Cad Calculator

3D Model Material & Cost Calculator

Enter your model dimensions and material properties to see the estimated material usage and cost.

function calculateCAD() { var modelLength = parseFloat(document.getElementById('modelLength').value); var modelWidth = parseFloat(document.getElementById('modelWidth').value); var modelHeight = parseFloat(document.getElementById('modelHeight').value); var materialDensity = parseFloat(document.getElementById('materialDensity').value); var materialCostPerKg = parseFloat(document.getElementById('materialCostPerKg').value); var infillPercentage = parseFloat(document.getElementById('infillPercentage').value); var resultDiv = document.getElementById('cadResult'); if (isNaN(modelLength) || isNaN(modelWidth) || isNaN(modelHeight) || isNaN(materialDensity) || isNaN(materialCostPerKg) || isNaN(infillPercentage) || modelLength <= 0 || modelWidth <= 0 || modelHeight <= 0 || materialDensity <= 0 || materialCostPerKg < 0 || infillPercentage 100) { resultDiv.innerHTML = 'Please enter valid positive numbers for all fields. Infill percentage must be between 0 and 100.'; return; } // Convert mm to cm for volume calculation (1 cm = 10 mm) var lengthCm = modelLength / 10; var widthCm = modelWidth / 10; var heightCm = modelHeight / 10; // Calculate total volume in cm³ var totalVolumeCm3 = lengthCm * widthCm * heightCm; // Calculate effective volume based on infill percentage var effectiveVolumeCm3 = totalVolumeCm3 * (infillPercentage / 100); // Calculate mass in grams var massGrams = effectiveVolumeCm3 * materialDensity; // Convert mass to kilograms var massKg = massGrams / 1000; // Calculate total material cost var totalMaterialCost = massKg * materialCostPerKg; resultDiv.innerHTML = 'Calculated Volume: ' + totalVolumeCm3.toFixed(2) + ' cm³' + 'Effective Material Volume: ' + effectiveVolumeCm3.toFixed(2) + ' cm³ (based on ' + infillPercentage.toFixed(0) + '% infill)' + 'Estimated Material Mass: ' + massKg.toFixed(3) + ' kg' + 'Estimated Material Cost: $' + totalMaterialCost.toFixed(2) + "; }

Understanding Your 3D Model Material & Cost

A CAD (Computer-Aided Design) calculator, in the context of 3D modeling and manufacturing, is an essential tool for estimating the physical properties and costs associated with bringing a digital design to life. Whether you're 3D printing, CNC machining, or planning for injection molding, understanding material usage is critical for budgeting and project planning.

How This Calculator Works

This specific calculator helps you estimate the material volume, mass, and cost for a rectangular 3D model. Here's a breakdown of the inputs and their significance:

• Model Length, Width, Height (mm): These define the outer dimensions of your 3D model. The calculator assumes a solid rectangular prism for its initial volume calculation. For more complex shapes, this provides a useful upper bound or a good estimate for block-like parts.
• Material Density (g/cm³): This is a fundamental property of the material you plan to use (e.g., PLA, ABS, PETG for 3D printing; aluminum, steel for machining). It tells you how much mass is contained in a given volume. Common densities for 3D printing filaments range from 1.0 to 1.4 g/cm³.
• Material Cost per kg ($): This is the price you pay for a kilogram of your chosen material. This input allows the calculator to translate the estimated material mass into a financial cost.
• Infill Percentage (%): Crucial for 3D printing, infill refers to the internal structure of a printed part. A 100% infill means the part is solid, while a lower percentage (e.g., 20%) means the interior is mostly hollow or filled with a sparse pattern, significantly reducing material usage and print time. This calculator uses the infill percentage to determine the 'effective' volume of material actually used.

Why These Calculations Matter

Accurate material and cost estimations are vital for several reasons:

• Budgeting: Know the material cost before you start production, preventing unexpected expenses.
• Material Procurement: Determine how much raw material you need to order.
• Weight Estimation: Understand the final weight of your part, which can be critical for applications like drones, robotics, or wearable devices.
• Optimizing Designs: Experiment with different infill percentages or material choices to find the most cost-effective and functional solution.
• Quoting Projects: If you're offering 3D printing or manufacturing services, this helps you provide accurate quotes to clients.

Example Usage:

Let's say you're printing a small enclosure with the following parameters:

• Length: 100 mm
• Width: 50 mm
• Height: 20 mm
• Material: PLA (Density: 1.25 g/cm³)
• Cost: $25 per kg
• Infill: 20%

Using the calculator, you would find:

• Total Volume: 100 cm³
• Effective Material Volume: 20 cm³
• Estimated Material Mass: 0.025 kg
• Estimated Material Cost: $0.63

This shows that even for a relatively small part, the infill percentage dramatically reduces the material needed and thus the cost. Use this calculator to quickly assess your projects and make informed decisions!