Filament Weight & Gram Rates
Filament weight (measured in grams) is the exact total mass of thermoplastic filament extruded to produce a 3D model, including object perimeters, internal infill, support structures, and multi-color purge tower material.
How Slicers Calculate Filament Mass
Slicers calculate filament weight by multiplying the total volume of extruded toolpaths ($V = \text{cross section} \times \text{length}$) by the material density (e.g. $\approx 1.24\text{ g/cm}^3$ for PLA, $\approx 1.27\text{ g/cm}^3$ for PETG, $\approx 1.04\text{ g/cm}^3$ for ABS).
Material Cost Calculation Formula
Raw material cost is computed as: Cost = Weight (g) × (Spool Price ÷ 1000g) × Markup Multiplier. For example, a 150g model using a $20/kg PLA spool costs $3.00 in raw filament.
Waste Accounting in Multi-Color Prints
In multi-color printing with systems like the AMS, purge waste (prime towers and poop purge) can add 20% to 150% additional filament weight beyond the model itself. Slicers report this total consumed weight for accurate billing.
Calculate 3D Print Costs in Real Time
Estimate exact filament gram rates, machine hours, and profit margins for any MakerWorld design or 3MF/STL upload.
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