What a printed teaching model costs, and why

What moves the price

• Size and volume — Most of a print's cost follows the amount of material and machine time. A life-size skull uses far more than a single tooth. Hollowing or sectioning a large model can bring it down.
• Resin or FDM — Resin printers show fine surface detail on small models such as teeth and inner ear bones; FDM printers suit larger, sturdier models. The estimator on the home page uses the same planning rates as 3dprintquotes.com.
• Detail and finish — Thinner layers, support removal, sanding and a smooth surface take time. Say how close people will look at the model.
• Colours and painting — Several colours in one print, or hand painting to tell structures apart, adds time. Colour-coded parts are often printed separately and assembled.
• Labels and numbering — Printed or engraved labels, numbered structures and a key card add design time. The 'education model' label belongs on every model.
• Moving and removable parts — Removable sections, magnets, hinges and stands add parts and assembly.
• Quantity — A class set of the same model usually costs less per piece than a one-off, because set-up is shared.
• The file — A ready file from an open educational library is quick to print, once you have checked its licence. Modelling from scratch, or repairing a file so it prints, is quoted separately.
• Shipping and packing — Thin parts break in transit. Good packing for fragile models is part of the price.

What to put in your post

1. What the model shows and who it is for (students, a waiting room, a display, a prototype test).
2. The file, or a link to its source and licence. Never a patient's scan.
3. Size or scale, and which parts must be removable.
4. Material preference (resin or FDM), colours, and whether it will be handled a lot.
5. Labels: the structures to number, and the line 'Education and display model. Not a medical device.'
6. Quantity, deadline, delivery address and your budget range.

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