Validating 3D Spark Cost and Price Estimations

Validating 3D Spark's Cost and Price Calculations Using Benchmark Data

You can use 3D Spark to simulate your production process and quickly calculate costs, prices, lead times, carbon footprint, and potential savings with high accuracy.

Before using 3D Spark internally or launching it in the Part Request Portal or Supplier Panel, we recommend validating each of your process chains (production options). This guide walks you through the validation process.

1. Model your production option

Before validation, ensure your production option is correctly modeled. A production option in 3D Spark consists of:

1. Material
2. Machine
3. Manufacturing process parameters (linked to material and machine)
4. Pre- and post-process steps
5. Analysis settings (cost, price, energy settings, orientation optimization style, shared build job settings)

The correct material and machine parameters are usually determined through calibration.

If the 3D Spark Onboarding Team has already set up your production options, you can skip this step. Otherwise, follow these steps: Simulate your production reality.

We recommend setting up the production option once and saving it as a template or analysis profile for easy reuse with a single click.

2. Upload your validation parts

1. Choose validation parts that were (ideally) not used during the material and machine calibration.
2. Use the Batch-Upload feature to upload your validation parts.
3. Assign the relevant production option to each part if it was not automatically applied during the upload.
4. Ensure that the part orientations match your benchmark calculations. You can edit the orientation of a part using the 3D Viewer (How to).
   
5. Run the analysis for your production option (How to). Please note you can initiate the analysis automatically during the Batch-Upload by using the auxiliary spreadsheet. (How to)

3. Export the results

1. Navigate to Library > Groups > Group Name.
2. Edit the library view to display the relevant estimates (Cost per Lot, Price per Lot, etc.). (How to)
3. Select all parts.
4. Click Share (top-right) and select Export Excel.

4. Compare with the benchmark

• Use the exported data to compare results with your benchmark calculations (done outside 3D Spark).
• We recommend using a statistical method such as WMAPE (weighted Mean Absolute Percentage Error).