Print cost calculator for Bambu Lab A1, Prusa MK4 and similar
The newer generation of bed slingers — Bambu Lab A1, Prusa MK4S, Creality Ender 3 V3 and similar — combine input shaping, high-flow hotends and automatic calibration. They print two to three times faster than an original Ender 3 while drawing similar power.
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- Size (X × Y × Z)
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- Volume
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- Surface area
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- Triangles
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- Mesh check
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- Build volume
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Cost estimate
| Cost | How | Amount | Share |
|---|
Printer, time & electricity
Labor, failures & markup
Running cost at a glance
| Examples | Bambu Lab A1, Prusa MK4S, Creality Ender 3 V3 |
|---|---|
| Average power | ≈ 100 W (0.10 kWh per hour) |
| Electricity per hour | $0.02 at $0.18/kWh · $0.03 at $0.35/kWh |
| Machine wear | $0.20 per hour |
| Typical build volume | 250 × 210 × 220 mm |
| Speed assumption | 10 mm³/s average flow (45 g of PLA per hour) |
Example prints on a fast bed slinger
PLA, 15% infill, 1.2 mm walls, 5% waste, $20.00/kg, $0.18/kWh and a 10% failure buffer:
| Model | Weight | Time | Electricity | Machine | Total cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 mm calibration cube | 4.7 g | 12 min | $0.00 | $0.04 | $0.15 |
| 50 mm sphere | 23.2 g | 37 min | $0.01 | $0.12 | $0.66 |
| 70 mm twisted planter (sample) | 52.7 g | 1 h 17 min | $0.02 | $0.26 | $1.47 |
| 50 mm ring (torus) | 7.2 g | 16 min | $0.00 | $0.05 | $0.22 |
| 100 × 100 × 3 mm plate | 34.0 g | 52 min | $0.02 | $0.17 | $0.95 |
Measured averages for these machines are around 80–120 W while printing PLA; the calculator uses 100 W. Because they finish jobs faster, the electricity cost per part drops even though the power draw is similar — a typical 50 g PLA part costs well under 2 cents in electricity.
Average throughput is around 10 mm³/s in real prints. That is far below the hotend’s peak flow, because outer walls, small layers, travel moves and cooling pauses all slow the average down. If you have sliced the model already, paste the slicer’s time for the most accurate quote.
Multi-material units such as the AMS Lite purge filament at every color change. That waste is not part of the STL, so add it to the "supports & waste" percentage — multicolor prints can easily waste as much plastic as the model itself.
Learn more in how much electricity a 3D printer uses and how to calculate 3D printing cost.
FAQ
How much electricity does a fast bed slinger use?
About 100 W on average while printing (80–120 W depending on model and settings), or 0.10 kWh per hour — about $0.02 per hour at $0.18 per kWh.
What does it cost per hour to run a fast bed slinger?
About $0.22 per hour: $0.02 of electricity plus $0.20 of machine wear and depreciation, before material and labor.
What size parts fit on a fast bed slinger?
Typical build volumes are around 250 × 210 × 220 mm. The calculator warns you when a model is too big and shows the largest scale that fits.