Frequently Asked Questions

SpoolIQ is a business management platform built for 3D printing makers and small print farms. It helps manage inventory, production, product costing, customers and a public showcase from one place. Unlike printer control software, SpoolIQ focuses on the business side of 3D printing, helping makers understand costs, improve profitability and organize their workflow.

SpoolIQ is designed for makers who sell 3D printed products, Etsy sellers, small print farms and businesses managing multiple printers. Whether you sell through social media, your own website or marketplaces, SpoolIQ helps organize inventory, production and finances.

No. SpoolIQ does not monitor printers or stream live print jobs. Instead, it complements software like Bambu Studio, OrcaSlicer, OctoPrint or Klipper by managing the business around your printers, including inventory, production planning, product costing and profitability.

SpoolIQ calculates the real production cost of every product by combining multiple factors, including filament usage, electricity consumption, printer wear, preparation time, assembly time and additional expenses, creating a complete Bill of Materials (BOM) that includes packaging materials, labels or shipping supplies. This provides a more accurate production cost than simply calculating filament usage.

Yes. SpoolIQ compares production costs with the selling price while taking platform fees, VAT and additional expenses into account. This helps makers understand the actual profit generated by each sale instead of relying on estimates.

Yes. SpoolIQ supports multiple printers, production queues and different printer configurations, making it suitable for both individual makers and small print farms.

Yes. Each filament spool can be tracked individually, including color, material, remaining weight and QR code identification. SpoolIQ also helps monitor stock levels and warns when inventory is running low.

Yes. SpoolIQ is not limited to filament. You can also manage packaging supplies such as shipping boxes, bags, labels, stickers, screws, magnets and other consumables so every product reflects its real production cost.

The SpoolIQ Showcase is a public profile where makers can present their 3D printed products. Visitors can browse creations, discover the maker's work and contact them directly through email, WhatsApp or their existing online stores such as Etsy or Shopify. The Showcase is designed to increase visibility rather than process online payments.

No. The Showcase is a portfolio and product catalog rather than an online checkout store. Customers can contact the maker directly or visit the maker's preferred sales channels, including Etsy, Shopify or social media.

No. Every SpoolIQ user receives an SEO-optimized public Showcase page that can be shared using a personalized URL such as spooliq.io/@username. This makes it easy to present products even without creating a separate website.

Yes. SpoolIQ works alongside your existing sales channels. You can continue selling through Etsy, Shopify, Facebook Marketplace or other platforms while using SpoolIQ to manage production, inventory and profitability.

Yes. Hobby makers can start with the free Hobby plan and upgrade as their business grows. SpoolIQ is designed to scale from a single printer to small commercial print farms.

SpoolIQ is currently available in English, Portuguese, French, Spanish and German.

SpoolIQ is a Progressive Web App (PWA). It works in modern web browsers and can be installed on smartphones, tablets and desktop computers without requiring an app store download.

While spreadsheets can track basic information, they require manual calculations and become difficult to maintain as a business grows. SpoolIQ automates inventory, production tracking, product costing and profitability, reducing errors and saving time.

To price 3D printed products correctly, calculate the total production cost (filament, electricity, printer wear, and labor), add packaging costs, and then apply a profit margin that accounts for marketplace fees and taxes. SpoolIQ automates this entire calculation.

You should charge enough to cover your true Bill of Materials (BOM), operational overhead, and desired profit margin. Relying solely on filament weight leads to underpricing. SpoolIQ helps you determine the exact minimum selling price to stay profitable.

Multiply the weight of the printed object (including supports) by the cost per gram of the filament spool. SpoolIQ tracks each spool's purchase price and automatically calculates the exact material cost for every print job.

Profitability is measured by tracking every expense against your sales revenue. SpoolIQ provides detailed cost breakdowns for each product, ensuring your selling price covers materials, machine time, labor, and platform fees.

Include filament, printer depreciation (wear and tear), electricity, preparation and post-processing labor, packaging boxes, labels, and selling fees. SpoolIQ includes all these variables in its product costing engine.

The best software goes beyond basic counting by connecting inventory directly to production. SpoolIQ tracks filament weight, spool colors, and packaging materials, automatically deducting them as print jobs are completed.

Using a centralized management system like SpoolIQ allows you to assign specific spools to different printers and print jobs. The system automatically updates the remaining weight of each spool, preventing out-of-stock situations.

Small print farms use slicing software (like OrcaSlicer or Bambu Studio) to prepare files, and business management software like SpoolIQ (an ERP) to track inventory, calculate costs, and manage the production queue.

Organize by digitizing your inventory, standardizing your product recipes (BOM), and tracking production statuses. SpoolIQ centralizes these operations, replacing scattered spreadsheets and notebooks.

Yes. Purpose-built ERP platforms like SpoolIQ replace spreadsheets by automating math, linking inventory to production, and providing a visual dashboard of your entire print farm's financial health.