How much does 3d printer plastic cost

How Much Does A 3D Printing Filament Cost?

PLA & ABS (Generic Formulations)

Generic PLA and ABS are the least expensive materials to print. The average 3D printer material cost for generic PLA and ABS is approximately $25 per kilogram from quality suppliers.

PLA & ABS (Specialty & Infused Formulations)

Prices in this category vary as there are a wide variety of unique versions of PLA and ABS that are specially formulated to unique specifications or add materials like ceramics, metals, wood or other materials to create unique visual effects. Materials in the specially formulated PLA and ABS category on average cost approximately $40 to $75 per kilogram.

ASA

ASA, a cousin to ABS, is great for use in outdoor applications and is quite inexpensive. You can expect to pay approximately $30 and $45 per kilogram for ASA 3D printing filament.

PETG

PETG emerged in 2017 as a very popular 3D printing filament due to its low cost and how it exhibits many industrial benefits. You should expect to pay between $30 and $40 per kilogram for generic versions of PETG and $45 to $70 for specialty formulations.

NYLON

Nylons are proprietary formulations of plastic, so you won’t find generic versions. Due to the specialized nature, Nylon can be somewhat expensive and you should expect to pay between $80 and $110 USD per kilogram.

FLEXIBLE

Everyone loves seeing a 3D part printed using flexible materials and most flexible materials are based on a materials called TPU and TPE. Generic TPU flexible 3D printing materials can be found from quality suppliers around $35 USD per kilogram. Specialty formulations from manufacturers like NinjaTek are more expensive and run approximately $90 to $110 USD per kilogram.

CARBON FIBER BLENDS

Many filament manufacturers are introducing blends of various plastics, infused with Carbon Fiber. The addition of carbon fiber, improves certain characteristics of the base material, including reducing weight and increasing strength. These carbon fiber infused materials can run anywhere between $45 and $90 per kilogram.

POLYCARBONATE

Generic polycarbonate (PC) has incredible strength and temperature resistance, but is very difficult to print, unless you have an enclosed 3D printer like the Fusion3 EDGE which passively heats the enclosure up to 70*C. If you’re game to try printing PC, you can expect to pay about $55-70 per kilogram. There are also blends of other materials with polycarbonate that are easier to print and actually cost less (PC-ABS for example). These formulations cost approximately $65 to $85 USD per kilogram.

How much does 3D printing cost?

David Roberson21 September 2021

Guide

Once you understand how 3D printing works, it's important to talk money. A 3D printer should be a long-term asset for your organization that delivers value for years after you buy it. But how much does 3D printing cost?

This return on investment is a benefit that sets 3D printing apart from other solutions like outsourcing. But as with any long-term asset, it pays to be aware of all the associated costs that come with owning a 3D printer, and which expenses – including 3D printer material costs – you need to plan for into the future.

The list below should help you understand the costs involved, how they differ depending on the technology, and which are one-off or repeating. (Prices are indicative and subject to change – so we recommend doing your own research too.)

3D printer price

With products on the market for anyone from a home user to the R&D divisions of blue-chip companies, 3D printer prices vary a lot. Typically, FFF offers the greatest variation in price, from hobbyist machines costing a few hundred dollars to higher-performance desktop printers in the $2,000 to $6,000 range. Desktop SLA printers start from around $2,000 to $3,000, while an SLS printer typically costs $10,000 plus. Larger-scale industrial machines of any technology will cost significantly more.

Peripherals

These can add extra functionality, but also add extra expense your 3D printing costs. Post-processing peripherals are almost essential for SLA and SLS printers. For example, SLA prints will otherwise have to be manually washed in isopropyl alcohol and left in the sun to cure – so in practice, these printers often require purchase of post-processing stations unless that appeals to you! For FFF, peripherals can streamline workflows such as material handling, but are up to you depending on your needs.

Maintenance and service

Typically, this should only be the cost of replacing the odd consumable part over time. Check what support your seller includes as part of the price – they may offer installation and maintenance included. Some products also come with extended warranty options or an annual service plan. These plans can add certainty for some customers, but be sure to read the fine print in detail to understand the terms and exactly what support you get if something goes wrong.

Energy

For regular use for an Ultimaker 3D printer, we calculated this to be around $50 per year. But if you want a more precise figure, check the power consumption specs of a 3D printer and make a calculation based on your likely usage and local energy prices.

Materials

Think of material costs like gas for your car. While not considerable in isolation, over the long-term it will be one of the biggest running costs. For FFF 3D printing, 3D printer filament prices (for an everyday material like PLA or PETG) are around $20 to $50 per kilogram, or $60 to $120 for specialized engineering or support filaments. Entry-level SLA resins cost around $50 per liter, and most professional options cost around $150 to $400. SLS powder can cost around $100 to $200 per kilogram.

