Creating a new SLM material will present several options for you to combine with your machine pricing structure and create your final SLM pricing. You can decide to use as many or as few of these options as you wish. Digifabster will analyze the geometry of a part and use the chosen calculations to formulate a final cost.

The following walkthrough details each option to help you decide how to create your pricing structure for SLM Printing.

This is the machine that you will be assigning this new material to. If you would like to change the selected machine, use the drop-down menu and select the correct one.

Here you can select from a pre-set material name or add your own by typing in the box and clicking "create new material". This name could be the material name, type, or even an internal ID number.

Choose to use the Price Matching Tool or to manually set up your pricing.

This is the name that is displayed on the widget, for example, 'ABS' or 'Hard Tough Plastic'

This can hold additional information to help your customer make a decision. For example, "Strong plastic with UV resistance for outdoor use."

This will link your customers to the spec sheet for the material. This could be a URL to the document on your site or the material manufacturer's site.

This allows you to tag the materials to help identify them more easily.

This cost is applied only once per material per order. It is intended to cover the cost of, for example, loading the material in the machine.

The programming cost is applied to each model in this material. It is intended to account for the programming of the print.

Example Calculation

Ticking this box will apply the programming cost for every batch of parts.

Example Calculation

Your customer uploads one model but asks for 100 copies of this part. Your machine can only print 25 copies at one time. (4 Batches/Print Runs are required)

Without the box ticked the programming cost will only be applied once for the full qty of parts.

1 x $15 = Total Programming cost $15

With the box ticked, the programming cost is applied to every "batch" or "print run" to account for the time required to start the machine, etc.

4 x $15 = Total Programming Cost $60

This price is calculated for the batch of parts in the order. This parameter is used to spread the costs across the total qty and create a price reduction as qty increases.

Example Calculation

A 1kg roll of filament cost $19.99. The cost per gram = $0.0199.

A customer uploads a model that weighs 300 grams and requests 10 copies of this part. You consider all copies of the same part as 1 "batch" of parts.

300 x 0.0199 = $5.97

5.97 * 1 = $5.97

Price per part = ~$0.60

This allows you to apply the material costs for each print which is not required for the same model.

Example Calculation

You can fit 5 parts in one print run (batch). To complete the order you need two print runs (2 batches)

A customer uploads a model that weighs 300 grams and requests 10 copies of this part.

300 x 0.0199 = $5.97

5.97 * 2 = $11.94

Price per part = ~$1.20

You may need to order in some materials specially, to account for this you can add additional time onto the lead time by adding an 'Expected Production Time' This is to account for the ordering, delivery, and prep of this material.

If you have a standard lead time of 10 days set for your SLM machine then set an additional 3 days to the expected production days. These will be added together to give a total of 13 days for the lead time.

The price of your model per cm3. This price could include machine, energy, consumable costs as well as labor and material costs.

The cost for the support material is worked out in the Support material settings below

Adjustments can be made depending on how quickly you can print certain materials based on the figures you input in the machine settings. By setting the print speed multiplier to 80%. The overall print time will be calculated longer than at 100%. This can be used for materials that need to be run at a slower speed or can be run faster than your standard/typical speed.

Example calculation

In machine settings, you set the horizontal print speed to 100mm/s in the material settings you set the Print speed multiplier to 90%. A customer uploads a part that requires 100,000mm of filament.

At 100mm/s with a speed multiplier of 100%. Print time = ~16.6 minutes

At 100mm/s with a speed multiplier of 90%. Print time = ~18.5 minutes

This is the density of this specific material. this figure is used to calculate the weight of material required.

This price per gram is calculated for every part and added to the total cost. This can be used to ensure you are accounting for the material costs and make small adjustments in the event material prices change.

Example Calculation

A 1kg roll of filament cost $19.99. The cost per gram = $0.0199.

A customer uploads a model that weighs 300 grams and requests 10 copies of this part.

300 x 0.0199 = $5.97

$5.97 * 10 = $59.70

The minimum cost you are happy to charge per part. This is only used if the manufacturing price of the part is below this threshold. It is then multiplied by the number of parts.

This is the thinnest that you can print a wall. During the analysis of the part, DigiFabster checks wall thickness to see if a wall falls below this amount. It will then be highlighted to your customer that it could be a problem.

Base this figure on how densely you create supports.

