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Print Cost 3D Manual English

Our app, LayerCraft Studio – Print Cost 3D, is a comprehensive cost calculator for 3D-printed models.

We are the first to support multi-color printing!

You manage your own master data and use it to calculate the production cost of a print project—including materials, electricity, labor, depreciation/wear and tear, and a markup for failed prints.

From us to you—completely free of charge.

LayerCraft Studio Print Cost 3D Manual

Print Cost 3D is a cost calculator for 3D printing projects.
The application calculates the estimated cost of a print based on printer depreciation, electricity costs, filament costs, labor time, prorated design time, and a misprint surcharge.

1. Fundamental Principle of Data Storage
2. Navigation
3. Enter times and duration
4. Manage 3D Printers
5. Manage Filaments
6. Manage Models
7. Manage Hourly Rates
8. Manage Electricity Prices
9. Calculate costs
10. Total Commitment

11. Calculation Formulas
12. Settings
13. Exporting and Importing Data
14. Plugin Admin Area
15. Notes on Data Quality
16. Troubleshooting
17. Limitations of the Current Version
18. Disclaimer

The visitor’s data is stored in the local browser storage. This means:

  • The data remains on the same device and within the same browser.
  • Other visitors cannot view this data.
  • No login is required.
  • Deleting the browser storage results in the loss of the local data.
  • Via the Data section, local data can be exported as a JSON file and subsequently re-imported.

Admin presets are provided as a system library.
They are not automatically copied into the visitor’s local data. Visitors can adopt suitable printers, filaments, hourly rates, and electricity prices from the library into their own local data.

Time fields such as Print Time, Preparation, Post-processing, and Total Design Time open a dedicated time modal.

The modal features:

  • an outer ring for hours,
  • an inner ring for minutes (in 5-minute increments),
  • direct input fields for hours and minutes,
  • Apply to save the time,
  • Cancel to close without making changes.

For long print times—for example, 36:15—the direct input fields should be used.
The rings are designed for quick input on mobile devices.

In the Printers section, printers can be created, edited, and deleted.

Fields:

  • Printer Manufacturer: The manufacturer of the printer. Admin-defined defaults are suggested, but custom entries are also possible.
  • Designation: The model name or internal designation of the printer.
  • Purchase Price: The purchase price of the printer in EUR.
  • Lifespan (Hours): The expected usable printing hours.
  • Approx. Power Consumption (kW): The average power consumption during printing.
  • Number of Colors: The number of colors that can be used simultaneously.
  • Multicolor: Enable this option if the printer supports multicolor printing.

The printer values ​​are used for depreciation calculations and electricity cost estimates.

The Printer Library appears below your list of personal printers, provided that the administrator has maintained a set of default printer profiles. The library is collapsed by default. However, the search field remains visible and allows you to filter by manufacturer and model; when a search is performed, the list of results automatically expands.

Clicking Add from Library imports a system-defined printer profile as a local copy. This copy can then be edited and remains unchanged, even if the administrator updates the original system default at a later time.

Clicking on the image or on Details opens a detail window displaying the product image, technical specifications, a link to an online store, and other information. If a product image is missing, the Print-Cost-3D logo is displayed as a placeholder.

In the Filaments section, filaments can be created, edited, and deleted.

Fields:

  • Filament Manufacturer: The manufacturer of the filament. Admin-defined defaults are suggested, but custom entries are also possible.
  • Material: For example, PLA, PETG, ABS, ASA, or TPU.
  • Color Name: A freely selectable name for the color.
  • Color: A color picker serving as a visual aid.
  • Effects: For example, Standard, Wood, Metal, Glow in the Dark, Transparent, or Multicolor. Multiple effects can be selected—for instance, Glow in the Dark & ​​Transparent—or entered as a comma-separated list.
  • Finish: For example, Matte or Glossy.
  • Price / kg: The price per kilogram of filament in EUR.

Filament costs are calculated based on the consumption in grams and the price per kilogram.
The Filament Library appears below your personal filament list, provided that the administrator has configured filament defaults.
The library is collapsed by default.
However, the search field remains visible and allows you to filter by manufacturer, material, color name, effects, and finish; when a search is performed, the list of results automatically expands.

Clicking Add from Library imports a system filament as a local copy, which can then be customized.

Clicking on the image or Details opens a detail window displaying the product image, filament specifications, a link to the online store, and other information.
If a product image is missing, the Print-Cost-3D logo is displayed as a placeholder.

The Models section allows you to save reusable print models.

Fields:

  • Model Name: The name of the saved model.
  • Print Time: The actual printing duration.
  • Preparation: Work time required before printing.
  • Post-processing: Work time required after printing.
  • Total Design Time: The total time spent on design or modeling.
  • Expected Sales: The number of planned sales or uses across which the design time is distributed.
  • Multicolor Model: Enable this option if the model utilizes multiple colors or filaments.
  • Filaments: The filaments used and their consumption in grams.

