How we Price 3D Printing

This blog post comes from asking myself a simple question when the Neurotech Hub was formed: what do we charge?

The fact is, we operate as a business with no inherent subsidies. The main difference is that we don’t aim to profit, but rather, break even.

What I did know was that many “on demand” 3D printing shops/farms have come and gone. I think the most difficult thing those businesses face is pricing. It’s been a race to the bottom on margins and because of that the consumer has lost a lot of trust in doing online business.

Luckily, our customers and collaborators are not necessarily trying to shave costs, but shave time while working with people willing to stamp on a guarantee. However, there still needs to be a framework around pricing to deliver a consistent experience and create a culture of fairness and transparency.

Anchoring Costs

When I thought about the moving pieces of filament-based 3D printing, it boiled down to:

1. How many build plates will I need to change and maintain?
2. How much filament will be used for the print and supports?
3. How many overall parts do I need to post-process and package?

Charging for filament is a pretty straightforward, but the other two are where my time gets drained. I monitor every 3D print’s first layer for issues and I correct it on the spot when they occur. I also believe every part should be cleaned and inspected before going out the door. These costs are the only way to incorporate my time and resources into a rock solid guarantee of product and service.

Many print shops will also factor in asset depreciation of the printer itself. This can be a real cost if the printer requires a ton of maintenance, but with a $1,500 printer giving me >1,000 hours of print time, charging $1/hr doesn’t move the needle. I consider the printer an immediate loss in dollars and an immediate gain in capability, which will eventually pay itself off through volume-over-lifetime.

3D Printing Calculator

Cost = Build Plates * $60 + Filament (g) * 0.035 + Parts * $10

This is my framework and I use discount as a way of incentivizing first time customers or decreasing costs relative to the true scope of work.

Working Together

All said and done, the mission of the Neurotech Hub is to accelerate progress in neuroscience. So if our pricing is ever impeding that mission, we change it. There are always non-obvious ways to optimize, trade-off, or otherwise get it done, so never hesitate to Get in Touch.