Case study · Profitability
Real ROI: From First Printed Prop to Recovering Your Machine Investment
The most frequent question before buying an FGF printer is how many projects you need to pay off the equipment. This guide answers with real numbers, broken down by studio type and production volume.
01 — The formulaHow ROI is calculated
The return on investment for an FGF printer has two components: the direct savings per project (materials + labor you stop spending) and the additional revenue generated by projects you can take on thanks to freed capacity.
The basic formula is:
Months to recover investment = Equipment price ÷ (Monthly savings + Monthly additional revenue)
Where monthly savings = (old cost − new cost) × projects per month.
For the P600+ (entry model), the reference price is USD 28,000. For the P1000, USD 52,000. All calculations below use the P600+ as the base.
02 — The three real savingsWhere the savings come from
| Savings item | Traditional method (EPS/fiber) | With FGF — Fused Form | Savings per prop |
|---|---|---|---|
| Materials (1.2 m prop) | $280–400 USD | $100–150 USD | $130–250 USD |
| Labor (1.2 m prop) | $500–900 USD | $150–300 USD | $350–600 USD |
| Total savings per prop | $780–1,300 USD | $250–450 USD | $480–850 USD |
Freed time also has economic value. If each prop goes from 12 days to 3 days of fabrication, and you produce 8 props per year, you free up 72 days of productive capacity. Those days can translate into 3–5 additional projects per year, with their corresponding margin.
03 — Numbers by studio typeThree studio profiles
Recovery time varies significantly by project type and volume. Here are three representative profiles:
Small studio
Regional theater · 4–6 projects/year
Mid-size studio
Theater + film · 8–12 projects/year
Large studio
Film + events + theater · 15+ projects/year
Payback time visualization
04 — What speeds up or slows down ROIVariables that change the calculation
| Variable | Effect on ROI | Estimated impact |
|---|---|---|
| Using recycled pellet | Reduces material cost up to 45% | Shortens ROI 15–25% |
| Additional projects taken on | New revenue that didn't exist before | Can cut ROI in half |
| Piece size | Larger pieces = greater savings | 1.5 m props generate 2× savings |
| Local labor cost | Variable by country | Higher in USA, lower in LATAM |
| Equipment financing | Adds financial cost | Extends ROI 10–30% by rate |
| Low-volume months per year | Reduces cumulative savings | Extends ROI proportionally |
The factor that most impacts ROI isn't material savings — it's the ability to take on more projects. A mid-size studio that goes from turning down 3 projects per year due to capacity constraints to executing them can recover the investment in under 8 months even if the direct per-prop savings are modest.
05 — Value that doesn't show in spreadsheetsBeyond direct ROI
| Intangible factor | Real economic value |
|---|---|
| 3D files as permanent assets | Reproduce a set next season with no fabrication cost. Every reused file is additional ROI. |
| Reduced dependency on key craftsmen | The risk of a sculptor being unavailable has a real cost. FGF eliminates it. |
| Freed workshop space | 20–30 m² freed from EPS and mold storage = productive capacity or rent savings. |
| Ability to quote larger projects | Offer complete sets you previously had to subcontract. Margin stays in the studio. |
| Reputation and differentiation | Studios with FGF can offer delivery times artisanal competitors can't match. |
06 — Your numberHow to calculate your specific ROI
To calculate payback time for your specific operation, you need three data points:
- How many large props you produce per year (over 60 cm)
- What each one currently costs you (materials + labor)
- How many projects you turn down or subcontract due to capacity
With those three numbers, the interactive calculator projects your estimated annual savings and payback time for the P600+ or P1000.
Calculate your payback time now
Adjust your operation parameters and get the estimated number of months for your specific studio.
Go to ROI calculator →Or request a quote with a personalized ROI proposal at fusedformcorp.com