I know about all of this as I’ve only gotten into 3D printing for a little over a month. I went through printing one part a half of dozen times as attempting to modify a part to allow clearance for something else and I’m very new to using CAD program like Fusion360. Then I went and bought each of the different size nozzles for my P1S. Then the filament dryer was another. To me the hidden cost is like a lot of other hobbies. Like Music production there’s production software, plugins for instruments and effects, hardware audio interfaces, hardware synthesizers, midi controllers, etc. It’s always good having an understanding of what can be involved when getting into a hobby. I feel that the initial cost to get into 3D printing is much more affordable where you can get started with little upfront but need to know that there’s an ongoing cost to get further into the hobby.
Thank you for sharing this! We all have unique experiences, especially how we find and enjoy our passions. I’m a normal person and these aren’t even all of the hidden costs! I didn’t even get into paying for model subscriptions, gloves for resin, etc - so many!
Many hate it and I know I'm going to get roasted by the trolls. But look into FreeCAD. There are a ton of great RUclips How-To for FreeCAD and it is free. Fusion360 has a restriction about selling products designed with it. I don't remember the details. But AutoDesk has lawyers just waiting to sue people for not buying their software.
Creo que se ha inflado un poco bastante los precios. Yo llevo tiempo en este mundo y no lo veo así. En mi opinión, más del 80% del presupuesto dado es en casos extremos en los que no se sabe comprar y cuando las necesidades son muy específicas.
@@Javiergarciagamez It's true that you can lessen the cost of printing by getting filament through sales and bundles and sometimes the cost can be driven by wanting to use a particular brand which would a persons preference. Also the ability to use less expensive or free tools for doing model design and editing would lessen how much one spends on this hobby/business venture.
Good explanation of possible costs. However in the interest of not scaring away newcomers considering a 3D printer, many of these costs can be controlled or spread out over time. But yes, you will spend more on filament than you think. There will always be a new color or glow in the dark, or tricolor filament you will just HAVE to buy! 😂
Folks need to know the consumables are more than just filament. Definitely encourage folks to get the necessary backup parts to keep a printer running without a long down time. I would include the part or hotend cooling fan too. Great video.
If you're new to 3d printing Filament or Resin, DO Your Research. Look at video and review sites, make informed decisions on what you buy, and hidden costs will be substantially less. Examples include Slice Engineering Mako, wham bam Build plates, activated alumina desiccant in lieu of silica, and Diamondback nozzles. For Resin: Removable build plates instead of scraping off build plate, buying bulk Nitrile gloves, respirator with removable filters instead of masks, the list goes on etc. For me, I have cut out a lot of hidden costs by researching beforehand for Upgrades, Software, filament and more. In The Majority of printing components, research their performance and buy based on what you're trying to accomplish with them. Repair parts are a must no one needs to go over board buying them, same with consumables buy some here and there, have small stock on hand for each printer.
There are so many costs that people don’t understand with 3d printing. Compared to sla printing, fdm printing is simple and typically cheaper to get into the technology. The first company that comes out with a cheap filament waste recycling machine for the home will be a success overnight. This video as with all your videos is great for providing essential information and this video in particular should be a must be watched before starting down the road of 3d printing.
This only applies if you are really serious and making a business. if you are a new hobbyist, basic spares such as hotend and nozzles are needed in case it breaks. Personally went through like 3 hotends during the first year of printing but after that its all good. You will incur beginner tax during the introductory phase.
@LoyalMoses Adding upgraded beds and replacement beds together is misleading. As most people will upgrade as the replacement. Also adding cost for slicer is wild. Just use the best free one you can, Orca. Adding visor costs and saying it's a general cost is also misleading. Not everyone, dare I say most people are not making helmets.
I'll be honest I don't like this video. I think you took something that holds a lot of people back from committing to the hobby and made it look like a bigger deal than it really is. Trying to explain to someone they can get started under 300 dollars and then they find a video like this. You can buy like 20 nozzles for a dollar. After your AC unit basically everything else in your house has a negligible on your final bill. I support the transparency but these hidden costs are spread out over years in some cases. Yes I have multiple printers that cost over 1k dollars yes I have hundreds of dollars of specialized filaments. But for my first year I had an ender 3 and a few tools of filament. Rereading this post makes me sound more upset than I am considering deleting it.
I understand the point he's making but definitely should be emphasized across a longer period of time as well if you're doing more niche high end volume or print farm guys. Don't delete this may reassure others while keeping them aware.
I think you have overthought this. I’m waiting to buy a 3D printer soon. He highlighted a heap of considerations I hadn’t thought about. Software being one of them. I can afford any printer, but I think everything he raised is EXTREMELY valid and worth considering.
@@ibsn87 I have been 3d printing for years lots of experience have made my own models. Haven't spent a dime on software. Fusion 360 is free to use for what we would use it for.
@@azerik92 I don't think you are wrong I just have a problem with a lack of context the counter in the corner adding up things that don't apply to everyone. I consider loyal a friend this isn't an attack. I just don't like how this video was edited it seems to make things more extreme and scary than they really are. I mean it's got someone who doesn't even own a printer already convinced I'm wrong.
