--- title: "Vapor Smoothing ROI and Part Cost Calculator | AMT PostPro" description: "Compare the cost per part of PostPro vapor smoothing with manual finishing or outsourcing, using AMT list prices and your own volumes, rates and parts." canonical: https://amtechnologies.com/roi/ updated: 2026-10-07 type: roi --- ROI and part-cost calculator # What does a finished part really cost? Compare the cost per part of PostPro vapor smoothing by AMT with hand finishing, outsourced smoothing, or selling smoothing as a service. It uses AMT’s list prices, the published chamber sizes and cycle times, and your own volumes, rates and parts. - Estimate based on your inputs - No email needed - The link keeps your numbers Method ## How we calculate Every result comes from three things: your inputs, AMT’s price list and the chamber sizes and cycle times published on the PostPro product pages. Where an input is uncertain, you enter a range and the results show both ends. 1. ### Parts per batch `grid = ⌊chamber ÷ part⌋ on each axis, best orientation` `parts per batch = grid × packing %` The grid stacks your part’s bounding box side by side through the whole chamber. Racks and spacing hold fewer parts, so the packing factor scales it down; you can also enter your own parts per batch. The configurator and Ask AMT size machines with the same grid fit. 2. ### Cycles and systems `cycles per week = ⌈parts per week ÷ parts per batch⌉` `cycles one system runs = ⌊machine hours per week ÷ cycle time⌋` `systems = ⌈cycles per week ÷ cycles one system runs⌉` A partly filled batch still takes a full cycle, so small weekly volumes cost more per part. The recommended system is the smallest chamber that fits your part and covers your volume at your machine hours. 3. ### PostPro cost per part `(operator labor + agent + energy + other consumables + care plan + capital) ÷ parts per year ÷ (1 − scrap rate)` - Operator labor = cycles × operator minutes ÷ 60 × labor rate - Agent = cycles ÷ cycles per canister × canister price - Energy = cycles × kWh per cycle × electricity price, when you set both - Capital = investment ÷ depreciation years, or the yearly loan payment when financed - Investment = system + Ancillaries Pack (+ DMS on SF100) for each system needed. Installation, training and the RemoteCare and HyperCare plans are priced in your formal quote, so the calculator leaves them out and says so; it carries them to "Quote this setup". On the SFX and SF2X: the package (the Starter Bundle unless you choose the Complete Bundle, as in the quote builder), plus PostPro Portal Access on the SFX when ticked. A setup from the configurator brings its own items. When the first canister is ticked it counts as investment and the agent cost still runs from the first cycle, so the estimate errs high 4. ### What you compare against - Manual finishing = (labor minutes ÷ 60 × labor rate + consumables) ÷ (1 − scrap rate) - Outsourced smoothing = (price per part + shipping per part) ÷ (1 − scrap rate) - Selling smoothing as a service = your price per part, so the result is your margin 5. ### Savings and payback `yearly running saving = (compared cost − PostPro running cost per part) × parts per year` `annual savings = yearly running saving − capital per year` `payback = investment ÷ monthly running saving` `5-year net = 5 × yearly running saving − investment − interest` Running cost is everything except capital. If the running saving is zero or less, there is no payback, and the calculator says so. 6. ### Break-even cycles per canister `cycles per canister ≥ canister price × cycles per year ÷ parts per year ÷ (compared cost − PostPro cost before agent)` There is no published figure for how many cycles one canister of agent runs: it depends on the parts, the load and the recipe. Until you enter one, the calculator shows the cost per part before the agent and the fewest cycles per canister at which PostPro still costs less per part. 7. ### Ranges Cycle time, packing and cycles per canister are ranges. The low end of every result takes the favorable end of each range (shorter cycle, denser packing, more cycles per canister); the high end takes the other. Charts show the midpoint, with the range as a band. 8. ### Labor hours freed `parts per year × labor minutes ÷ 60 ÷ (1 − scrap rate) − cycles per year × operator minutes ÷ 60` Shown as full-time equivalents at 40 hours a week for your weeks per year. ### List prices the calculator uses **AMT list prices, per system, excluding tax and shipping. Indicative; confirmed in your formal quote. The calculator also uses the GBP and EUR list prices.** | Item | PostPro SFX | PostPro SF50 | PostPro SF100 | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | System | Sold as bundles (next row) | $89,390 | $155,050 | | SFX bundles | Starter $23,100 · Complete $30,100 | Not listed | Not listed | | PostPro Portal Access | $735, optional | Not listed | Not listed | | Ancillaries Pack | Not listed | $10,024 | $10,024 | | Installation, training and onboarding | Priced in your formal quote: not in the calculator | | | | Care plan, 1 year | SFX-traCare $2,590 | RemoteCare · HyperCare: priced in your formal quote, not in the calculator | | | PostPro Pure (FA5802) | $420 per cartridge | $2,800 per canister | $2,800 per canister | | FA326 | Not used | $3,500 per canister | $3,500 per canister | | FA9202 (polypropylene) | Price on request | $2,800 per canister | $2,800 per canister | | DMS automated loading | Not available | Not available | Price on request | The PostPro SF2X is sold as bundles too: Starter $32,620 · Complete $37,800; SF2X-traCare, 1 year, $2,716. The price list has no SF2X cartridge row, so enter your agent price in the calculator. ### Published chamber and cycle **From the PostPro product pages and brochure.