PreForm Cost calculator doesnt work with OMM

Feature Requests & Ideas
1

There is no way to define the material cost for non formlabs material, at least for SLS.

This is a useful tool and limiting it to formlabs materials only does not leave a good taste in my mouth.

2

Are there drawbacks to taking the material cost/gram and multiplying it by the weight of the models? Another method could be taking the cost estimate on Formlabs materials and multiplying by the percentage cost of the other material. For example, for PA12, if the other material is $80/kg you could multiply the preform estimate by .8

3

the drawback is that i paid $13k to use this machine with other materials and Formlabs has crippled pieces of the software for third party materials.

I am capable of doing the math, that isnt the problem.

1 Like
4

Ahh I see, I get it. I did not know the open material mode cost $13K.

5

Just realized that the Sift hopper weights are disabled in open material mode too. This means the sift isnt tracking if i have enough material to fill a cartridge. If it runs short, the mix ratios are going to be fun.

Plus, the dosing offset function is disabled, though CS assures me this is a bug and not a ā€œfeatureā€.

Sure feels like i am being punished.

6

You didnā€™t already feel that way when you had to pay $13k for a ā€œfeatureā€ clearly designed to be anti-consumer?

7

I understand that manufacturers reduce machine costs with the profit from material sales factored in, This is how XYZ has operated for as long as i have been in AM.

The $13k OMM fee for the fuse 1+ is a few years worth of material profit being paid up front. Assuming that the machine would be a flat $13k more expensive for everyone if it was open source out of the box.

But yes, paying extra to use materials that Formlabs doesnt offer yet hurts my soul.
I hope Formlabs is paying attention to Flame Retardant materials. There are too many small aviation companies that need retrofits and adaptions to old aircraft with new products. Unfortunately, the flame retardant materials that are already certified for the fuse 1+ are abroad and not locally available for 6 more months.