What the SLA / MSLA Resin Print Cost Calculator Does
Pricing stereolithography (SLA) and masked-LCD (MSLA) photopolymer prints requires more than multiplying model milliliters by bottle price. Every resin print consumes isopropyl alcohol (IPA) or tripropylene glycol monomethyl ether (TPM) wash solvent, nitrile gloves, shop towels, release film life (FEP, nFEP/PFA, or ACF), and mono-LCD masking screen hours. Moreover, print duration on an MSLA printer depends strictly on model Z-height, layer thickness, normal layer cure time, burn-in bottom exposure, and Z-axis peel/retract cycle time—not on how many parts sit on the build plate.
MeshKit's Resin Print Cost Calculator exposes every volume, consumable amortization, and Z-axis exposure variable explicitly so you can calculate true unit cost and commercial quotes with zero hidden fudge factors.
How to Calculate Resin Print Cost & Time in 4 Steps
- Enter Solid Volume & Hollow Shell Mode: Input your model's solid volume in milliliters (`mL`, equal to `cm³`), choose Solid (`100%`) or a hollow wall retention percentage (or custom `%`), and set support structure overhead (`15%–30%` typical).
- Select Price Basis (`$/L` or `$/kg`): Resin bottles are sold either by volume (`1 L`) or by weight (`1 kg`). Since photopolymer density averages `1.10 g/mL`, a 1 kg bottle holds roughly `909 mL`. Pick `$/L` or `$/kg` and enter your bottle price and density.
- Configure Consumables & Hardware Amortization: Set per-print IPA and glove/towel cost, plus your replacement FEP film cost divided by expected prints per sheet and replacement mono-LCD screen cost divided by prints per screen.
- Set Z-Height & Exposure Parameters: Enter total print height (`mm`), layer height (`0.025 mm` to `0.10 mm`), normal exposure (`s`), lift/retract time (`s`), and bottom burn-in layers.
Worked Example: Resin Volume & Exposure Time (Golden Vectors C10, C11 & C12)
Consider a `65 mL` solid model hollowed to `42%` retained volume with `22%` support overhead using `$26.00/L` resin, standing `120 mm` tall at `0.05 mm` layer height (`2.4 s` normal exposure, `4.0 s` lift/retract):
Liquid Resin Cost = (33.306 mL ÷ 1000) × $26.00 = $0.87
Z-Layers = ⌈120 mm ÷ 0.05 mm⌉ = 2,400 layers
Time (0 bottom layers, C11) = 2,400 × (2.4 s + 4.0 s) = 15,360 s = 4h 16m
Time (6 bottom layers @ 30 s, C12) = 15,360 s + 6 × (30 s − 2.4 s) = 15,525.6 s = 4h 19m
Technical Limitations
When using a preset hollow shell percentage without uploading an STL file, remember that the actual volume reduction of a 2.0 mm wall depends on the surface-area-to-volume ratio of the model: a large bust retains only 20–30% volume when hollowed to 2 mm, whereas a thin miniature retains 80–95%. Check Chitubox or Lychee Slicer after hollowing for the exact hollowed milliliter count and type it into Custom Retained %.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why doesn't adding more parts to an MSLA build plate increase print time?
An MSLA mono-LCD printer cures the entire XY cross-section of a layer simultaneously using a UV LED matrix. Print duration is determined exclusively by the tallest object's Z-height (`layers = ceil(height / layer_height)`), though total resin milliliters and cost scale with the number of parts.
How many prints does an FEP or PFA (nFEP) release film last?
Standard FEP sheets typically last 30–50 full build-plate prints before clouding or developing tension dimples; PFA (nFEP) and ACF films often last 60–100 prints. At `$18` per film and `40` prints, release film amortization is `$0.45` per print.
What is the difference between $/L and $/kg resin pricing?
Because standard 405nm photopolymer resin has a density around `1.10 g/mL` (and ceramic-filled resins reach `1.30–1.60 g/mL`), `100 mL` of resin weighs `110 g`. In `$/kg` mode, MeshKit multiplies `mL × density_g_mL ÷ 1000 × price_per_kg` so your material cost is exact.
How much extra resin do supports and vat cling add?
Light miniature supports typically add 15–20% to hollowed model volume, while heavy rafts and dense engineering supports add 25–35%, plus 2–4 mL of uncured resin clinging to part surfaces before IPA washing.