Just saying this as a guy who has had people's wives shut them down and prevent them from getting into 3d printing because they were scared of the power bill. You can't calculate cost based on peak
You ain’t lying about the hidden cost. When I went from single color printing to multi color printing the cost skyrocketed because of all the colors I now keep on hand.
I'm really happy that I have solar installed to combat Loadshedding. So far since installing them, my overall power bill has been cut by almost half vs my neighbours (complex) and I run 2 to 3 printers daily. So while the sun is out, I'm basically running my printers for free (electricity wise).
One thing that frustrated me early on is discovering a lot of printers like the Ender 3 sort of work out of the box but require mods and add ons to actually make them usable. I could never get it working and it ended up being given away. I went with a different printer from Bambu Lab and I was able to print out of the box. There is still a learning curb. They've reduced it quite a bit. One thing I would suggest is creating more content on what features available and what they actually do. I went with the X1C but after using it for awhile I'm not sure if I would still go with that printer as some features are nice to have but aren't earth shattering.
Definitely! Some machines more than others require so much more than just the printer and filament to really enjoy! I’m glad you found both and got to experience it all.
lol. Trying to watch this video and the BTT live to snag a Panda Power….please hold…… Accessory snagged YES! But you are so right. Add-ons and accessories add up quick as well as filament. Oh man the filament…it can be an addiction and even though many choose not to vacuum bag or storage containers, for me it is a must. Also having a location or display racks for the filament, another cost (if not money then at least space). I do try not to run my printers when I’m not home but sometimes it happens and the fire hazard is a real thing for sure. I got a fire extinguisher close by but also got a reusable fire blanket. Love these videos. So good. Great info for the new and experienced user. I know these videos are a family endeavor and a cost is shared at some level by each and I just want to say thank you. 🙏
I'd relate getting into 3d printing to getting into golf. My first printer was a FlashForge Finder that I think my wife paid less than $200 for new. You can get a set of starter clubs and a bag for around the price of a lower-end 3d printer. You'll tend to buy cheap balls (filament), not practice much, and just go play (download a file and hit print). You might buy a few things, like towels, tees, golf shoes. My 2nd printer is a MKS3+ with MMU2S (upgraded to MMU3), and I plan to upgrade to at least the 3.5, but most likely all the way to the 4S. This is more akin to going to get fitted for custom clubs. I've started dabbling with Fusion 360, and I've created my first file from scratch for my barber that contains one of her logos. It's pretty simple, and I'm sure a more experienced user could make it better. This is probably similar to paying for golf lessons. With filament, you'll eventually probably start using more advanced types the same way you'd start going to nicer, more expensive golf courses. You'll slowly start adding some of the tools mentioned in this video, but not all at once (unless you just have the disposable income). You also may never sell a single print, rather just make things that fit in with your current likes and hobbies. My wife is always finding "cute" things for me to print. So, in summation, sure you can make 3d printing an expensive hobby just like you can with golf. But most of us are just going to be happy with being mid to high handicap players that are going to print other peoples files, and likely only ever have 1 or 2 printers. We don't plan to be scratch golfers, giving lessons, or making a living of of it. I'd encourage people to give it a try if they're interested, even if it's just a Bambu A1 Mini or some other simple, low cost machine.
I don't mention this as a negative for 3D printing or a deterrent for using an enclosure, but if any of the printer's electronics, including stepper moters, are inside an enclosure; they will be subjected to higher temperatures. Higher temperatures on electronics means lowered lifespan for the device. That reduction may be minimal, but it's something to consider.
I've been printing for over seven years, now. For the most part, my consumable costs (other than filament) have gone down. This is due to two things: 1) I survived the learning curve and stopped making the errors that made me consume more; 2) the machines have gotten better so I don't need to replace/upgrade stuff all the time just to get/keep the thing working. Still, you need to clean, you need to lube, and depending on how much you're printing and with what, you have to replace. Filament aside, I think my most frequent expense is with build plates. A particularly tenacious filament will wreck that $30 build plate faster than you can say, "Don't wreck my build plate you mothe[redacted]!" -- even if you were careful and did everything right. The universe has a perverse sense of humor sometimes (not a challenge, universe...ya hear me?).
To be fair I almost never sand my prints. I bought some 400 and 800 2 years ago and I might be halfway through the pack. I also don't use the pro Chitubox, the standard version has all the features I need.
Some day I'll be able to order 3d Gloop! in Canada (aka when they can restock the local stores because the preorders have sold out months ago) 😜 Literally the only chemical welding choice for PLA and PETG. I know you can buy some for ABS pipes. But I've got some Weldon Psigrip 16 worth experimenting with ( PVC, ABS, styrene, butyrate, polycarbonate). I know I going to get a nozzle set and a few texture beds for my Crealty K2 Plus but a lot of the upgrades are already built into that machine in advance. Also got the Nano polymer and filament dryers ready.
Those aren't "HIDDEN" cost. It's always what you should consider when going into this hobby. I bought my printer weeks ago but my tools were already there. Upgrades are also on my list even before buying a printer. You'll know everything you need to buy to start 3D printing, if you're proactive that is..
Yeah my printers have had a minimal impact on my electric bill each month. It's not like an air-conditioner that can make your bill jump more than $100.
