Is a 3D Printing Service Cost Effective?
Outsourcing your 3D printing requirements is the easiest way to benefit from additive manufacturing without capital investment. It’s fantastic for prototyping and small-series production and scales well, provided you keep costs down. But herein lies the big challenge—making 3D printing services cost effective.
3D Printing Service Cost Factors
There are more factors at play than studio/build time and material costs – some technologies are more expensive to set up and configure and some materials have extra post-processing steps, such as sintering for metal parts from some machines.
Material Type
Different materials have varying costs, and selecting a more expensive material will increase the overall price of the 3D printing service.
For instance, PLA and ABS are considerably less expensive than PEEK and PEKK – not only are the materials more expensive, but the printers are, too.
Technology
The cheapest 3D printing technology is FFF, but that’s a bit of a misnomer because it can be more expensive than SLA and SLS in some situations, such as large-format 3D printing with something like the Builder Extreme 1,500 PRO.
Complexity
Complexity in shape, mechanical properties, and detail requires more advanced printing technology or more expensive and capable equipment. For instance, your part design might demand zero support structures, making SLS technology necessary.
Tolerances also come into play – if you are designing for aerospace or another industry that demands tight tolerances, a higher standard is required, meaning you need tighter controls in place and a more experienced 3D print shop.
Support
The level of customer support and additional services will always impact the overall cost of 3D printing services. Some providers offer design assistance, file preparation, and post-processing services, which can add to the total cost but might be worth it to save time on training and reduce errors.
Order Quantity
Some 3D printing service operators have minimum costs per part and only accept orders of a specific volume, restricting your access to the whole market.
You are also likely to pay a higher cost per part for one part than 10 or 100 units because the per-unit cost decreases with volume – more efficient use of the printing machines and materials results in cost savings that can be passed on to you.
Lead Time
Turnaround times, such as express options, often come at a premium price compared to standard or economy lead times due to the need for prioritisation and potentially overtime work to meet the accelerated deadline.
Ordering in good time can be cheaper, so your 3D printing service provider has the resources to set up your print run.
Keeping Costs Down
- Optimise your design: Ensure your 3D model is designed for printability. Avoid unnecessary complexity, minimise support structures, and consider the material properties to reduce printing time and material usage.
- Choose the most suitable material: Select a material that balances your functional requirements with cost. In some cases, using a lower-cost material with sufficient properties can significantly reduce expenses.
- Consider volume: Some service providers offer volume discounts if you have a larger project or ongoing needs because you can negotiate rates based on the total volume of work.
- Shop around: Get quotes from multiple 3D printing service providers to compare prices, turnaround times, and quality, but be cautious of providers with prices that seem too good to be true, as they may compromise quality.
- Communicate clearly: Provide clear, detailed instructions and specifications to avoid misunderstandings that could lead to costly rework or delays.
- Post-process in-house: If your in-house team has the skills and tools, order ‘green’ unprocessed parts and handle post-processing tasks like support removal and sanding to save on the service provider’s labour costs.
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