Additive Manufacturing worked example
3D Print Time at 13% setup and handling allowance: a worked example
This worked example runs the 3d print time numbers for a tougher week than the baseline: 13% setup and handling allowance instead of the typical 18%. Estimate printer run time from part quantity, sustained print rate, and setup or handling allowance.
The inputs for this scenario
- Parts required: 48 parts (held at the documented default)
- Sustained print rate: 0.08 parts / min (held at the documented default)
- Setup and handling allowance: 13 % (the input this scenario stresses; the baseline uses 18)
Working through the calculation
- The calculation starts from the formula this tool documents: Base print time = parts required รท sustained print rate.
- Planned print time works out to 678 hr at these inputs, and this is the headline figure for the scenario.
- Slicer-equivalent run time works out to 600 hr at these inputs.
- Setup/handling allowance works out to 13 % at these inputs.
- Sustained print rate works out to 0.08 parts / min at these inputs.
How this compares with the baseline
- Against the tool's baseline example, where setup and handling allowance sits at 18% and the headline result is 708 hr, this scenario comes in 4.24% below the baseline at 678 hr.
- Use it when scheduling a print farm or quoting additive lead time and you need realistic machine hours, not optimistic slicer time. A result at this level usually justifies acting on the stressed input before touching anything else, because every other figure in the table is downstream of it.
Results at a glance
- Planned print time: 678 hr (headline result)
- Slicer-equivalent run time: 600 hr
- Setup/handling allowance: 13 %
- Sustained print rate: 0.08 parts / min
Run it with your numbers
- To rerun this with your own numbers, open the live 3D Print Time calculator, set setup and handling allowance to your actual value, and adjust the remaining inputs to match your operation.
Last reviewed 2026-05-12.