Excellent comment regarding fire extinguisher. I thought the same thing one day and picked one up. Electric was another I learned about late in my journey. A simple thing such as an idle printer can add multiple dollars a month to your bill from power draw. A strip of LED lights on my Elegoo Neptune 4 printers uses 10w of power alone. Idle the printer use 10w as well. 20w for an idle printer. Turn off the lights and save 1/2 the energy. 😮 Nice video. A series of videos I think would have been nice to see. More break down for each section. Get into how print times, idle printers and accessories such as dry boxes affect your power bill. Same with some air quality solutions. Overall good tips, I think it was a little too fast paced where more time dedicated to each section would have been nice. Keep up the great work!
yup, the day a printer moved into my office and not the garage, was the day I bought an extra extinguisher and a smoke alarm above it. WhamBam makes this thing called the 'cloud' as well that explodes open fire retardant all over the printer if it ever did get on fire. If I had a print farm I'd have one on every printer.
@@LoyalMoses it is I agree, but I think you should’ve pointed it out that there is many tiers to the hobby as is with other hobbies, you decide how far you wanna go and how much you wanna spend, you did say it a few times but I felt the cadence was more geared toward this is an inevitable thing that will happen and not so much a thing that will happen over a longer period of time and more at the discretion of the user. But I respect the pure transparency and no stone left unturned, I understand your point of the video 100% no hate here, just think it may be more intimidating for newer people, people are rather soft, I respect the blunt delivery though. 👍🏻
It would cost me $165 if I was running my printer 24/7 for a year. ATM I usually print on average (I don’t print year round usually) 16 hours a day 4 months out of year(if I’m being generous). Which equates to $36. This honestly is a negligible cost considering it’s over a whole year.
This was a great vid as many think of this stuff secondly and probably should think of all this first along with that purchase of printer. I ended up getting alot of the tools before i got my first printer. now i need to sell enough to build an add on to my house for a room just for all the filaments and printers. Thanks to you and filament stories haha.. I even had a spool of filament before i had a printer
Thank you! I felt it was super important to share this, because I get so many comments about people being shocked with just how expensive 3D printing can be outside of the printers and filament! 💜
@@LoyalMoses yeah i get that and i hear it on the filament alot. there is cheap filament but like they say you get what you pay for. and then theres boutique filaments to that are pretty expensive
Would love to commit to a 3D printer hobby/tool, and awareness of the ongoing costs isn't the biggest issue. The biggest issue is the initial outlay on a printer system, especially outside the US market.
For me i run two printers in greece i need about 100 euros a month just for small prints,nozzels,power bill, and about 2 to 3 kilos filament about 17 to 20 euro a kilo all year cost 1.200 euro just a small 2 printer hobby :) just to get the point i work one month to pay my hobby .
Cap on the energy usage, running 5 x1 carbons and AC all month long in south alabama and power bill was still only 90 bucks. These things don't use that much power.
Electricity is not subjective, it's an amount that is easily calculable. Running 5 150 watt lightbulbs for a dozen hours a day, WILL impact an electric bill.
Hey there LM, can you tell me where in Prusa Slicer 2.8.0 do I set the Flow Rate for the filament when the 3D printer is printing? I've looked online at the Prusa own help pages and on youtube and can't find it listed at all. I don't know what Prusa even call's it in the slicer? When I use Cura I see it in the list of settings no trouble as Flow Rate. ( I am using Prusa on my main PC as it can't do the newest Cura only the Prusa version as it is a windows 7 system. I have a newer Laptop now with Prusa and Cura on it as it is a windows 11 system so it can do the newer slicers ). I don't always do the slicing on the laptop due to the limited processing, My Main PC tower system has more power to do the slicer processing but not use the new slicers. But in Prusa Slicer 2.8.0 I can't even see it listed. It is a real pain having to set it up in the Neptune 4 Plus control touch screen menu when the print is going! There it is listed under speed menu as flow. But that don't show up under the slicer area of speed, there is no flow rate listed there. Please help as I would prefer to set it up in the slicer with the other settings so I don't need to wait for the print to print the 1st layer then use the menu to set the flow. Thank You. 😉
Got X1C, P1S, 2x AMS and 100kg filaments, multiple plates, accessories, maker supplies for free. The rest is < $100 from Ali stuff like Bentbox v2 fans, wires, switch etc. I’m a creator fyi.
I really like all of your videos but the costs in this video does not apply to any normal user. For example i have an old Anet A8 my first printer which is very upgrade and maintainance intense and i only invested around 100 Dollars in Parts and uprades over the last 5 Years including 20 nozzles and several heatbreakers. Fusion 360 has everything you need for 3d printing in the free version and orca/cura is free as well. And for failed parts i agree with you, they happen but most times you will print normal small part and if you look at your printer frequently and tune your printer you will reduce your fails and i have at most 5% fails including testprints so for the about 100 Spools of filament i used the last years thats about 5 Spools or one spool per year. And as far as electricity goes i have 600 Kilowatthours over 5 years. My AC consumes that power in a normal summer.
