Printing large, multi-plate builds on my Bambu H2C got me thinking about everything that goes into a project. Filament is only part of it: there are failed prints, electricity, extra materials, assembly time—and keeping track of which parts still need printing.
That became BenchTare, a project I’ve put a lot of care into and am really proud to share.
You can import a sliced Bambu Studio or OrcaSlicer .gcode.3mf file to see your plates, part names, previews, estimated filament, time and costs. As the build progresses, you can record actual consumption, replacement prints, extras and labour, manage filament stock across builds, and export PDF or Excel reports.
It’s free to use, with no account required. Your project files are processed in your browser. There’s also a demo so you can explore without uploading anything. The screenshots show that demo, with sample figures.
My aim is to keep BenchTare free for makers. Giving something back to a community I’ve learned so much from is a big part of why I built it.
I’d love to hear what you think:
Does it help with tracking your own builds?
Is anything confusing or missing?
Do the imported figures match what you see in your slicer?
It’s still developing, so feedback and bug reports are very welcome.
It looks interesting. Interesting enough for me to ask you if you have a downloadable local version available, instead of the online one. If there isn’t such a version available yet, have you considered developing one? And if you have considered, when do you think it would be concluded?
Thanks for taking a look—and for asking! I don’t have a downloadable version ready to share at the moment, but I’m open to exploring it. I can’t give you a reliable release date yet.
The current version processes your project files locally in your browser, although that isn’t the same as having a downloadable, fully offline version.
Would an offline version you open in your browser suit you, or are you looking for an installed desktop application? And which operating system do you use?
That would help me understand what would work best for you.
A downloadable local desktop app would be highly appealing to me personally. Nevertheless, based on various reactions posted by many users on this forum, I believe it would be safe to say that such an app would be indeed very interesting for most of them.
And to answer your question, I’m running Windows as my main OS on my machines, with a few running on Debian and Fedora.
I think that, except for the US, most of the forum users are running Windows and a few might be running Linux-based OS.
Thanks—that’s really useful feedback, including the operating systems you use.
I could certainly see both versions existing side by side: the same free BenchTare, with the same features, simply delivered through your browser or as a downloadable desktop application.
My first priority is to get the current version thoroughly tested and polished. If there’s enough demand, a desktop version would be a natural next step, but I wouldn’t want to promise a timeframe yet.
If others here would find that useful, please add your interest and which operating system you use. That will help me judge demand and prioritise development.
In the old days the user would just stand up a web server on their local machine, and the app would run on that without any changes. (Let’s pretend Electron doesn’t exist, or I start to get traumatized).
I guess you have a giant thunderstorm of cloud services in there for the need to make parallel versions?
My grandpa used to say : “Why stick in the past when you can stay in the present, and benefit from it?” At the end of the day, if the developer can, and is willing, to create a self standing app that can run natively in a pre-defined OS, wouldn’t this be preferable than going through a more circumvoluted process?
That’s exactly my personal preference (and main reason): everything I control is safe/secure; everything else, out of my control, ain’t. Don’t trust cloud. It’s trusting someone’s else machine, a machine that you can’t control. That’s a basic No Go for me.
I’m glad you’re both explaining what you’d want from it. Keeping control of your files and having something straightforward to use are both important to me too.
For clarity, the current BenchTare already processes project files in your browser and keeps saved projects on your device, not in a cloud project database. You can also export backups to keep separately.
I’m open to offering a downloadable option alongside the website. First, I need to investigate what’s involved in building, distributing and supporting it.
I did mention both being free earlier, so I should clarify that before setting expectations: the browser tool will remain free, but I haven’t yet established whether I can sustainably offer a desktop edition on the same terms. If that additional offering needs to be paid, I’d explain what the price covers and let people decide whether it’s worthwhile for them.
I’d rather discuss those trade-offs openly with the people who would actually use it. What would matter most to you in a download—fully offline use, an easy installation, or something else?
Thanks—that gives me a clear set of priorities. Fully offline, straightforward to install, and dependable in everyday use.
I’ll investigate what it would take to deliver that properly, including the ongoing maintenance and costs, and share what I find here.
Would you be interested in trying an early Windows build when there’s one ready for testing? Feedback from someone who actually wants to use it would be valuable.
Would you be interested in trying an early Windows build when there’s one ready for testing? Feedback from someone who actually wants to use it would be valuable.
Count me in! I’ve got a Windows sandbox machine set aside, specifically used for testing various third-party software that I might be interested in, before deciding whether to accept or reject them.
Wow Thank you—I really appreciate that! Having a separate testing machine sounds ideal.
I’m still investigating the development options, so I don’t have a build date yet. Which Windows version are you running? That will help me define the initial test setup.
I stick with 10, as 11 ain’t reliable or stable… (besides the unacceptable fact that 11 removes your control over most of the OS functions and what data it shares automatically with Microsoft)
Hi, that sounds promising. I’ll give it a try soon—thanks a lot. Since it’s a web application, I think you’ll need to include a legal notice. You should check to see if you need one. Otherwise, it could end up being expensive.
You’re right that the current web version uses AppDeploy A desktop edition wouldn’t necessarily have to use the same platform, though. I could adapt the existing code where practical, or develop a standalone version independently.
I still need to investigate the work and costs involved before making any promises, but fully offline use is certainly something I’m willing to explore. The feedback here has helped me understand why it matters to people.
I’d say this would be the best approach, from where I stand. Nevertheless, you’re the best placed to decide what and how you want to proceed, if you want to proceed.
. Especially the full offline part. Add to that stability and reliability, and I’m going to be a happy 
.
A desktop edition wouldn’t necessarily have to use the same platform, though. I could adapt the existing code where practical, or develop a standalone version independently.