Worked Example
FDM vs Resin Print Cost
Compare a simple FDM material estimate with a resin volume estimate using manually entered rates.
Open 3D Printing Cost CalculatorWhat This Example Shows
This example compares only the material line for two different printing processes. FDM uses filament weight in grams and price per kilogram; resin uses liquid volume in milliliters and price per liter plus a waste allowance.
A resin part can have higher cleanup labor and consumable cost even when the material difference looks small. Treat the comparison as a first pass, then add print time, post-processing, failure allowance, and markup in the quote generator when the process choice affects the customer price.
Inputs
| FDM material | $24/kg, 100 g |
|---|---|
| Resin material | $36/L, 80 ml |
| Resin waste | 15% |
Outputs
| FDM material cost | $2.40 |
|---|---|
| Resin cost including waste | $3.31 |
| Difference | $0.91 |
Formula Explanation
FDM = 24 / 1000 × 100. Resin = 36 / 1000 × 80 × 1.15.
Use This Example When
- You need a material-only comparison before choosing FDM or resin for the same job.
- You want to explain why resin volume and filament weight should not use the same unit math.
- You are screening whether process choice changes the quote enough to matter.
Before You Use the Number
- Do not treat this as a full FDM-vs-resin profitability comparison.
- Add supports, washing, curing, cleanup labor, and failed batch risk before quoting resin production.
Assumptions
- This compares material only.
- Labor, cleanup, curing, failure risk, and machine depreciation are separate shop assumptions.
FAQ
Does this example use live prices?
No. The example uses fixed sample inputs. Replace them with your own rates.
Can I run the calculator with my own values?
Yes. Open the 3D Printing Cost Calculator and enter your own assumptions.