Metrics & reporting
What is cost per part?
Cost per part is the fully loaded cost of producing one finished 3D printed component, including material, machine time, failed attempts, and the labour required to start and clear the job.
Also known as: unit cost, part cost
The components people forget
Material and print time are the easy parts. The ones that get left out are usually larger:
- Failed attempts. If 1 in 10 parts fails, every good part carries roughly 11% more material and machine time than the nominal figure.
- Labour. Starting a job, clearing a plate, and post-processing are real minutes at a real rate.
- Depreciation and maintenance. A printer has a finite service life and consumables beyond filament.
- Idle capacity. Time a machine sits available but unused is a cost the produced parts have to carry.
Why it decides make-vs-buy
Cost per part helps an operation decide whether to print in-house or outsource. Counting only filament makes in-house printing look cheaper than it will be once labour, failure, maintenance, and idle capacity are included.