@@LoyalMoses I think neither of us is normal ;D 3D Printing is an addiction! And you are right i have hunderts of dollars invested in my Sovol SV08 my newest Hobby 3D Printer and i am already planning my build of the ratrig v-core 4. But what i wanted to say is, that no one has to pay that extra money to get good printing results
Honestly, I don't think most people use the things you mentioned. A printer, power, filament and replacing the consumable parts is all you need. If you are doing it for cosplay, you probably have the tools and paint already. If you are doing it for money, idk, good luck. But you need to have tools and materials to make goods, so I don't think anyone in it for the money is surprised they need to invest in their business. Electricity can add up for sure, you can do solar or generators if your goal is lower grid use, time of day usage plans if you have the option and use that much energy. My 3 printers and whole hobby room and gaming/work PC run on off-grid solar (like 90% of the power I use). Solar is just fun to get into and cheap enough these days. Most of these tools overlap too. Maybe you just want to 3d print stuff, but I bet most of us do other crafty things and will have those tools or use them for more than just our printers. Air quality should be taken more seriously by people but that's on them and their lungs and cns. I do think filament addiction should be recognized as a common money sink though.
Not sure why you are so quick to dismiss others for using printers differently. Cosplay, miniatures, print farms are just 3 examples of HUGE niches in our hobby, and I didn’t even cover 10% of the actual costs! Sharing this information is important! Some people can’t print because they can’t afford another spool of filament or a new hotend, etc.
If i was considering a 3d printer. I would be turned away from getting one. I've had many hobbies most recently RC. This, by far, has been far cheaper than RC. But definitely informative video.
Not me! I’m always glad to see people offer honest insight, rather than obfuscate costs or be intellectually dishonest about the potential cost or depths of a hobby or industry.
@LoyalMoses of course people buy both, but this video seemed to be aimed at people first starting out, not many people starting out would buy both. I've only been 3d printing for less than one year now and haven't purchased two of the main cost factors you mentioned.
I did! I bought a Prusa SL1S within months of starting 3D printing! I have an amazing community of people where some have ordered both on day 1. Really besides the point, the entire purpose is to show potential costs, and all of it was accurate.
@@LoyalMoses yes, its a bed heating progress, than hold the heat and print... its 60-80 watts max during printing. soon i have an 5d print with multi colore, than i will have the kwh what it draw. i use this from amazon (Energiekostenmessgerät LCD Digitale Stromzähler für Steckdose Strommessgerät für Balkonkraftwerk Stromkostenmessgerät mit Überlastsicherung 3680W Stromverbrauchszähler mit Zurücksetzen Funktion)
I don't like this video pointing out the cost of things of a hobby all hobbies have cost rather is it 3d printing or wood working or laser engraving or cnc or crafting wuth a machine like a cricut or video gaming is a hobby. What you displayed here is cost of high end stuff and things thst are not really needed.
I know about all of this as I’ve only gotten into 3D printing for a little over a month. I went through printing one part a half of dozen times as attempting to modify a part to allow clearance for something else and I’m very new to using CAD program like Fusion360.
Then I went and bought each of the different size nozzles for my P1S.
Then the filament dryer was another.
To me the hidden cost is like a lot of other hobbies. Like Music production there’s production software, plugins for instruments and effects, hardware audio interfaces, hardware synthesizers, midi controllers, etc.
It’s always good having an understanding of what can be involved when getting into a hobby. I feel that the initial cost to get into 3D printing is much more affordable where you can get started with little upfront but need to know that there’s an ongoing cost to get further into the hobby.
Thank you for sharing this! We all have unique experiences, especially how we find and enjoy our passions.
I’m a normal person and these aren’t even all of the hidden costs!
I didn’t even get into paying for model subscriptions, gloves for resin, etc - so many!
Many hate it and I know I'm going to get roasted by the trolls.
But look into FreeCAD. There are a ton of great RUclips How-To for FreeCAD and it is free.
Fusion360 has a restriction about selling products designed with it. I don't remember the details. But AutoDesk has lawyers just waiting to sue people for not buying their software.
Creo que se ha inflado un poco bastante los precios. Yo llevo tiempo en este mundo y no lo veo así. En mi opinión, más del 80% del presupuesto dado es en casos extremos en los que no se sabe comprar y cuando las necesidades son muy específicas.
@@Javiergarciagamez It's true that you can lessen the cost of printing by getting filament through sales and bundles and sometimes the cost can be driven by wanting to use a particular brand which would a persons preference. Also the ability to use less expensive or free tools for doing model design and editing would lessen how much one spends on this hobby/business venture.
I wasnt ready for the electric bill increase. Running an A1 and Mini basically non-stop has increased my monthly bill by easily $50 lol.
So many people told me that power didn't matter... I noticed it right away too.
Good explanation of possible costs. However in the interest of not scaring away newcomers considering a 3D printer, many of these costs can be controlled or spread out over time. But yes, you will spend more on filament than you think. There will always be a new color or glow in the dark, or tricolor filament you will just HAVE to buy! 😂
I want ALL the filament!
Folks need to know the consumables are more than just filament. Definitely encourage folks to get the necessary backup parts to keep a printer running without a long down time. I would include the part or hotend cooling fan too. Great video.
Great points! Thank you. I left out so many costs too. Tried to keep it simple.
