Estimates assume 3-axis milling from standard stock at typical job-shop rates. Actual quotes vary widely by shop, region and part specifics.
How this estimate is calculated
No black box — here is the exact CNC cost model this tool uses, so you can sanity-check it and adjust for your own shop. The unit price is the sum of three drivers, then a quantity factor:
1 · Material & stock
billet volume × density → kg, × price/kg × 1.6. We start from the bounding-box stock volume for the size you pick, convert to weight with the material's density, multiply by a typical $/kg for that material, and add a 1.6× factor for the stock you machine away as chips and standard bar/plate oversize.
2 · Machining time & labor
base time × complexity × machinability factor × $75/hr. Each part size has a base cut time; complexity and the material's machinability scale it (harder-to-cut materials take longer), then we apply a typical $75/hour 3-axis job-shop rate.
3 · Setup & programming
(≈$95 + size factor) ÷ quantity. Fixturing, work-holding and CAM programming are a fixed cost per job, so they are amortized across the batch — which is why unit price drops fast as quantity rises.
4 · Quantity factor
A tiered efficiency discount for repeat parts: roughly −6% at 25+, −12% at 100+, −20% at 1,000+.
Assumptions & limits
- 3-axis milling from standard stock; no 5-axis, EDM or turning premiums.
- No surface finishing, plating, inspection/CMM, or special tolerances priced in.
- Material $/kg and shop rate are typical mid-2020s values — adjust for your region and shop.
- It is an order-of-magnitude budgeting tool, not a quote.