Frequently asked questions
Get your inputs right and understand what the results include.
Is 3D PrintMargin free?
Yes. The calculator and guides are available without a separate 3D PrintMargin account. Access to this preview may be controlled by the hosting service.
Should I enter one item or the whole batch?
Enter the weight, print time and hands-on labour for the whole batch. Then enter the number of items. Packaging and fixed selling fees are per item.
Does filament weight include supports and purge?
Use the full material consumed when available. If the slicer already includes supports and purge, do not add them again through the waste percentage.
What is the difference between margin and markup?
Margin is profit divided by selling price. Markup is profit divided by cost. The target in this calculator is margin after the costs and fees you entered.
Why is the failure allowance more than the failure percentage?
The calculator divides production costs by the expected success rate. A 10% full-batch failure rate increases those costs by 1 รท 0.90, or about 11.11%.
Does the failure reserve include extra labour?
No. It covers material, electricity and machine time. Add expected restart and cleanup labour to the batch labour input yourself.
Does selecting CAD or USD convert costs?
No. The selector changes currency labels and formatting only. Enter every cost in the same currency.
Are marketplace fees updated automatically?
No. Enter your own current percentage and fixed fees. The model applies the percentage to item price; separately charged shipping and taxes are not modelled.
How is profit per printer-hour calculated?
Profit per item is multiplied by batch quantity, then divided by batch time adjusted for the full failed-batch rate. It excludes idle time and unsold inventory.
Does the calculator include taxes?
It does not calculate income or sales tax. Profit is before income tax and expenses you have not entered.
Are my inputs saved or uploaded?
The calculator runs in your browser. This version does not send calculator inputs to a 3D PrintMargin database or save them between visits. Hosting and access services may process connection or sign-in data.
Why is there no result?
Check for missing or negative inputs, a non-whole batch quantity, a failure rate of 100% or more, or combined percentage fees and margin of 100% or more.