[1,2,3]** | System | Chamber | Cycle | | --- | --- | --- | | PostPro SFX | 190 × 320 × 190 mm | 2 h | | PostPro SF2X | 260 × 390 × 260 mm | 2 h | | PostPro SF50 | 400 × 300 × 400 mm | 1.5–2 h | | PostPro SF100 | 400 × 600 × 400 mm | 1.5–2 h | ### Not in these numbers - Tax and duties. - Shipping quoted per order, and consumable shipping surcharges. - Site work: power supply, exhaust ducting, floor space. - Energy and filters, unless you enter them. - DMS, until you enter your quoted price. - Finance costs, unless you choose financing. Questions ## About the calculator How the estimate works, and what it leaves out. Anything else, [ask an engineer](https://share.hsforms.com/1lOH82JpuRdSM-4wJ1ZeYlw45o6d?website_source=Vapor+Smoothing&utm_source=amtechnologies.com&utm_medium=roi-page&utm_campaign=site-2026&utm_content=roi-talk). ### How accurate is this ROI estimate? It is an estimate based on your inputs. The prices are AMT’s list prices and the cycle times and chamber sizes are the published ones; your volume, labor rate, parts per batch and agent use decide the rest. Your formal quote and a benchmark of your own parts replace the assumptions with confirmed numbers. ### Why do I have to enter cycles per canister? How many cycles one canister of agent runs depends on the parts, the load and the recipe, and there is no single published figure. Rather than guess, the calculator shows the cost per part before the agent and the break-even: the fewest cycles per canister at which PostPro still costs less per part than your current method. Enter a range once AMT has given you a figure for your parts. ### How long is a PostPro cycle? 1.5–2 h[1] on the PostPro SF50 and SF100, and 2 h[1] on the PostPro SFX and SF2X, as published on the product pages. The calculator uses that range unless you change it. ### How does the calculator choose a system? It picks the smallest chamber that fits your part’s bounding box and covers your weekly volume within your machine hours, using the same sizing logic as the configurator and Ask AMT. You can choose any system yourself; if one is not enough, the calculator shows how many you would need. ### What is not included? Tax, duties and shipping, site work such as power and exhaust ducting, and energy and filters unless you enter them. DMS automated loading is priced on request, so it is left out until you enter your quoted price. ### Can I share or save my calculation? Yes. The page address holds every input, so copying the link shares the same calculation. You can also save it as a PDF or take it straight into a quote with Quote this setup. No email is needed to see any result. ### Can I test my own parts first? Yes. Send parts to AMT’s free benchmark and they come back vapor smoothed with a report. No cost to evaluate · Parts returned · Typical turnaround 2–3 weeks.[4] Next step ## Turn the estimate into a number you can sign off. Take this setup into an itemized quote, let the configurator check the system against your parts, or send AMT a part and hold the finish in your hand. 1. 01 Quote ### Build your quote The system, options and care plan from this calculation, itemized on screen: list prices, and installation and SF50 / SF100 care plans priced in your formal quote. Share it or save it as a PDF. [Build your quote](https://amtechnologies.com/quote/) 2. 02 Configure ### Get a price A few questions about your parts, volume and site, and the configurator returns a complete, priced setup. [Get a price](https://amtechnologies.com/configurator/) 3. 03 Benchmark ### Test your parts, free Ship parts with a prepaid label. AMT vapor smooths them and sends them back with before-and-after photos and a benchmark report. [Test your parts, free](https://benchmarking.amtechnologies.com/submit?utm_source=amtechnologies.com&utm_medium=roi-page&utm_campaign=site-2026&utm_content=roi-close) No cost to evaluate · Parts returned · Typical turnaround 2–3 weeks Prices: AMT list prices, excluding tax and shipping; confirmed in your formal quote. [Talk to an engineer](https://share.hsforms.com/1lOH82JpuRdSM-4wJ1ZeYlw45o6d?website_source=Vapor+Smoothing&utm_source=amtechnologies.com&utm_medium=roi-page&utm_campaign=site-2026&utm_content=roi-talk) ## Sources 1. [Vapor smoothing: SF and X-series family page and SFX, SF2X, SF50, SF100 product pages](https://amtechnologies.com/products/vapor-smoothing/) · AMT · read Oct 6, 2026 · also [AMT](https://amtechnologies.com/products/vapor-smoothing/postpro-sfx-desktop-vapor-smoothing-system/) · also [AMT](https://amtechnologies.com/products/vapor-smoothing/postpro-sf2x/) · also [AMT](https://amtechnologies.com/products/vapor-smoothing/postpro-sf50/) · also [AMT](https://amtechnologies.com/products/vapor-smoothing/postpro-sf100/) 2. [PostPro SF2X product page](https://amtechnologies.com/products/vapor-smoothing/postpro-sf2x/) · AMT · read Oct 6, 2026 3. [AMT PostPro brochure: automated post-processing systems for additive manufacturing, V4.0 (June 2026)](https://info.amtechnologies.com/download-document?document_name=brochure) · AMT · Jun 2026 4. [PostPro benchmarking: send us your 3D printed parts](https://benchmarking.amtechnologies.com/) · AMT · read Oct 6, 2026