Two questions come up on almost every MJF job we quote, namely how long it will take and how much it will cost. Both answers hinge on the same underlying thing, which is how the build chamber is filled, so understanding the economics of batch printing helps you plan smarter orders that arrive sooner and cost less per part.
We run regular MJF builds from our Perth warehouse as part of the MJF & SLS printing service, so timing your order well can genuinely make a difference to both price and delivery. A little planning around our build schedule often pays off, especially when you have a firm deadline to meet.
What drives lead time
An MJF build runs over many hours, and the printed cake of parts then needs to cool slowly and evenly before anything can be removed and cleaned. That cooling cannot be rushed without risking warping and dimensional problems, so it is a fixed and unavoidable part of the overall schedule no matter how urgent the job happens to be.
After cooling comes powder removal, bead blasting and then any dyeing or sealing the parts require, each of which takes its own time. Every finishing step you add naturally extends the timeline a little, so a simpler raw or blasted finish will always turn around faster than a fully dyed and sealed one.
How batching changes the cost
Because the cost of running a single build is shared across everything inside it, a well packed build delivers a far lower cost per part than a sparse one with only a handful of pieces. Ordering a sensible quantity, or combining several different parts into one build, spreads that fixed running cost and brings the unit price down noticeably.
It often costs very little more to print ten of something than to print just a couple, which is well worth bearing in mind when you are ordering spares or stock for the months ahead. Thinking slightly ahead about quantities can save a surprising amount over a year of regular orders.
Planning a cost effective order
A few simple habits help you get both the best price and the best timing out of MJF. None of them require any change to the parts themselves, just a little forethought about how and when you place the order with us.
- Order parts together rather than in dribs and drabs.
- Choose the simplest finish that meets your needs.
- Plan ahead so cooling time is never a problem.
- Ask us about upcoming builds you could join.
Balancing speed against cost
Sometimes the cheapest route and the fastest route are not the same, and it helps to be clear about which matters more for a given job. Waiting to join a fuller build usually lowers the cost per part, while a more urgent job may justify printing sooner with the chamber less full, trading a little value for a quicker turnaround.
If you have a fixed deadline, telling us early gives us the most options to meet it, whether that means slotting your parts into the next scheduled build or planning a dedicated one. For recurring parts, a standing schedule keeps both the cost predictable and the stock topped up without last minute rushes. Holding a small buffer of finished stock is another way to smooth out demand, since it lets you join economical shared builds rather than ordering small urgent batches whenever stock runs low, and we are always happy to suggest when the next suitable build is due so your parts can ride along with it.
Time your order well
Tell us your deadline and your quantities and we will give you a realistic timeline along with the most economical way to batch the work. Start with a quote and we will plan the whole job around your schedule rather than ours wherever we possibly can, so the parts arrive when you actually need them.