Find a detailed explanation of Volume discount exponents here

Make models with a larger volume more or less expensive than they would otherwise be by using this parameter.

Example Calculations

The price per cm3 is set to $1

Model 1 has a volume of 1cm3

Model 2 has a volume of 2cm3

The model volume exponent is set to 0.9

Price for model 1 = $1

Price for model 2 = $1.87

Make models with a larger bounding box volume more or less expensive than they would otherwise be using this parameter.

Example Calculations

The price of volume, bounding box, per cm3 is set to $1

Model 1 has a bounding box volume of 1cm3

Model 2 has a bounding box volume of 2cm3

The bounding box volume exponent is set to 0.9

Price for model 1 = $1

Price for model 2 = $1.87

This section allows you to add options for your customers to choose different layer thicknesses for their parts. This can make parts more or less expensive by combining the layer thickness with print time and price per hour.

The thickness of the layers for this option. This measurement is in microns (µm)

Example

100µm = 0.1mm

50µm = 0.05mm

This is the name displayed on the widget. This could be the actual layer thickness or a name your shop has given that layer thickness, for example, High Resolution, Standard, or Draft.

The note can help your customer decide on which layer thickness to choose, for example, "Great for highly detailed models" or "Perfect for engineering prototypes"

This determines where the layer thickness is placed in the list if multiple options are added. 1 at the top of the list, 2 next, and so on.

You can add additional layer thicknesses by clicking the 'Add More' button

This section allows you to add options for your customers to choose different infill amounts for their parts. This can make parts more or less expensive by combining the filling selection with print time and price per hour.

The infill rate for this option.

Example

100% = A solid model

50% = 50% filled

This is the name displayed on the widget. This could be the actual filling percentage or a name your shop has given that option, for example, Solid, Standard, or Draft.

The note can help your customer decide on which filling option to choose, for example, "Great for draft prototypes" or "Perfect for the production-ready part"

This determines where the filling option is placed in the list if multiple options are added. 1 at the top of the list, 2 next, and so on.

You can add additional filling options by clicking the 'Add More' button

You can offer multiple color options of the same material on the widget using the same pricing structure.

Note: If you want to have different pricing for different color options, create a new material and set up a new pricing structure.

Select a color from the drop-down or create your own by typing the name and picking the color from the color picker.

This section lets you add the post-production options your shop offers for this material These can be controlled with the icons to the right of the post-production type. You can duplicate, delete, and turn the option on/off. Clicking the drop-down arrow will show the parameters for the selected post process.

The title of the post-production. This can be the internal name of the process or the name for your customers. This will be used if the 'name for user' section is not completed.

The price for the post process can be charged based on a number of options.

The setup cost is applied once for all copies of the same model. This is intended to cover costs like purchasing specific materials, cleaning down work areas, etc.

If the calculation returns a price less than the minimum price. This figure will be quoted to your customer. This ensures you are not undercharging for your work due to small parts.

This allows you to create logical groups of post processes. For example, different types of 'Surface Finishes'. Assign each option to the same 'grouping title' to see them grouped.

When using this, the order will trigger a manual review request. You can then review the order and the post-process request before accepting it. Great for making sure you can complete the order as requested.

This adds a number count option for your customers to assign

The expected production days are added to the lead time to give a total lead time during the order process. The expected production days are the additional days required to complete the post-process.

he name that is used on the widget for this post process. If this option is not completed, the 'Title' will be used.

Add additional details about the post process in this section. For example, details about the surface finish or the effect the post process has on the part.

This determines where the post-process option is placed in the list if multiple options are added. 1 at the top of the list, 2 next, and so on.

Add additional post-production options, different from the premade selection.

This section allows you to add additional questions or information for both you and your customer by creating a group of options. For example "Print all parts in the same orientation?" with options for your customers "Yes, No, Don't Mind"

These can be controlled with the icons to the right of the post-production type. You can duplicate, delete, and turn the option on/off. Clicking the drop-down arrow will show the parameters for the selected post process.

This is the chosen title of your group of options. This could also be the question or statement you wish to make. ("Print parts in the same orientation")

This determines where the group is placed in the list if multiple options are added. 1 at the top of the list, 2 next, and so on.

Click this to create your first option.

The first option in your group of options ("Yes"). Adding additional options will create sequentially numbered options.

This allows you to add additional groups to gather more information from your customers during the order process.