Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machining is a type of manufacturing with a high level of automation. A machine uses special numerical codes, which allows you to create products with maximum accuracy and high surface quality. The processing of parts on such machines allows you to significantly speed up the process, make it more accurate, and is great for mass production.
3D printing has an important difference from the manufacture of parts on CNC machines. This is an additive type of production. It is more suitable for plastic, resin, and lower-quality materials than metal and wood. If you need to make a large number of identical goods or, for example, precisely cut a workpiece, the choice here is clearly for CNC. So, how much does CNC machining cost? The cost of machining parts using CNC depends on several factors. Let's talk about how to calculate machining cost for CNC machines in this article.
These costs are laid down before the start of processing products. Even if the equipment has already paid off, you need to include depreciation and repair costs. Therefore, the higher the price of a CNC machine, the more expensive it is to maintain, and the higher the cost of blanks.
The choice of the type of machine is carried out, depending on the operation that needs to be carried out for processing. It can be:
The efficiency of the device is very important. Over the past 10 years, CNC machines have changed a lot, and progress does not stand still. Modern devices are much faster and more efficient, making processing costs cheaper in the long run.
Cutting tools are also included in the equipment cost when calculating the CNC milling prices. Their cost depends on the material, geometry, and coating. For example, cemented carbide tools cost twice as much as tool steel counterparts. However, they are much more reliable and able to withstand extreme conditions, making them more profitable in the long run.
The setup cost covers the costs that are required to prepare for the actual processing. To manufacture a part using CNC, it is necessary to develop a 3D model. CAD software is required to create it. To a large extent, the project development and drawing affect the price of processing.
Also, the optimization of the design for the manufacture of parts is included in the preparation price. Setting up the machine takes a certain time and is also included in the cost.
Material costs are key when calculating the cost of machining parts on CNC machines. The cost of the finished product, which is manufactured on such devices, depends on the type of materials from which it will be made. The cheaper this material, the lower the cost of its processing.
For example, CNC machines are often used to process and manufacture plastic products. Plastic is relatively inexpensive, and its processing itself does not cause significant difficulties. The time spent on the manufacture of plastic products is also minimal.
When it comes to metals, the most commonly used of them are aluminum, brass, and stainless steel. Aluminum products are relatively inexpensive. If stainless steel processing is required, then the situation is reversed. This material is very durable and hard, and its cost is high. Therefore, accordingly, the price of its processing will be high.
Materials processed on CNC machines are sold in the form of special blanks – solid blocks. In the preparation stage, a CAD project is developed, containing information about what the finished product will look like. Accordingly, the consumption of material per block, which is necessary to create the finished product, is also calculated. The required amount of raw materials will always be more than the material of the final product.
Given the relatively low cost of aluminum and the ease of processing this metal, many machinists recommend using this material for processing. Stainless steel and brass are much more difficult to process, which increases the price of the finished product accordingly. The most expensive will be the processing of a titanium alloy because this material has a very high cost and is very difficult to process. It requires a special tool to work with it.
The design and geometry of products are important factors when calculating the cost of processing products using CNC machines. The more complex the item, the more expensive it will be. For the manufacture of certain types of products, only new CNC models are suitable because the old ones cannot cope with the level of complexity and cannot provide the proper quality. Making complex parts requires repeated setup changes, higher resource costs, and more precise control. All this is taken into account when calculating the cost.
The design and geometry of a part significantly affect the cost of CNC machining. There are several types of designs that increase the cost of products. These include:
If these constructions are not absolutely necessary, it is better to refuse them. This will help keep the CNC machining cost down.
Production volume also plays an important role in pricing. However, the dependency is reversed - the more parts you need to produce, the correspondingly lower the price of each of them.
It is recommended to use large-scale production of standard parts. To reduce the price, it is better to order one or two large lots instead of several smaller lots. In this case, the CAD project's development and the machine's setup are carried out only once, which simplifies the work.
