The production batch
A build plate yields four sellable multicolor parts. The slicer reports 420 grams total, including model material, supports, flushing, and the purge tower. The blended material cost is represented by a $24.99 kilogram spool rate. The batch takes 20 hours with an average draw of 135 watts.
The printer cost $999 and is allocated across 6,000 useful production hours. Maintenance is $0.12 per printer hour. Setup, filament loading, part removal, cleanup, and packing require 1 hour 15 minutes at $24 per hour. Packaging is $1.25 per finished unit, with another $2.00 of batch supplies.
| Cost layer | Batch input | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Material | 420 g at $24.99/kg | $10.50 |
| Electricity | 0.135 kW × 20 h × $0.17 | $0.46 |
| Machine wear | $999 ÷ 6,000 h × 20 h | $3.33 |
| Maintenance | $0.12 × 20 h | $2.40 |
| Hands-on labor | 1.25 h × $24 | $30.00 |
| Packaging | 4 × $1.25 | $5.00 |
| Other batch supplies | Entered directly | $2.00 |
| Base production cost | Sum before risk | $53.68 |
Model the less predictable job
The shop uses a 12% failure rate for this multicolor process. The failure reserve is $53.6848 multiplied by 0.12 divided by 0.88, or about $7.32. Expected production cost becomes about $61.01 for the batch.
This reserve applies to the full production cost rather than material alone. A failed multicolor job can consume machine time, electricity, wear, setup effort, and more purge material. If the shop’s actual retry record improves, the rate should be updated.
Calculate the four selling prices
For illustration, the sale uses an 8% percentage fee and a $0.25 fixed fee per unit. The shop wants a 35% margin. With four units, fixed fees total $1.00. Required batch revenue before practical rounding is about $108.78, or $27.20 per part. LayerMargin rounds upward to $27.50 each.
($61.0055 + $1.00) ÷ (1 − 0.08 − 0.35) = $108.78Why batch quantity matters
The plate shares setup and machine time across four items, while packaging and the example fixed fee apply to every unit. Treating the batch as one sellable item would undercount those per-unit costs. Treating each part as a completely separate 20-hour job would overcount shared production costs. The calculator keeps those layers distinct.
Improve this estimate with real data
If different colors have different prices, calculate their exact individual material costs and use a weighted blend or other batch-cost adjustment. Replace the example selling fee with your current channel statement. After production, record actual labor, consumption, failures, and sellable yield. Multicolor pricing becomes reliable when purge behavior and retry history are measured instead of assumed.