What are the factors that affect the cost of CNC parts?

Whether you want to create a single prototype or prepare for mass production, reducing manufacturing costs is usually the top priority when it comes to CNC machining.

Fortunately, as a designer, your decision will greatly affect the final pricing. By following the "Design for Machinability" tips in this article, you can manufacture optimized parts to minimize costs and still meet your design requirements.

What affects the cost of CNC parts?

The price of CNC stainless steel turned parts depends on the following factors:

1. Processing time: The longer it takes to process a part, the more expensive it is. In CNC, machining time is usually the main cost driver.

2. Start-up cost: These are related to CAD file preparation and process planning, and are of great significance for small batch production. This cost is fixed, and there is an opportunity to lower the unit price through the use of "economies of scale".

3. Material cost: The cost of materials and the ease of material processing have a great influence on the overall cost. Optimizing the design while considering certain material factors can greatly reduce the price.

4. Other manufacturing costs: When you design parts with special requirements (for example, when you define strict tolerances or design thin walls), you may need special tools, stricter quality control and more processing steps ( At a lower processing speed). Of course, this will have an impact on the total manufacturing time (and price).