If you're new to 3d printing Filament or Resin, DO Your Research. Look at video and review sites, make informed decisions on what you buy, and hidden costs will be substantially less. Examples include Slice Engineering Mako, wham bam Build plates, activated alumina desiccant in lieu of silica, and Diamondback nozzles. For Resin: Removable build plates instead of scraping off build plate, buying bulk Nitrile gloves, respirator with removable filters instead of masks, the list goes on etc.
For me, I have cut out a lot of hidden costs by researching beforehand for Upgrades, Software, filament and more. In The Majority of printing components, research their performance and buy based on what you're trying to accomplish with them. Repair parts are a must no one needs to go over board buying them, same with consumables buy some here and there, have small stock on hand for each printer.
Great tips!
I luck out on the electric, I have solar so my electric bill is cheap. I have 7 machines running
That is AWESOME!!!
There are so many costs that people don’t understand with 3d printing. Compared to sla printing, fdm printing is simple and typically cheaper to get into the technology.
The first company that comes out with a cheap filament waste recycling machine for the home will be a success overnight.
This video as with all your videos is great for providing essential information and this video in particular should be a must be watched before starting down the road of 3d printing.
I really wish there were a turn-key recycling system for us! Would be so cool! Thank you for sharing and the kind words!
This only applies if you are really serious and making a business. if you are a new hobbyist, basic spares such as hotend and nozzles are needed in case it breaks. Personally went through like 3 hotends during the first year of printing but after that its all good. You will incur beginner tax during the introductory phase.
You do know that I am sharing my experiences right? I’m a normal person, and these are the costs that I identified and shared.
@LoyalMoses
Adding upgraded beds and replacement beds together is misleading. As most people will upgrade as the replacement. Also adding cost for slicer is wild. Just use the best free one you can, Orca. Adding visor costs and saying it's a general cost is also misleading. Not everyone, dare I say most people are not making helmets.
I'll be honest I don't like this video. I think you took something that holds a lot of people back from committing to the hobby and made it look like a bigger deal than it really is. Trying to explain to someone they can get started under 300 dollars and then they find a video like this. You can buy like 20 nozzles for a dollar. After your AC unit basically everything else in your house has a negligible on your final bill. I support the transparency but these hidden costs are spread out over years in some cases. Yes I have multiple printers that cost over 1k dollars yes I have hundreds of dollars of specialized filaments. But for my first year I had an ender 3 and a few tools of filament. Rereading this post makes me sound more upset than I am considering deleting it.
I understand the point he's making but definitely should be emphasized across a longer period of time as well if you're doing more niche high end volume or print farm guys. Don't delete this may reassure others while keeping them aware.
I think you have overthought this.
I’m waiting to buy a 3D printer soon.
He highlighted a heap of considerations I hadn’t thought about. Software being one of them.
I can afford any printer, but I think everything he raised is EXTREMELY valid and worth considering.
@@ibsn87 I have been 3d printing for years lots of experience have made my own models. Haven't spent a dime on software. Fusion 360 is free to use for what we would use it for.
@@azerik92 I don't think you are wrong I just have a problem with a lack of context the counter in the corner adding up things that don't apply to everyone. I consider loyal a friend this isn't an attack. I just don't like how this video was edited it seems to make things more extreme and scary than they really are. I mean it's got someone who doesn't even own a printer already convinced I'm wrong.
Just saying this as a guy who has had people's wives shut them down and prevent them from getting into 3d printing because they were scared of the power bill. You can't calculate cost based on peak
You ain’t lying about the hidden cost. When I went from single color printing to multi color printing the cost skyrocketed because of all the colors I now keep on hand.
It can get crazy!
I'm really happy that I have solar installed to combat Loadshedding. So far since installing them, my overall power bill has been cut by almost half vs my neighbours (complex) and I run 2 to 3 printers daily. So while the sun is out, I'm basically running my printers for free (electricity wise).
That is fantastic! Did you know that I am 100% off-grid?!
One thing that frustrated me early on is discovering a lot of printers like the Ender 3 sort of work out of the box but require mods and add ons to actually make them usable. I could never get it working and it ended up being given away. I went with a different printer from Bambu Lab and I was able to print out of the box. There is still a learning curb. They've reduced it quite a bit. One thing I would suggest is creating more content on what features available and what they actually do. I went with the X1C but after using it for awhile I'm not sure if I would still go with that printer as some features are nice to have but aren't earth shattering.
Definitely! Some machines more than others require so much more than just the printer and filament to really enjoy! I’m glad you found both and got to experience it all.
Love the Linkin Park intro!
I miss that dude! 💜
lol. Trying to watch this video and the BTT live to snag a Panda Power….please hold……
Accessory snagged YES! But you are so right. Add-ons and accessories add up quick as well as filament. Oh man the filament…it can be an addiction and even though many choose not to vacuum bag or storage containers, for me it is a must. Also having a location or display racks for the filament, another cost (if not money then at least space). I do try not to run my printers when I’m not home but sometimes it happens and the fire hazard is a real thing for sure. I got a fire extinguisher close by but also got a reusable fire blanket.
Love these videos. So good. Great info for the new and experienced user. I know these videos are a family endeavor and a cost is shared at some level by each and I just want to say thank you. 🙏
Congrats!!! There are so many costs I didn’t mention, but upgrades are a plenty for sure! Glad you got one! Thank you for the kind words! 💜
Here in Arizona I can really most of the time not worry about my filament getting to moist
We are lucky to have less humidity for sure!
