How much does metal 3D printing cost?

A small, simple part typically runs $50–500; a large or complex titanium or nickel part runs $500–10,000+. We break the quotation into build, DfAM, post-processing, QA and export so you see every line item.

Metal 3D Printing Cost — Transparent Pricing & Per-Part Quotes

Q: Do you offer instant quoting?

No. Every part goes through DfAM review by an engineer, and we respond within 48 hours with a firm, engineer-reviewed quotation.

YOUR PRICE = BUILD + DfAM + POST + QA + EXPORT Five components. All stated on the quotation. None hidden.

Component	What It Covers	Who Performs It
BUILD	Metal AM production on our in-house systems	3D Demiurge — in-house
DfAM	Engineering review, build orientation, support design, process recommendation	3D Demiurge — included at no charge
POST	EDM, CNC machining, surface finishing and heat treatment in-house; HIP coordinated with a specialist facility	Zeming
QA	XRF, CMM, NDT, traceability package, EN 10204 3.1 compilation	Zeming + third party
EXPORT	Documentation, packing, freight, insurance	Zeming, in-house

Build Cost by Alloy

Reference build costs (material + build basis, excluding DfAM, post-processing, QA and export) for L-PBF (DMLS/SLM) on our in-house systems. Final cost depends on part geometry, nesting, and volume. All prices in USD.

Alloy	Per Gram	Per Kilogram
316L Stainless	$0.15	$150
17-4PH Stainless	$0.25	$250
Tool Steel (MS1)	$0.28	$280
AlSi10Mg	$0.36	$360
Ti6Al4V Grade 5	$0.69	$690
Ti6Al4V ELI	On quotation	On quotation
Inconel 718	$0.89	$890
Inconel 625	On quotation	On quotation
Cobalt Chrome	On quotation	On quotation
CuCrZr	$1.53	$1,530

Build Minimums

$56

Build minimum per order

Per-part minimum

What Moves the Price

Part height > 200 mm+15–40%

Extensive supports required+10–30%

Single-part batch (vs 10 parts)+20–50%

Batch of 20+ parts−15–30%

Annual volume commitment−10–25%

Express (3–5 days)+50–100%

Standard (2–4 weeks)Base pricing

Post-Processing Menu

Inspection & QA Levels

Level	What's Included	Cost
Standard	Visual inspection + critical dims + XRF alloy verification	Included
Production	CMM report (critical dims + GD&T) + powder lot cert + build record	$50–150
Certified (documentation)	Full FAI per AS9102 compiled by our engineering team + CMM (all dims) + NDT + EN 10204 3.1. AS9100D/NADCAP status stated up front when required.	$300–1,500
Witnessed	Certified + third-party witnessed testing (EN 10204 3.2)	Per project

What's Included in Every Order

DfAM engineering review — geometry assessment, build orientation, support design, process recommendation, tolerance map
Machine selection — platform matched to your part, machine named on quotation
XRF alloy verification — in-house, before any finishing begins
Powder lot traceability — links your part to its specific powder batch
EN 10204 3.1 certificate — issued by Zeming as producing facility, compiled into your traceability package
Single accountable engineer — one person manages your project from CAD to crate
English-language documentation — DfAM report, quotation, and traceability package
Export documentation — commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin

How to Get Your Quote

Send your CAD — STEP preferred, STL accepted. Include alloy, quantity, critical tolerances, and application context.
DfAM review — Engineer assesses your geometry. You receive a DfAM report with go/no-go, process recommendation, and tolerance map. No charge.
Firm quotation — Within 48 hours. Per-part price, all five components broken out, named machine, stage-by-stage timeline.
Approve and build — One invoice. One shipment. One traceability package.

Send CAD for review →

Why AM wins on cost

Where the money goes

Upfront toolingUSD

Casting

$5–50k

Metal AM

Cost curve by quantitycrossover

Casting

cheap >10k pcs

Metal AM

cheaper 1–10k pcs

Waste · titanium buy-to-flykg input per kg part

Machining

15 kg

Metal AM

2 kg

Design iterationsweeks per loop

Tooled

6–10 wks

Metal AM

1 wk

Traditional (machining / casting)Metal AM

AM is not always cheaper — it wins where tooling, waste, lead time or consolidation dominate. We say so on the quotation when casting or machining is the better buy.

Pricing FAQ

Do you offer instant quoting?

No. Every part goes through DfAM review by an engineer. We respond within 48 hours with a firm, engineer-reviewed quotation — because an algorithm can't assess whether your internal channel needs supports or whether your bore tolerance is achievable as-built.

Is there a minimum order?

No minimum quantity. We accept single-part orders. A build minimum of $56 per order and $7 per part covers fixed setup costs. Small parts can be batched for efficiency.

What payment methods do you accept?

Wire transfer (T/T). 50% deposit with order, 50% before shipment — negotiable for established relationships. Letter of credit available above $10,000.

Why don't you publish fixed prices?

Two parts of identical weight can have very different costs. Part height (Z-axis) drives build time. Support volume, batch size, post-processing requirements, and certification level all move the final number. A quotation based on your actual geometry is accurate. A fixed price table would not be.

What does the DfAM review cost?

It's included. Every quotation includes engineering review of your geometry, tolerances, alloy, and volume — with process recommendation, build orientation study, support design, and tolerance map. No charge, no commitment.