Measure the total length of the lines you plan to draw, then enter the diameter and density of the filament you load. Trace the outline of your template with a ruler, or add up the perimeter segments and convert to feet. For a three-dimensional build, add the base perimeter and the vertical struts separately.
The math is the plain cylinder volume formula. Half the diameter is squared and multiplied by pi for the cross-section, that is multiplied by the line length for the volume, and the volume is multiplied by density for the weight. Run time is the line length divided by the feed rate. Filament density is not covered by any official standard value because it shifts with the material and the production run, so the figure comes from your own input. Current as of October 2026.
The tool assumes the drawn bead has the same cross-section as the filament. If the bead squashes out or stretches thin, real usage differs. Working backwards from weight to length or cost, filament pricing, and estimating the volume of a finished print are not covered. Treat the figures as a reference and order with a margin.
Frequently Asked Questions
Run the pen in one spot for 10 seconds, measure the filament that came out, and multiply by six to get millimeters per minute. The figure shifts when you change temperature or speed, so measure again for each setting.
Density varies with the material and the production run, so no official standard value is published. Typing the figure from the maker's own spec sheet gives the closest result.
A bead squashed against the surface has a wider cross-section than the filament itself, so it eats more. Purge at the start and trimming at the end add to it, so order with a margin.