I'd relate getting into 3d printing to getting into golf. My first printer was a FlashForge Finder that I think my wife paid less than $200 for new. You can get a set of starter clubs and a bag for around the price of a lower-end 3d printer. You'll tend to buy cheap balls (filament), not practice much, and just go play (download a file and hit print). You might buy a few things, like towels, tees, golf shoes.
My 2nd printer is a MKS3+ with MMU2S (upgraded to MMU3), and I plan to upgrade to at least the 3.5, but most likely all the way to the 4S. This is more akin to going to get fitted for custom clubs. I've started dabbling with Fusion 360, and I've created my first file from scratch for my barber that contains one of her logos. It's pretty simple, and I'm sure a more experienced user could make it better. This is probably similar to paying for golf lessons. With filament, you'll eventually probably start using more advanced types the same way you'd start going to nicer, more expensive golf courses. You'll slowly start adding some of the tools mentioned in this video, but not all at once (unless you just have the disposable income). You also may never sell a single print, rather just make things that fit in with your current likes and hobbies. My wife is always finding "cute" things for me to print.
So, in summation, sure you can make 3d printing an expensive hobby just like you can with golf. But most of us are just going to be happy with being mid to high handicap players that are going to print other peoples files, and likely only ever have 1 or 2 printers. We don't plan to be scratch golfers, giving lessons, or making a living of of it. I'd encourage people to give it a try if they're interested, even if it's just a Bambu A1 Mini or some other simple, low cost machine.
I don't mention this as a negative for 3D printing or a deterrent for using an enclosure, but if any of the printer's electronics, including stepper moters, are inside an enclosure; they will be subjected to higher temperatures. Higher temperatures on electronics means lowered lifespan for the device. That reduction may be minimal, but it's something to consider.
Absolutely true, and VERY good point. I’ve seen a lot of people over the years do this and some report odd crashing or reboots, etc.
Great video subscribed!
Thank you!!!
I've been printing for over seven years, now. For the most part, my consumable costs (other than filament) have gone down. This is due to two things: 1) I survived the learning curve and stopped making the errors that made me consume more; 2) the machines have gotten better so I don't need to replace/upgrade stuff all the time just to get/keep the thing working. Still, you need to clean, you need to lube, and depending on how much you're printing and with what, you have to replace. Filament aside, I think my most frequent expense is with build plates. A particularly tenacious filament will wreck that $30 build plate faster than you can say, "Don't wreck my build plate you mothe[redacted]!" -- even if you were careful and did everything right. The universe has a perverse sense of humor sometimes (not a challenge, universe...ya hear me?).
I’ve destroyed build plates too. It sucks!!!
You can't put a price on love and passion 😂
True!!!
To be fair I almost never sand my prints. I bought some 400 and 800 2 years ago and I might be halfway through the pack. I also don't use the pro Chitubox, the standard version has all the features I need.
I hate sanding too!
2:33 great tip. Our electric just went up p/KW and now noticing how much extra using with 2 machine instead 1.
Thanks! I was surprised the SV08 was drawing 1200+ watts on heat up!
Mods, Filaments, Mods, Build Plates, Mods, Tools, Mods, Subscriptions or Patreons, Mods, consumables and did I mention mods, all are my biggest costs.
Wait, did you forget mods?!
Some day I'll be able to order 3d Gloop! in Canada (aka when they can restock the local stores because the preorders have sold out months ago) 😜
Literally the only chemical welding choice for PLA and PETG. I know you can buy some for ABS pipes. But I've got some Weldon Psigrip 16 worth experimenting with ( PVC, ABS, styrene, butyrate, polycarbonate).
I know I going to get a nozzle set and a few texture beds for my Crealty K2 Plus but a lot of the upgrades are already built into that machine in advance. Also got the Nano polymer and filament dryers ready.
Hopefully one day! Keep your fingers crossed!🤞
Lots of little costs have added up for sure!!! So many cool little things to see and try!
I was paying attention until I saw that Veritech on top of your tv. Is that 3D printed?
haha! No, that is an original 1980s Jetfire (G1).
Those aren't "HIDDEN" cost. It's always what you should consider when going into this hobby. I bought my printer weeks ago but my tools were already there. Upgrades are also on my list even before buying a printer. You'll know everything you need to buy to start 3D printing, if you're proactive that is..
Absolutely! This is definitely for those that are researching. I mean, you had to research at some point too to know what upgrades you’d want or need!
So true bro. It definitely adds up.
Very quickly too!
Yeah my printers have had a minimal impact on my electric bill each month. It's not like an air-conditioner that can make your bill jump more than $100.
It’s more like a microwave… like I said. 🤣
My printer hasn't impacted my electric bill much, but man the dehumidifier I run in my dungeon to keep the room humidity down has.
Excellent comment regarding fire extinguisher. I thought the same thing one day and picked one up.
