import it and then adjust the price to match what you actually paid. This gives you accurate costs with minimal effort.
Best Practices for Setting Specifications
Research Before Setting Lifespan
Look up manufacturer specifications, user reviews, and community forums to get realistic lifespan estimates. This is the most important value for cost accuracy.
Be Conservative with Consumer Printers
Budget and mid-range consumer printers often have shorter lifespans than expected. It's better to slightly underestimate lifespan (resulting in higher cost per hour) than to overestimate and undercharge.
Update as You Learn
As you gain experience with your printer and understand its reliability, update the lifespan value to reflect reality. Track your printer's total hours to see how it's performing.
Use Actual Purchase Price
Always enter what you actually paid, including discounts or sales. Don't use MSRP if you got a better deal.
Consider Maintenance Costs Separately
The price and lifespan only cover depreciation. Factor in regular maintenance, replacement parts, and repairs separately when pricing your prints.