While there is a field for filament cost it would be great if there was a cost field for electricity.
So that the true cost per hour for electricity +filament would give the true cost of the print.
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I’m waking up this old conversation as this is exactly what I was looking for. I would love to see an entry where one can add their cost per kWh under filament. Then, the slicer can calculate a more realistic cost of the piece.
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This would be a difficult calculation for the slicer to perform. Usually the majority of the electrical power goes into heating the bed, and that is extremely variable since it depends on plate temperature and enclosure. I don’t even see how it could be estimated in a useful way.
I vaguely remember someone measuring PLA on a PEI sheet and I think it was 4kwh/kg for them, if that helps.
I agree it would be difficult but even a rough estimate of Bed temp + extruder temp x print duration x kWh cost + filament cost = project cost. The printer alrwady knows the bed will be heated the whole time, and it also know when it will slow to cool or for a filament change so it should be feasible.
You can buy “Kill-A-Watt” style meters that can tell you how much a print cost in electricity and money. It’s after the fact but can tell you close to exactly.
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Yes, i have one but its an after the fact thing. If i am trying to quote someone a price it wont work
The power demand will have a front end surge to heat up and then running electricity levels with motors, lights, heaters, etc. You could use the meter to get a handle with any model with the same type of filament. That should get you answers quickly. The slicer tells you how long the print will run so add the front end measurement to the running current times the time and you can still have accurate numbers.
You’ll be waiting a while for Bambu to add that kind of thing but the most accurate way to measure the electricity takes some additional hardware that you’ll find in the Kill-A-Watt style meters. If Bambu didn’t build in that hardware you won’t get the same quality of numbers.
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I use smart sockets on all my printers, primarily as an aid due to my disabilities, but also for information on actual energy usage.
They provide accurate information and depending on the software, you can pool the information to provide by home or groups of devices.
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Thanks Malc, i use the smart socket but just to turn my printer off when ita done.
Thanks Mzip, i did completely forget about the motors so yes a Killa A watt type outlet is what i will be getting.
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