3D Printing Sensitivity Analysis (Commercial) Calculator
Estimate how changes in order volume, pricing, material costs and print failure rates could affect a commercial 3D printing operation's monthly profit.
Overview
This commercial 3D printing sensitivity analysis calculator compares your current monthly production economics with a proposed scenario. Enter your job volume, average selling price, material and operating costs, fixed costs, and expected changes in demand, pricing, material costs and failure rates to estimate the effect on profit.
How it works
The calculator first estimates baseline revenue from successful jobs after allowing for the current failure rate. It subtracts variable costs for every attempted job and then subtracts fixed monthly costs. For the scenario, it adjusts job volume, selling price and material cost by the percentages you enter, applies the scenario failure rate, and calculates the new revenue, costs and profit. The profit change is the scenario profit minus baseline profit.
How to use this calculator
- 1Enter the number of print jobs you currently attempt each month.
- 2Add your average selling price for each successfully completed job.
- 3Enter material, other variable and fixed monthly operating costs.
- 4Set your current print failure rate.
- 5Enter the expected changes in volume, price, material cost and failure rate.
- 6Review the projected profit, profit change and margin.
Example Calculation
Monthly print jobs
500
Average selling price per successful job
$80
Material cost per print job
$18
Other variable cost per print job
$12
Monthly fixed costs
$8,000
Current print failure rate
8%
Expected change in print volume
10%
Expected change in selling price
5%
Expected change in material cost
10%
Scenario print failure rate
5%
Projected monthly profit
$18,400
At 550 attempted jobs, a 5% failure rate and an average selling price of 84 per successful job, projected monthly profit is about 18,400. This is approximately 4,600 higher than the baseline profit of 13,800.
Frequently asked questions
What does a 3D printing sensitivity analysis show?
It shows how changes in important operating assumptions, such as order volume, prices, material costs and failure rates, may change projected profit.
Why are failed print jobs included in variable costs?
Failed jobs typically still consume material, machine time, labour or finishing resources. The calculator applies variable costs to all attempted jobs but revenue only to successful jobs.
Should I include labour in other variable costs?
Include labour there when it changes with the number of jobs, such as setup, post-processing, quality checks or packing paid per job. Salaried labour that remains stable may be included in fixed costs instead.
What is the difference between profit change and profit margin?
Profit change compares scenario profit with the baseline in currency terms. Profit margin shows scenario profit as a percentage of scenario revenue.
Can I use this for resin, filament, powder or metal printing?
Yes. Enter the average cost and failure assumptions appropriate to your process. Make sure material cost includes consumables and waste relevant to that technology.
Does the calculator include equipment purchases or depreciation?
Not automatically. You can include recurring lease or depreciation estimates in fixed costs, but one-off equipment purchases and financing costs should be evaluated separately.
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Assumptions and warnings
Assumptions
- Revenue is earned only from successfully completed and saleable print jobs.
- Material and other variable costs are incurred for every attempted job, including failed jobs.
- Fixed monthly costs are assumed to remain unchanged between the baseline and scenario.
- Selling price, costs, volume and failure rates are treated as average monthly values.
- Results are estimates and do not include taxes, financing costs, depreciation or one-off capital expenditure unless included in the cost inputs.
Warnings
- This calculator provides a commercial planning estimate only and is not financial or business advice.
- Actual results may differ because of machine downtime, product mix, customer demand, reprints, payment terms and unplanned operating costs.