2023-10-02 19:21:27
The costs charged by 3D printing service agencies show a wide bandwidth. For TPU and PA12 the prices can differ by a factor of 10 to 15 for an order of 100 pieces. With ABS (via FFF) the price variation is even greater: up to 80 times. These are some of the conclusions in the new AMPower Insights regarding cost price per 3D printed part. Striking conclusion for metal printing: since 2017, the costs per kilogram of workpiece printed in 316L have been halved.
The German consultancy firm AMPower recently developed its own cost price calculator for 3D printing. A special edition of AMPower Insights is now being released that takes a closer look at the cost of 3D printing with different materials. The costs of in-house 3D printing and outsourcing to an external party are also compared, for both metals and plastics. For the study, approximately 100 real designs were analyzed in terms of their cost.
AMPower expects that the cost per 3D printed part will drop even further
Service agencies still take risks with instant pricing
An interesting comment from the consultants is that many 3D printing service agencies that offer metal on their platform still work with instant pricing modules. The AMPower consultants find this strange because the risks of a failed print for a 3D printing service agency are much higher if the design is not thoroughly studied first. The design has a strong influence on the printability of the part.
Large spread in price hedges risk
In the price comparison for metal (outsourced to a service agency), AMPower notes that the kilo price for 3D printing with 316L has almost halved in six years. From €750 per kilogram in 2017 to the current average of €500 per kilogram with peaks of up to €160 per kilogram of 316L. For aluminum, the price range discovered on more than 40 online platforms varies from €370 to €3700 per kilogram. The large spread in prices is intended to cover the risks for service agencies. AMPower attributes the price decreases to increased competition and the large availability of laser powder bed capacity for 316L. In addition, the consultants point out the easier access to suppliers in China.
Titanium cost doubled
The figures for titanium are very different. Despite almost continuous price drops for the powder since 2017, the prices paid by customers have almost doubled. This has everything to do with the risks of titanium 3D printing. These costs include material, depreciation of the machine, consumables, manpower, depowdering and margins.
In-house costs for 3D printing
With in-house aluminum 3D printing, costs start around € 298 per kilogram; for 316L around € 165 per kilogram. AMPower points out that price is not the decisive factor in the make-or-buy decision. IP protection and quality assurance are also important factors. These are arguments for producing high-quality complex parts in-house or working closely with a supplier.
Further price drops expected
AMPower expects prices per kilogram to fall further. This will double the market for 3D metal printing. The lower one cost per part will be due to the rise of binder jetting, the market introduction of Seurat Technologies’ Area printing and the possible breakthrough of Vulcanforms, which claims to be able to 3D print with 1,000 lasers of 1 each. The consultants also see developments on the polymer side at existing 3D printer manufacturers that might significantly reduce the cost price per printed part.
Here you can download the entire report. This also contains an explanation of how the calculations were made.
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