The TRUE COST of CNC Machining?
Manufacturing cost is an essential factor that decides whether the final product will be economically competitive or not. Sometimes small changes or accommodations in design or machining can significantly reduce the cost. Therefore, it is critical to understand all the aspects associated with manufacturing costs. Further, we will discuss The TRUE costs of CNC Machining and the factors influencing the cost.
Contents
What is meant by The TRUE COST of CNC Machining?
True cost refers to the actual money required to complete any project excluding all the overhead and profit margin. Similarly, the True Cost of CNC Machining refers to all the money needed to machine any project ( or Per/ hour), excluding the profit margin and other overhead charges.
It Includes;
- Material Cost
- Machinery Cost
- Operator Cost
- Energy Cost
- Quality Control Cost
- Space/ Facility Cost
Moreover, these are also the factors that overall decide the CNC machining Cost. It means each cost contributes to the final cost of the product.
Factors Influencing the True CNC Machining Cost
As previously mentioned, many factors cumulatively decide the cost of CNC machining Services. Understanding these factors helps to optimize the cost at the micro-level. You can analyze the cost variation of different schemes under each factor and match the cost-effective one with your machining requirements.
Here is the elaboration of different CNC machining cost factors;
1. Equipment and Operator Requirements
The first factor is what kind of CNC equipment your design needs. A simple 3-axis CNC Lathe, 5-axis CNC machines, or CNC Turn-Milling centers?
If your design has complex features like an internal undercut, it will cost more since it requires advanced CNC Turn-Milling centers. In contrast, simple shaft machining might involve less machinery cost because a simple CNC lather can handle that design.
Furthermore, the complex design requires skilled and experienced operators. So, they will cost more. If your design has tighter tolerances the cost will increase as it demands more sophisticated machines.
2. Energy Cost
Another factor is energy consumption, how much electricity does a CNC machine consume in an hour and what is the rate of electricity? Here the rate of electricity might differ from region to region. For example, energy is costlier in the USA than in Asian countries.
3. Space/ Facility Cost
The space where the CNC machine will operate also contributes to the true cost of CNC machining. It is related to structural and land investment where the factory is set up.
However, it could not be significant while calculating per/ hour.
4. Quality Control Cost
Quality control is another critical factor in overall CNC machining cost. The rigorous quality control with Strict standards( like FDA Approved, or ISO Standards) will add up the cost.
The reason is that such quality control related to certifications requires experts and a dedicated quality control team.
5. Surface Treatment Requirements
If your CNC-machined parts need a specific level of surface finish( Ra value) or shininess, the cost will be further increased. Meanwhile, the finish requirement could be for functional, aesthetic, or both purposes.
Examples of CNC Machining Cost
Let’s see two CNC machining scenarios: One for a simple Steel shaft and another for a dental prosthetic both are completed in one hour. Another consideration is that the machine is set up for 1000 to 2000 cycles in both cases. The per/hour cost also varies on how many cycles you are going to run. After all machine and tool setup costs are the same whether you run for 10 cycles or 1000 cycles.
A. CNC Machining of a Dental Prosthetic.
Since dental prosthetics is a complex shapes, it requires advanced 5-axis CNC Milling.
Equipment Cost | $25 -30 |
Energy Cost | $5-10 |
Operator Cost | $30-50 |
Quality Control Cost | $15-$20 |
Space Cost | $1 |
Surface Finish Cost | $15 |
Total Cost | $90- 120 |
B. Cost for CNC Machining of a Steel Shaft.
A simple 3-axis CNC lathe can handle the shape of the shaft(10 cm length, 17 cm diameter.)
Equipment Cost | $ 5-10 |
Energy Cost | $2-5 |
Operator Cost | $10 |
Quality Control Cost | $2-5 |
Space Cost | $1 |
Surface Finish Cost | $5 |
Total Cost(per/hour) | $25-40 |
Tips for Optimizing the CNC Machining Cost
- Modify or adjust your design to make it simple if it does not affect the intended functionality.
- Optimize the tool path for machining to reduce the time and complexity.
- Usee custom tooling like jigs & fixtures
- Outsource the service where operator and equipment costs are low, such as in China.
- Consult with design experts to optimize the design for manufacturability(DMF)