The design time is calculated on a proportional basis:
Design Time per Unit = Total Design Time / Expected Sales

Example: 10 hours of design time and 20 expected sales result in 0.5 hours of design time per calculated print.

Work costs can be configured in the Hourly Rates section.

Fields:

  • Name: The designation for the hourly rate (e.g., Standard, Employee, or Activity).
  • Rate / Hour: The cost per hour in EUR.

A saved hourly rate can be selected within the calculator. The value can subsequently be manually overwritten.

The Hourly Rate Library appears below your custom hourly rates, provided that the administrator has configured standard values. Library values ​​become selectable in the calculator only after they have been added to your local hourly rates.

Clicking on the image or on Details opens a detail window displaying the image and hourly rate data. If an image is missing, the Print-Cost-3D logo is displayed as a placeholder.

In the Electricity section, electricity tariffs can be stored.

Fields:

  • Tariff Name: The name of the electricity tariff.
  • Electricity Price / kWh: The price per kilowatt-hour in EUR.

Within the calculator, a saved electricity price can be selected. This value can subsequently be manually overwritten.

The Electricity Price Library appears below your custom electricity prices, provided that the administrator has maintained standard values. Library values ​​become selectable within the calculator only after they have been added to your local electricity prices.

Clicking on the image or on Details opens a detail window displaying the image, tariff data, tariff description, and an optional supplier link. If an image is missing, the Print-Cost-3D logo is displayed as a placeholder.

In the Calculator section, the cost of a print is calculated.

Typical workflow:

  1. Optionally select a saved model.
  2. Select a printer.
  3. Review or enter the print time, preparation time, post-processing time, and design time.
  4. Enter the number of expected sales.
  5. Select an hourly rate or enter it manually.
  6. Select an electricity rate or enter it manually.
  7. Enter the misprint rate as a percentage, or leave it blank.
  8. Specify the filaments used and the consumption in grams.
  9. Click Calculate.

The results display:

  • Depreciation,
  • Electricity costs,
  • Filament costs,
  • Labor costs,
  • Misprint surcharge,
  • Total costs.

Total Costs = Your Total Investment

The total cost figure shows you what a single print actually costs you.

It takes into account all specified factors—such as materials, electricity consumption, machine depreciation, labor time, and potential failed prints.

This figure is not a selling price, but rather represents your own actual cost or investment per product.
If you intend to sell the print, you should add an appropriate profit margin.
Only by doing so can you establish a sensible selling price that allows you to generate a profit.

Example:
If your total cost is €8.50 and you wish to achieve a 30% profit, your selling price should be set correspondingly higher.
Following the example: €8.50 * 1.3 = €11.05

€11.05 would be your selling price, allowing you to make a 30% profit.

Cost Calculation
The calculation takes into account all relevant costs incurred during the production of a print. This provides you with a realistic overview of your actual outlay per product.

Depreciation
Depreciation distributes the printer’s purchase price over its expected lifespan, using this figure to calculate the proportional cost attributable to the current print.

(Purchase Price / Lifespan in Hours) * Print Time
Electricity Costs

Electricity costs are derived from the printer’s energy consumption during the print time, combined with the specified electricity rate per kWh.

Power Consumption (kW) * Print Time * Electricity Rate per kWh
Filament Costs

Material costs are calculated based on the specific filament used and the actual consumption in grams.

(Consumption in Grams * Price per kg) / 1000
Labor Costs

This category accounts for all manual activities—such as preparation, post-processing, and a proportional share of design or modeling time.

(Preparation + Post-processing + Proportional Design Time) * Hourly Rate
Print Failure Surcharge

Optionally, a print failure rate can be specified. This incorporates a realistic safety margin to account for scrap or failed prints.

Subtotal * (Print Failure Rate / 100)
Total Costs

The total costs comprise all the line items calculated above.

Depreciation + Electricity Costs + Filament Costs + Labor Costs + Print Failure Surcharge
Total Costs = Your Total Outlay

The displayed total costs represent your actual internal outlay for producing the product.
In other words, this figure shows what a print truly costs you—including materials, electricity, machine wear, labor time, and potential print failures.

The total costs do not automatically constitute your selling price.
If you intend to sell the product, you should add an appropriate profit margin to this figure. Only by doing so can you establish an economically viable selling price.

In the Settings section, visitors can configure local UI preferences.

Available options:

  • Primary Color: Sets the main color scheme for the calculator within the user’s browser.
  • Secondary colors are automatically derived from the primary color.
  • Reset Color: Restores the default color scheme.
  • Language: Switches between German and English.

These settings apply locally to the specific browser being used.

In the Data section, your local computer data can be backed up.

Export:

  1. Click Export Data.
  2. Save the JSON file.
  3. With default settings, you will find the file in your Downloads folder.

