Estimating Machining Costs
Estimating Machining Costs
(OP)
Does anyone know of a chart or something very simple to get "ball park" cost estimates on machined parts?
I'm looking for a quick lookup chart rather than a calculator. Something that inputs the machining method, material, & general complexity... then gives me a rough cost to produce.
I'm looking for a quick lookup chart rather than a calculator. Something that inputs the machining method, material, & general complexity... then gives me a rough cost to produce.





RE: Estimating Machining Costs
Your best bet is to find how long it takes to do X operation in Y material per Z distance (mill, drill, tap, ream, etc.) Multiply by total distance for each operation (hole, slot, pocket) add total number of operations times a reasonable travel time (5s? vary by size), multiply the whole thing by 2 because face it your guessing at machining times (pocketing and interpolated hole (w/ endmill) times can vary wildly, also there are load times).
Divide by 3600s/hr and times by 50$-90$ depending on your manufacturers preference and voila a very rough VERY ballpark number.
But if your going into this cold without a sense of how production machining is done this can at least give you an idea of what variables you are dealing with.