Proven strategies to cut your 3D printing costs by up to 40%. Learn material optimization, energy savings, and waste reduction techniques.
Most prints don't need 100% infill. Reduce infill to 10-20% for decorative items and 20-30% for functional parts. This can save 30-50% on material costs.
Example: A 100g print with 100% infill uses 100g of filament. At 20% infill, it uses only 40g - saving 60g (£0.77 at £0.0128/g).
Reduce wall thickness from 3-4 layers to 2-3 layers for non-structural parts. This can save 15-25% material without compromising appearance.
Design parts to minimize overhangs, use tree supports instead of standard supports, and orient prints to reduce support needs. Save 10-20% on support material.
Faster prints consume less energy per part. Increase print speed by 20-30% where quality allows. Use faster speeds for infill and inner walls.
Lower bed temperature by 5-10°C if adhesion allows. This reduces energy consumption by 5-10%.
Print multiple parts simultaneously to share heating costs. One 8-hour print uses less energy than four 2-hour prints.
Use proper bed leveling, first layer calibration, and test prints. Failed prints waste 100% of material and energy.
Invest in a filament recycler or send failed prints to recycling services. Recover 50-70% of material value.
Use brims (thin) instead of rafts (thick) when possible. Brims use 80% less material than rafts.
Purchase 5kg or 10kg spools instead of 1kg spools. Bulk purchases typically save 15-25% per kilogram.
Quality budget brands like Sunlu or Overture offer 20-30% savings compared to premium brands with minimal quality difference for most prints.
| Optimization | Savings |
|---|---|
| Reduce infill 100% → 20% | £0.77 |
| Reduce wall thickness | £0.25 |
| Optimize supports | £0.15 |
| Faster print speed | £0.10 |
| Total Savings | £1.27 (38% reduction) |
By implementing these strategies, you can reduce your 3D printing costs by 30-40% without sacrificing quality. Focus on material optimization first (biggest savings), then energy efficiency, and finally waste reduction.
Start Today: Begin with infill optimization and bulk purchasing - these two changes alone can save you 25-35% on printing costs.