standard shop math · every formula shown · nothing uploaded
Fabrication costs, computed honestly
Machine-hour rates, cycle times, setup amortization and failure allowances — the math behind real fabrication quotes, with every formula shown. Start with the 3D printing calculator below or pick from the shelf.
g
From the slicer
h
$/h
%
5–25 honest band
$
Supports, sanding, pack
%
50–150
True cost
$25.46
with failures priced in
Charge this
$50.92
cost × (1+100%)
Machine line
$18
9 h × $2/h — the big one
Material (120 g PLA)$2.40
Machine (9 h @ $2/h)$18.00
Failure allowance (15%)$3.06
Finishing$2.00
True cost → price$25.46 → $50.92
Charging "filament × 2" on a 9-hour print donates $16 of machine time to the customer. The machine line is the product — price it.
Cost = material + machine + failure allowance + finishing. Machine rates: hobby FDM $1–3/h, pro $5–10/h, resin $3–6/h. Electricity is ~$0.06/h — noise.
All 8 cost calculators
From spool to mold: every calculator shows the cost stack — material, machine, setup, amortization — line by line.
Printing & Cutting Calculators
View category →Machining & Forming Calculators
View category →Feeds and Speeds Calculator
Material and tool in — get RPM, feed rate, chipload and MRR from the classic SFM formula, with carbure notes.
CNC Machining Cost Calculator
Cycle time, shop rate, setup and stock in — get the per-part cost at your batch size, tooling included.
Injection Molding Cost Calculator
Part weight, cycle time, cavities and mold cost in — get the per-piece price split into resin, machine and mold amortization.
Welding Cost Calculator
Weld length, travel speed and shop rate in — get arc time, labor, consumables and the price for the run.
Sheet Metal Bending Calculator
Bend count and press rate in — get the forming cost per part, with setup amortized across the batch.
Sheet Metal Cost Calculator
Blank size, gauge and alloy in — get the material weight and cost per part, waste factor included.
Guides
3D Printing Cost Guide
What a 3D print really costs: material, machine time, failures and your evenings — with worked examples.
CNC Machining Price Guide
Shop rates, setup math, stock reality — how CNC quotes are built and how to read one.
Injection Molding Cost Guide
Mold costs, cycle economics, cavity counts — when injection molding beats every other process.
Laser Cutting Cost Guide
Machine rates, cut speeds by material, material yield — how laser quotes come together.
Sheet Metal Bending Basics
K-factor, bend allowance, springback and minimum flanges — the forming rules that decide cost.
Welding Cost Guide
Arc time, deposition, consumables and setup — how welding jobs are priced and why quotes vary 3×.
What this site does — and what it does not
It does
- Run standard shop math — machine-hour rates, SFM formulas, setup amortization, mold life splits — and show every line.
- Price the lines people forget: failure allowances, finishing labor, tooling wear, sheet yield.
- Keep every calculation in your browser; nothing you type is stored or sent.
It does not
- Replace quotes from the shop that runs the job — their machines, backlog and tolerance reality set the final number.
- Model exotic setups: 5-axis simultaneous, multi-slide molding, aerospace-certified everything.
- Guarantee prices — material markets move; re-run the math before big commitments.