“How much will it cost to print this?” is the first thing almost everyone asks. It depends on the part, but the things that push the price up or down are predictable. Here’s what small jobs usually cost at Print Bench in South Morang, what makes a print cheaper or dearer, and what to send so the first quote is accurate.
The short answer
- Small clips, hooks and simple accessories often start from $10 to $30.
- Desk accessories and larger organisers usually cost $25 to $80.
- CAD design, for when you don’t have a printable file or it needs repair, starts from $75 per hour with a 30-minute minimum, depending on complexity. One revision is included.
- Bulk discounts apply on multi-part and repeat jobs.
- In the shop, some prints have a fixed price you can pay at checkout. The rest are quoted the same way as custom work.
- Pickup in South Morang is free. Shipping anywhere in Australia is a flat $15 per order, or $25 with larger items (see shipping and pickup).
Treat those as starting points. We quote custom jobs once we’ve checked the size, material, strength and finish you need, because we can’t price a part we haven’t seen.
What changes the price
Size and print time
Most of the cost is machine time. A 3D printer builds a part one thin layer at a time, so taller, bulkier or more solid parts take longer. A large organiser can keep a printer busy for most of a day, while small flat parts like clips, spacers and coasters are done much faster.
Material
PLA+ is the cheapest option for everyday prints. PETG, ABS and ASA cost a little more because the filament is dearer and harder to print well, and nylon costs more again. If you’re not sure which one you need, our post on PETG vs TPU vs PLA goes through which material suits which job, and the materials guide puts them side by side.
Strength and where it will be used
A part that sits near heat, lives outdoors in the sun or carries a load may need a stronger material, thicker walls, more infill or a different print orientation. Each of those adds material or time. Tell us how the part will be used and we’ll quote for something that lasts, even if a cheaper print would fit.
Quantity
Several of the same part works out cheaper per piece, because the setup and checking are shared across the batch. On custom work, bulk discounts apply when you need more than one, whether that’s a set of matching parts or a multi-part build. The shop works the same way: our Halloween coasters are $10 each and every eighth one is free, so eight cost $70.
Design work
If you have an STL, 3MF or OBJ file that’s ready to print, you only pay for printing. If all you have is a photo, a sketch or some measurements, someone has to model the part first. CAD design starts from $75 per hour (30-minute minimum) and includes one revision, so you can check the model and ask for a change before anything gets printed. We quote the print separately once the model is ready. Typical CAD jobs are simple brackets, mounts, adapters, spacers and covers, and our post on CAD from a sketch or photo shows how it works.
How to get an accurate quote
The more we know up front, the closer the first quote will be. Send us:
- the file if you have one (STL, 3MF, OBJ or STEP)
- the size, or the key measurements
- where the part will be used: near heat, outdoors or under load
- how many you need, and any colour preference (see the filament colours)
- photos of the original if it’s a replacement part
We usually reply within 24 hours. Quotes are valid for 14 days, and quoted work needs a deposit before we start printing.
Buying from the shop
You can buy some prints without a quote. Products in the shop with a price and an add to cart button go straight through checkout, and each one shows how long it will take to be ready for dispatch or pickup. Products that say Request this print get quoted first, usually because the size, colour or material changes the price. Everything in one order is packed together to keep shipping down, or you can collect it free from South Morang.
If this is your first time getting something printed, our guide to getting something 3D printed in Melbourne covers the whole process. When you have a part in mind, send us the file or a photo and we’ll come back with a price.