3D Print Time Calculator

Frequently Asked Questions

How is FDM print time estimated?

Time (h) ≈ filament length (mm) ÷ (extrusion speed mm/s × 3600), adjusted for travel and acceleration. At 60 mm/s average extrusion, 50 m of filament is ≈ 50,000 ÷ 60 ÷ 3600 ≈ 0.23 h per meter, or about 11.5 h for 50 m.

How does layer height change time?

Time scales roughly inversely with layer height: 0.1 mm prints take ≈2× longer than 0.2 mm and ≈3× longer than 0.3 mm for the same model, holding speed constant.

How is SLA/MSLA time calculated?

Layers = print height ÷ layer height; total time = layers × (exposure + peel/lift). At 0.05 mm layers, a 100 mm tall part has 2,000 layers; at 2.5 s exposure + 4 s lift it's 2,000 × 6.5 ÷ 3600 ≈ 3.6 h - independent of XY size.

Why is the slicer's ETA often optimistic?

Slicers usually assume the printer hits commanded speeds. Real acceleration limits, pressure advance, fan ramps, and bed re-leveling add 10–25%. Treat the slicer ETA as a lower bound.

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This calculator provides estimates for informational purposes only. Results are based on assumptions and may not reflect actual outcomes. Consult qualified professionals in relevant fields before making important decisions based on these results.

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How This Calculator Works

Print time has two completely different formulas depending on technology. FDM is rate-limited by how fast the toolhead can extrude plastic: total time ≈ (total extrusion length) ÷ (effective print speed), plus a percentage overhead for non-printing travel moves, layer changes, and acceleration. SLA / MSLA (resin) is rate-limited by the layer cycle: every layer takes the UV exposure time plus a mechanical lift / settle time, regardless of how much resin is on that layer. So an SLA print of one ring is the same time as twenty rings packed on the same build plate - layer count is what matters. This calculator does both: enter filament length and effective speed for FDM, or layer count and per-layer exposure for SLA / MSLA.

Formula / Method

FDM: extrusion seconds = (filament length in m) × 1000 ÷ (toolhead speed in mm/s); total seconds = extrusion seconds × (1 + travel overhead %). Typical "effective" speeds after acceleration limits are 40–80 mm/s for hobby printers and 150–300 mm/s for high-speed (Klipper / input shaper) machines; travel overhead runs 15–30% for ordinary parts and can hit 50% for sparse, tall, multi-island prints. SLA / MSLA: total seconds = layer count × (exposure + lift+settle); MSLA exposure is typically 1.5–4 s per layer at 405 nm with monochrome LCDs, and lift+settle 3–8 s on consumer printers, 1–2 s on tilt-based pro machines.

Worked Example

An FDM helmet at 60 m of filament, 60 mm/s effective speed, 20% travel overhead: extrusion = 60,000 ÷ 60 = 1000 s ≈ 16.7 min - but that is only the printing-while-extruding time; with 20% overhead total ≈ 1200 s = 20 min. Wait, that seems short - because 60 m of filament is barely a hand-sized part. Try a real helmet at 500 m: 500,000 ÷ 60 = 8,333 s ≈ 2.3 h extrusion, total ≈ 2.8 h. An MSLA print 1200 layers tall at 2.5 s exposure + 4 s lift = 6.5 s per layer × 1200 = 7,800 s ≈ 2.2 hours, whether the build plate holds one mini or twenty.

Common Mistakes

Using the slicer's peak speed (200 mm/s) when the printer cannot actually accelerate to it - cheap FDM machines spend most of their time accelerating and decelerating, so effective speed is far lower.

Forgetting travel overhead - 30+% of print time on a tall thin part is the toolhead jumping between islands.

Counting SLA time per part instead of per layer - resin prints are area-free; pack the plate.

Ignoring heat-up and bed-leveling preamble - add 3–8 minutes for FDM start, 30–60 s for SLA tilt and warmup.

Assuming TPU prints at PLA speed - flexible materials need 20–30 mm/s or they skip; multiply your TPU print time by 2–3×.

Tips & FAQ

What effective speed should I use? Run a benchy at your slicer's defaults and check the actual time vs slicer estimate - the ratio is your machine's effective-speed factor. Typical Ender-class: 40–55 mm/s effective. CoreXY + input shaping: 120–200 mm/s. Why are slicers usually off? Cura tends to underestimate by 5–15% (ignores acceleration limits); PrusaSlicer's "Stealth" profile is more accurate. How do I shrink FDM time? Layer height (0.20 → 0.28 mm cuts time about 30%), shells (2 → 3 walls adds time), and infill % - in that order of impact. How do I shrink SLA time? Use a higher-power LCD (mono, 2K→8K), lower exposure (1.5 s vs 3 s), and a tilt-style printer instead of a Z-lift design. Does part orientation matter for SLA? Massively - orient to minimize Z-height; an upright print of a flat lid takes the same time as a thousand of them lying flat. What about heating and homing? Add 3–5 minutes for FDM preheat; SLA warmup is usually under a minute. Times here are planning estimates; for a critical job, slice and read the slicer's number.

Frequently Asked Questions

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