Electric was another I learned about late in my journey. A simple thing such as an idle printer can add multiple dollars a month to your bill from power draw. A strip of LED lights on my Elegoo Neptune 4 printers uses 10w of power alone. Idle the printer use 10w as well. 20w for an idle printer. Turn off the lights and save 1/2 the energy. 😮
Nice video. A series of videos I think would have been nice to see. More break down for each section. Get into how print times, idle printers and accessories such as dry boxes affect your power bill. Same with some air quality solutions.
Overall good tips, I think it was a little too fast paced where more time dedicated to each section would have been nice.
Keep up the great work!
Thanks! Each section definitely needs a dedicated video, I didn’t want a 40 minute video for this, but this is great for beginners!
At least I have solar panels at home, so while he sun is out, my printers are costing me basically nothing on power.
That is just awesome!
yup, the day a printer moved into my office and not the garage, was the day I bought an extra extinguisher and a smoke alarm above it. WhamBam makes this thing called the 'cloud' as well that explodes open fire retardant all over the printer if it ever did get on fire. If I had a print farm I'd have one on every printer.
How many hobbies cost nothing though?
Haha! True! Sharing the potential hidden costs of a hobby with new people is important.
WELL... (looks at makerworld points balance) jk I still buy non bambu lab filament and stuff, buy as far as my spouse knows, LOOK AT THESE POINTS!
Hahaha!
@@LoyalMoses it is I agree, but I think you should’ve pointed it out that there is many tiers to the hobby as is with other hobbies, you decide how far you wanna go and how much you wanna spend, you did say it a few times but I felt the cadence was more geared toward this is an inevitable thing that will happen and not so much a thing that will happen over a longer period of time and more at the discretion of the user. But I respect the pure transparency and no stone left unturned, I understand your point of the video 100% no hate here, just think it may be more intimidating for newer people, people are rather soft, I respect the blunt delivery though. 👍🏻
It would cost me $165 if I was running my printer 24/7 for a year. ATM I usually print on average (I don’t print year round usually) 16 hours a day 4 months out of year(if I’m being generous). Which equates to $36. This honestly is a negligible cost considering it’s over a whole year.
This was a great vid as many think of this stuff secondly and probably should think of all this first along with that purchase of printer. I ended up getting alot of the tools before i got my first printer. now i need to sell enough to build an add on to my house for a room just for all the filaments and printers. Thanks to you and filament stories haha.. I even had a spool of filament before i had a printer
Thank you! I felt it was super important to share this, because I get so many comments about people being shocked with just how expensive 3D printing can be outside of the printers and filament! 💜
@@LoyalMoses yeah i get that and i hear it on the filament alot. there is cheap filament but like they say you get what you pay for. and then theres boutique filaments to that are pretty expensive
Would love to commit to a 3D printer hobby/tool, and awareness of the ongoing costs isn't the biggest issue. The biggest issue is the initial outlay on a printer system, especially outside the US market.
I know, outside the US they can be so expensive. Sorry!
Great t-shirt / band / music 👍
Heck yeah!!!
For me i run two printers in greece i need about 100 euros a month just for small prints,nozzels,power bill, and about 2 to 3 kilos filament about 17 to 20 euro a kilo all year cost 1.200 euro just a small 2 printer hobby :) just to get the point i work one month to pay my hobby .
Oh wow.
It’s a tad bit misleading cuz you have bundled the cost of fdm & resin printing together rather than two separate cost break downs
I have both, and a lot of others have both.
Cap on the energy usage, running 5 x1 carbons and AC all month long in south alabama and power bill was still only 90 bucks. These things don't use that much power.
Electricity is not subjective, it's an amount that is easily calculable. Running 5 150 watt lightbulbs for a dozen hours a day, WILL impact an electric bill.
Hey there LM, can you tell me where in Prusa Slicer 2.8.0 do I set the Flow Rate for the filament when the 3D printer is printing?
I've looked online at the Prusa own help pages and on youtube and can't find it listed at all. I don't know what Prusa even call's it in the slicer?
When I use Cura I see it in the list of settings no trouble as Flow Rate. ( I am using Prusa on my main PC as it can't do the newest Cura only the Prusa version as it is a windows 7 system.
I have a newer Laptop now with Prusa and Cura on it as it is a windows 11 system so it can do the newer slicers ).
I don't always do the slicing on the laptop due to the limited processing,
My Main PC tower system has more power to do the slicer processing but not use the new slicers.
But in Prusa Slicer 2.8.0 I can't even see it listed.
It is a real pain having to set it up in the Neptune 4 Plus control touch screen menu when the print is going! There it is listed under speed menu as flow.
But that don't show up under the slicer area of speed, there is no flow rate listed there.
Please help as I would prefer to set it up in the slicer with the other settings so I don't need to wait for the print to print the 1st layer then use the menu to set the flow. Thank You. 😉
Flow rate is a filament setting. Do you guess or do you print a flow test model?
Got X1C, P1S, 2x AMS and 100kg filaments, multiple plates, accessories, maker supplies for free. The rest is < $100 from Ali stuff like Bentbox v2 fans, wires, switch etc. I’m a creator fyi.
For free?!
Voted the best video to show your significant other after you've ordered your printer. (maybe not)
No... this is NOT the video for that! LOL
LM, ignore th trolls!
🔥🔥🔥
Deftones intro next video?
