Are other hubs just increasing their cost per cubic cm to compensate for the volume of supports? I found I had to do that otherwise small models end up doubling in volume with supports.
Or are others adjusting the price/volume on the order page after you calculate the supports with the customer’s models?
When an object needs supports I will slice it as I would print it - supports included etc, and get the final filament length required. From this length you can work out (or your slicer may do this?) the sliced volume of the whole print. I will then inform the customer via an update what the previous model volume and cost was, and what the new volume and cost is. Adjust the volume value in the order and the cost will update automatically. As long as you explain why supports are needed, and where the increased cost comes from (most won’t understand an increase in volume) the customer is fine and happy about it.
Cheers,
Steve
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What Steve said. I haven’t been as detailed with the customers requiring support material–I’ve just explained the need for support material and added it as an extra service (there is a category specifically for support material), without giving any additional sliced volume figures. Keep in mind that it means additional labor for you as well–the quality guidelines require that we remove supports before shipping (unless otherwise agreed with the customer). So you might want to think about more than just material cost.
At any rate, I’ve never had anyone cancel due to that additional cost.
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Oh yes, good point - if the support material is required and it is a “pain-in-the…” to remove I charge a “Support Removal” service from the additional options on the right, and charge about 10% of the print cost (not total project cost, but part printed costs). I gauge this based on the model size, overall costs, repeat customer etc. If the support material is easy to remove (i.e. one pull of a pair of pliers) I tend not to charge. But I have spent an hour or two tidying up some tiny models with internal supports… so gauge and charge as you see fit for each order. Underlying rule is to be transparent with the customer and explain all the charges and why. If they ask you to reduce this cost, fine, they see that as a saving, and you are only cutting into your additional services charge.
Steve
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Thanks guys. Definitely all for transparency-- just want to make sure I’m not losing money when the volume doubles for supports. I’m printing on SLA not FDM so the material costs are much higher. Support removal on the other hand is much easier.
All good stuff to take into account and I appreciate the feedback.
I agree with Brian & Steve on transparency, one of the first things I say to a customer is I’ll have a look at the file, and update them with any questions as well as an update print volume that reflects the print plus any Raft / Support that is needed to allow the part to print - Once I do I upload a screenshot of the sliced file so they can see in colour the part Material Vs the Support as I have had a couple of prints were the support was over 50% of the model, and thats a hard pill to swallow.
In fact the other day I had one client query me on the quote vs true print volume - it was perfectly amicable as in their previous hub experience the part was printed at the volume originally quoted even though it needed a lot of support - we discussed it and I was very open in the process and they understood completely - though remained baffled how the other hub worked…
Oli
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