Software

Most professional level 3D printers come with some software included, usually so you can prepare your prints and manage printers. Many cheaper 3D printers don’t come with adequate software, but luckily our Ultimaker Cura software is compatible with hundreds of machines and free to download. And if you really want to scale 3D printing in your business unit or even entire organization, consider an enterprise software plan with added features like direct support, online training courses, and cloud storage for your parts and projects.

You can learn more in our total cost of ownership white paper – available to download for free.

A 3D printer is part of an ecosystem that includes peripherals, materials, and software – either from the manufacturer or third parties

Need more info on 3D printing?

Explore the wider world of this incredible technology by reading our answers to these common questions:

What is 3D printing?
What can you make with a 3D printer?
How to use a 3D printer?

What is the best plastic for 3D printing? Let's figure it out together!

Plastic for 3D printing

After purchasing your own FDM 3D printer, as well as in the course of choosing it, it becomes necessary to choose the right plastic for 3D printing. But how to do this if you are new to 3D printing and have little to no understanding of this issue? Plastic for printing on a 3D printer is in most cases the main component of successful product reproduction. Therefore, we will not save on knowledge, and will tell you how to choose the best plastic for 3D printing.

Types of plastic for a 3D printer

First of all, we need to consider the types of plastic for a 3D printer. Plastic for 3D printing, or filament, is produced in the form of a thin thread with a diameter of 1.75 mm and 3 mm. Most often, filaments with a thickness of 1.75 mm are used in the basic configuration, but some manufacturers of 3D printers provide the ability to install a 3 mm plastic feed system. Plastic for 3D printing has many varieties, among which the most common are ABS and PLA plastic.

Plastic for 3D printing: varieties

By popularity in the Ukrainian market, the following types of plastic for 3D printing can be distinguished:

PLA (PLA) or polylactide. Organic and short lived. Suitable for 3D printing of decorative products, but not able to withstand high mechanical loads;
ABS (ABS) or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene. It has a long life and excellent mechanical properties. Heat-resistant and used for industrial purposes. Shrinks on cooling. It is recommended to print in ventilated areas;
PVA (PVA) or polyvinyl alcohol. A water-soluble material that is used as a support;
Nylone (Nylon). An alternative to ABS plastic, suitable for many engineering structures. When printing with nylon, it is recommended to ventilate the room;
HIPS (High Impact Polystyrene). In terms of physical properties, it is a cross between PLA and ABS. May also emit toxic fumes when printed.

Other questions and answers about 3D printers and 3D printing:

What is the best plastic for a 3D printer?

In fact, there are many more types of plastic for 3D printing. This can include flexible, fluorescent and luminescent filament, wood and metallized materials. But in practice, such consumables are rarely used and are needed for narrowly specific purposes. Metallized plastics are interesting in their own right, but they are at the initial stage of development and are inferior in performance to ordinary reinforced materials. “And what plastic is best for a 3D printer?” - you ask. You should choose based on specific goals. If you intend to print decorative elements that will not be subject to payload, you can look at PLA plastic. If your goal is to print gears, structural parts and other things, look at reinforced materials for 3D printing.

What plastic to print with?

Please note that not every printer supports the full range of 3D printing materials. Before buying a specific filament, check the specifications of your own device to avoid wasting money. The rest is up to you and your imagination. A huge range of colors and shades of plastic is available for sale, matte and glossy, semi- and fully transparent materials. Such a variety will allow you to make almost any product to your taste.

Remember that if you need to buy plastic for 3D printing - 3DDevice store is at your service! We offer a wide range of different materials in all possible color options and are ready to provide advice when choosing a filament.

If you have additional questions that we have not covered, write to us by e-mail and we, if necessary, will add your questions! Best regards, 3DDevice team. We also provide 3D modeling, 3D scanning and 3D printing services. We work all over Ukraine! If you have any questions, please contact us in any way convenient for you. Contacts are listed here. We look forward to collaborating!

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Plastic for 3D printer in category "Home and Garden"

ABS filament for 3D printer, 1.75 mm, brown

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3Dplast - manufacturer of plastic for 3D printing

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ABS thread (ABS) Plastic for 3D printer, 1.75 mm, White

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ABS filament (ABS) plastic for 3D printer, 1.75 mm, green

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PLA (PLA) plastic for 3D printer Black 0.75 kg 0.750005

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"3DFILAMENT" - Vobinnik plastic up to 3D printer0005

200 m PLA ECO plastic bright for 3D printer pen | 3D plastic thread | Set of plastic 3D handle Pla

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Copet Plastic for 3D printer white 0.800 kg / 230 m / 230 m / 1.75 mm

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How much does 3d printer plastic cost

How Much Does A 3D Printing Filament Cost?

How much does 3D printing cost?

3D printer price

Peripherals

Maintenance and service

Energy

Materials

Software

Need more info on 3D printing?

What is the best plastic for 3D printing? Let's figure it out together!

Plastic for 3D printing

Types of plastic for a 3D printer

Plastic for 3D printing: varieties

What is the best plastic for a 3D printer?

What plastic to print with?

Plastic for 3D printer in category "Home and Garden"

005

Learn more