Import:

  1. Click Select JSON File.
  2. Select a previously exported file.
  3. The data will be loaded and saved locally.

Plugin Admin Area

For Administrators Only

The LCS Print Cost 3D plugin is available as a WordPress plugin and extends WordPress by adding a centralized management interface for print costs, libraries, and default settings related to 3D printing. The menu item appears within the WordPress admin area, nested among other LCS admin menus—for instance, near „LCS Custom CSS.“

At the top of the admin page, a shortcode is displayed directly as a quick-start guide, allowing the calculator to be integrated into pages or posts with ease.

In the WordPress Plugins overview, LCS Print Cost 3D is linked to the project page at https://layercraftstudio.de/layercraft-studio/vibe-coding/3d-print-cost/. „LayerCraft Studio“ is listed as the author and linked to https://layercraftstudio.de.

Within the plugin, administrators can manage extensive default settings and libraries. These include, among other things, printer defaults, filament defaults, printer manufacturers, filament manufacturers, materials, effects, surface finishes, hourly rates, and electricity prices. Additionally, each administrator can configure their own personal interface appearance, including a custom color scheme and a light/dark mode.

All configured default settings are automatically made available to visitors as a library. Users can create their own local copies from this library and customize them individually. If the administrator’s default settings are subsequently modified or expanded, these changes will automatically appear in the library without altering any local copies that visitors have already adopted.

Interface display settings are stored on a per-user basis within WordPress. Consequently, the selected color scheme and light/dark mode apply exclusively to the specific admin interface of the currently logged-in administrator.

In the management forms, manufacturers and other managed values ​​can either be selected directly from existing suggestions or entered manually. These suggestions are populated from the lists maintained within the admin area.

For printer and filament defaults, administrators can additionally upload product images from the WordPress Media Library, add links to online shops, and include freely scalable long-form text descriptions. Hourly rate defaults also support the inclusion of optional images. Furthermore, electricity price defaults can be enriched with images, supplier links, and tariff descriptions. This additional information appears both in the library and within the respective detail views.

All default sections within the administration area are designed to be collapsible. When collapsed, only the section header remains visible. Upon opening, the search bar, data table, and pagination controls appear. The page size can be flexibly adjusted to display 10, 25, or 50 entries.

Entries are managed directly via the table view. Clicking „Edit“ opens a modal window; „Duplicate“ creates a copy of the entry; and „Delete“ removes the entry following confirmation. New entries are created—also within a modal window—by clicking the plus button located in the respective section header.

The editing dialogs for printer, filament, hourly rate, and electricity price entries share a consistent layout. Basic data is displayed in the upper section, while optional fields for media, links, and descriptions are included depending on the specific entry type.

Unsaved changes within the admin area are automatically cached locally in the browser. If the page is accidentally reloaded or navigated away from, the browser issues a warning regarding potential data loss. Upon reopening the page, any existing admin draft can be restored. Changes are permanently saved to WordPress only after clicking the „Save“ button.

To ensure meaningful results, the following values ​​should be entered realistically:

  • Printer price and lifespan,
  • Average power consumption,
  • Current electricity price,
  • Correct filament price per kg,
  • Actual filament consumption,
  • Realistic operating hours,
  • Realistic expected sales for amortizing design time.

If values ​​are missing or set to 0, the corresponding cost components may remain at 0.

Model appears without a name:

  • The model was likely saved without a name.
  • A fallback name—such as Model 02:30—will be displayed in the selection list.
  • Edit the model and assign a name.

Inputs have disappeared:

  • Check if your browser’s local storage has been cleared.
  • Check if you are using a private browsing window.
  • If available, import an exported JSON backup.

Dropdown text is difficult to read:

  • Reload the page to ensure the latest plugin styles are loaded.
  • Clear your browser cache if outdated CSS files are being served.

Import failed:

  • Only import JSON files that were originally exported from Print Cost 3D.
  • Do not use JSON files that have been manually corrupted.

Data is currently stored locally in the browser, not yet in a cloud account.

Google Drive synchronization is planned for a future version.

Selling prices, margins, taxes, shipping, and platform fees are not yet included in the calculations.

Print Cost 3D provides a technical cost estimation tool. The calculated values ​​are estimates based on data entered by the user or administrator. No warranty is provided regarding the completeness, accuracy, currency, or economic suitability of the results.

Users utilize the calculated values ​​at their own risk. Prior to making business decisions, issuing price quotes, conducting tax assessments, or performing binding cost calculations, users should independently verify the results and, where necessary, supplement them with expert advice.

LayerCraft Studio—the website operator, developer, and provider of the plugin—shall not be held liable for any damages, losses, lost profits, erroneous price calculations, or other disadvantages arising from the use, unavailability, or malfunction of the calculator, except insofar as such liability is mandatorily prescribed by law.

The plugin does not constitute a substitute for business, tax, legal, or technical advice. Users are solely responsible for utilizing appropriate input values, current pricing data, accurate consumption figures, and suitable safety margins.