Estimating 3d printing cost

[arg3d 0]

Hi, I'm printing with 3mm PLA, usually with Cura or RepG using sf 50. However I'm not sure how to calculate the cost of my prints. In Cura I was able to set the price/kg preference and it makes an estimate when I slice but not sure how accurate it is.

There is also a price/m feature that I'd like to set but don't know how to calculate how much plastic (in meter, mm, foot, whatever distance measure) is there in a kg (or lb for that matter). Also, the default filament diameter in Cura is 2.89, but I haven't been able to measure it exactly since I don't have a scaliper or micrometer, is this really important?.

So is this Cura estimation good? Anybody is using something more precise?

Thanks a lot,

Arg3D

[jcosmo 5]

I just divide the price I paid for a spool by the amount on the spool, nothing special.

If its been sold by the meter then I enter the price per meter, if it was sold as a "by weight" spool then I calculate and enter the price per Kg.

[phut 0]

I personally think that the upkeep and depreciation is a non-negligible part of the overall cost of printing.

[Daid 306]

The weight in Cura is an estimate, but the length should be pretty accurate, because the length is the actual dimension that is used to communicate with the printer.

The weight is calculated with the filament diameter and the density of the material. This density is a bit of a guess and could vary.

I've never actually checked the weight calculation, but the length seems pretty accurate when I used it.