If you are new to 3d printing and want to give it a try, the first thing you will be asking – Is 3d printing expensive in India? It’s not that expensive. It also depends on what type of 3d printing you want.
There are a total of nine types of 3d printing available, but the most popular forms are FDM (FFF) or SLA 3d printing, which are not very expensive.
Let me tell you about both FDM and SLA 3d printing one by one, but before that, you must also consider the production cost of the same thing by the traditional manufacturing method. This way, you will get more clarity about cost.
I am saying this because if you want just one piece or a few pieces of some part, then it is almost impossible for you to get it made with traditional manufacturing because its cost will be unbearable.
So in this scenario, you have to reconsider your question – Is 3d printing expensive in India? It really gives an excellent option to get something made that otherwise would not even be possible to get.
The cost of any manufacturing method will depend on four main factors:
- Cost of raw material.
- Size (volume and weight) of product to be made.
- Time is taken in its manufacturing.
- Cost of the machine required in the process.
- Cost of labour or skilled worker involved.
Cost of FDM(FFF) 3d Printing
FDM or FFF 3d printing are basically the same thing, but different companies call it by different names for the purpose of branding. FDM is Fused Deposition Modelling, and FFF is Fused Filament Fabrication.
This type of 3d printing uses filament as raw material. This filament comes in different materials; PLA (polylactic acid) is the most commonly used material. Its cost is around Rs.1000/kg, it is biodegradable and odourless. It is available from various renowned brands and in different materials: PLA, PETG, ABS, Nylon, TPU, High impact polystyrene (HIPS), Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), Thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), Polycarbonate (PC).
Filament (1.75mm) | Price |
PLA (poly lactic acid) | Rs.1000/kg |
PETG | Rs.1000/kg |
ABS | Rs.1000/kg |
Nylon | Rs.8000/kg – Rs.12000/kg |
TPU (Flexible Filament) | Rs.2000/kg – Rs.3250/kg |
HIPS (High Impact Polystryene) | Rs.1500/kg |
PVA (Polyvinyl Alcohol) | n/a in India |
TPE (Thermoplastic Elastomers) | Rs.2600/kg – Rs.3500/kg |
PC (Polycarbonate) | Rs.2900/kg |
In the picture below, you can see a 3D-printed design made with PLA filament. It took around 3 hours to 3D print this, and the weight is approximately 21g with 20% infill. I have also added a short video of the making of this piece. You can watch it below.
Considering all these factors, the FDM 3d printing service cost in India is around Rs.25 – 30/cm3. This cost may vary for different service providers.
SLA 3D Printing
In stereolithography (SLA) 3D printing, a laser is used to solidify liquid resin to make a final model. Just like other 3d printing methods, this also happens layer by layer. SLA printing is a speedy process; thus, it takes less time than FDM printing, and the finish quality of the model is also very good.
The price of liquid resin is around INR.1800, which is almost double the price of filament used in FDM 3d printing.
The cost of SLA 3d printing service in India is around Rs.65/cm3. This cost may vary slightly for different service providers.
Is 3d printing expensive in India?
Finally, I would like to summarise this article with a fair conclusion about the cost of 3D printing in India; 3D printing in India is not very expensive.
I hope this article gives you enough information on cost of 3d printing in India. If you fell that I should add some other points related to this topic or suggest an topic for a new blog post that you would like to read please let me know in comments section.
FAQ
Is 3d printing an expensive hobby?
No, 3d printing is not very expensive hobby. The price of a 3d printer starts from just Rs.12000 which the less than many smartphones. The cost of its filament starts from Rs.1000/Kg.
Below are the some shorts of FDM printing:
Below is a video of SLA 3d printing that you can watch and enjoy.
This video below shows the FDM 3d printing of dual flip name.
Defects in FDM 3D Printing
3D Printers In Your City:
3D Printing Services In Your City (Prototyping Service):