ROI Calculator software to assess costs of purchasing a 3D Printer to your business

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Companies planning to purchase a 3D printer to boost parts production may want to give the new Formlabs ROI calculator a go-to determine long-term costs. When it comes to acquiring a 3D printer for your business, it pays to consider the return of investment (ROI). However, calculating whether the purchase makes sense economically can be a hard task.

Formlabs, the US Additive Manufacturing technology developer and manufacturer, has launched a tool that calculate ROI. It’s a simple yet effective interactive tool that allows calculate the cost per part and lead time.

Companies can compare time and cost savings of different methods of production.

 Assessment of the 3D printer purchase

  1. Businesses should decide if outsourcing of production services compared to in-house manufacture is a more viable option. For companies that only occasionally require AM to produce parts, outsourcing can be more economical. As demand grows, a company may be better off acquiring a desktop 3D printer. Moreover, the installation of multiple machines may be enhance manufacturing flexibility and productivity.
  2. The second important aspect of calculating ROI is to consider the costs of materials and the labor required to maintain production standards. This breaks down into
equipment ownership,
materials and consumables,
 labor.

Equipment ownership costs tend to be fixed but can include installation costs, service and maintenance contracts. Although desktop 3D printers are now 10x to 100x cheaper than industrial machines, it’s worth adding up the costs of accessories.In addition, businesses should calculate the materials and consumables required to print parts. These costs can vary dramatically depending on the prototype or end product. Certain machines may also be more suitable for only a small number of material types.

The last point is buyers should factor in the actual workflow of printing a part. This, in turn, helps to assess the cost of labor required. Some tasks are more time-consuming than others and businesses need to take this into account.

 Indirect costs such as production lead times (e.g. Will they be improved when purchasing a desktop 3D printer?) are referred by Formlabs. The actual quality of the end product should be carefully trialed before committing to acquiring a 3D printer. Furthermore, copyright-sensitive parts may require extra protection. The Formlabs ROI calculator considers all indicated options and can now be tested on the company’s website.

 

Sources & More information
Related article categories:
3DSoftware

Article and photo:

ALL3DP  Anne Freier 04/27/2018, Formlabs Launches ROI Calculator to Assess Costs Of Purchasing a 3D Printerhttps://all3dp.com/formlabs-launches-roi-calculator-help-businesses-assess-costs-purchasing-3d-printer/, visited on 04/29/2018;

FormLabs logo https://formlabs.com/, visited on 04/29/2018;

Final report based on production needs and specified labor costs. (Image: Formlabs)

Source: Formlabs

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