3D Printer Buy vs. Outsource Calculator
FinanceCompare the cost of buying a 3D printer and printing your own models versus outsourcing to a printing service.
Cheaper Option
Which option is cheaper for this batch of models.
Total Cost If Buying a Printer
$226.80
Total Cost If Outsourcing
$175.00
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Odeh Ahwal0people find this calculator helpful
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Creators
Odeh Ahwal0people find this calculator helpful
Views
Helpful
Saved
Embeds
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Frequently Asked Questions
How is the buy-vs-outsource cost calculated?
Buying cost = Printer Price + Filament Cost + Electricity Cost, all for the given number of models. Outsourcing cost = (Price per Model x Number of Models) + Shipping. Whichever total is lower is the more economical choice for that batch size.
When does buying a printer become worth it?
Since the printer price is a fixed one-time cost, buying becomes relatively cheaper as the number of models increases -- there's a break-even quantity above which owning a printer costs less per model than outsourcing.
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