I suppose I could! I haven’t heard them in so long, good music!
My missus can NEVER see this
Haha!
Did I miss it, or did you talk about proper PPE, especially for resin ?
I only talked about having ventilation and a respirator! I have other videos that go into more detail on my resin process!
@@LoyalMoses But, as a "Hidden Cost" ?
Buy a Bambu Lab and about half of the cost is elimated.
Literally everything I said still applies to them... filament waste is even more applicable to them.
Mornin LM!
Hey!!! Good morning!
SHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!! (hides screen from spouse)
Haha! I thought about having a warning for that at the beginning! 🤣
I really like all of your videos but the costs in this video does not apply to any normal user.
For example i have an old Anet A8 my first printer which is very upgrade and maintainance intense and i only invested around 100 Dollars in Parts and uprades over the last 5 Years including 20 nozzles and several heatbreakers.
Fusion 360 has everything you need for 3d printing in the free version and orca/cura is free as well.
And for failed parts i agree with you, they happen but most times you will print normal small part and if you look at your printer frequently and tune your printer you will reduce your fails and i have at most 5% fails including testprints so for the about 100 Spools of filament i used the last years thats about 5 Spools or one spool per year.
And as far as electricity goes i have 600 Kilowatthours over 5 years.
My AC consumes that power in a normal summer.
I’m a normal person! I think more normal than MOST! LOL!
I guarantee you have hundreds if not thousands of dollars in adjacent stuff!
@@LoyalMoses
I think neither of us is normal ;D
3D Printing is an addiction!
And you are right i have hunderts of dollars invested in my Sovol SV08 my newest Hobby 3D Printer and i am already planning my build of the ratrig v-core 4.
But what i wanted to say is, that no one has to pay that extra money to get good printing results
well, jokes on you...have Prusa HQ just 15min away by tram..so no shipping cost for me :)
haha!
Aliexpress is your friend. Much of these parts are a lot cheaper there.
Cool.
Wait you can use Lincoln Park? Is it because you look like a band member?
They family bro!
@@LoyalMosesLoyal has so many brothers.
FreeCad ditch the cost.
Great suggestion!
Honestly, I don't think most people use the things you mentioned. A printer, power, filament and replacing the consumable parts is all you need. If you are doing it for cosplay, you probably have the tools and paint already. If you are doing it for money, idk, good luck. But you need to have tools and materials to make goods, so I don't think anyone in it for the money is surprised they need to invest in their business.
Electricity can add up for sure, you can do solar or generators if your goal is lower grid use, time of day usage plans if you have the option and use that much energy. My 3 printers and whole hobby room and gaming/work PC run on off-grid solar (like 90% of the power I use). Solar is just fun to get into and cheap enough these days. Most of these tools overlap too. Maybe you just want to 3d print stuff, but I bet most of us do other crafty things and will have those tools or use them for more than just our printers.
Air quality should be taken more seriously by people but that's on them and their lungs and cns. I do think filament addiction should be recognized as a common money sink though.
Not sure why you are so quick to dismiss others for using printers differently. Cosplay, miniatures, print farms are just 3 examples of HUGE niches in our hobby, and I didn’t even cover 10% of the actual costs!
Sharing this information is important! Some people can’t print because they can’t afford another spool of filament or a new hotend, etc.
If i was considering a 3d printer. I would be turned away from getting one. I've had many hobbies most recently RC. This, by far, has been far cheaper than RC. But definitely informative video.
Not me! I’m always glad to see people offer honest insight, rather than obfuscate costs or be intellectually dishonest about the potential cost or depths of a hobby or industry.
The total you put together was useless. It was totally fake and nonsensical. You added FDM pricing and resin print costs together.
It was very obviously intended to be a potential total cost, not a cost you should expect.
It was an example of costs… I bought FDM and resin, you don’t think others have both?! Of course they do.
@LoyalMoses of course people buy both, but this video seemed to be aimed at people first starting out, not many people starting out would buy both. I've only been 3d printing for less than one year now and haven't purchased two of the main cost factors you mentioned.
I did! I bought a Prusa SL1S within months of starting 3D printing! I have an amazing community of people where some have ordered both on day 1. Really besides the point, the entire purpose is to show potential costs, and all of it was accurate.
what are you talking? my bambulab printers use up to 80 watts per h, thats nothing
Have you measured it? The measurements I showed were actual 3D printers in use and heating up.
@@LoyalMoses yes, its a bed heating progress, than hold the heat and print... its 60-80 watts max during printing. soon i have an 5d print with multi colore, than i will have the kwh what it draw. i use this from amazon (Energiekostenmessgerät LCD Digitale Stromzähler für Steckdose Strommessgerät für Balkonkraftwerk Stromkostenmessgerät mit Überlastsicherung 3680W Stromverbrauchszähler mit Zurücksetzen Funktion)
All printers draw less power once heated, it’s the initial load of nozzle and bed that draw the most power.
I don't like this video pointing out the cost of things of a hobby all hobbies have cost rather is it 3d printing or wood working or laser engraving or cnc or crafting wuth a machine like a cricut or video gaming is a hobby. What you displayed here is cost of high end stuff and things thst are not really needed.
I think you should ask yourself why you don't like the truth being pointed out.