What Factors Affect CNC Parts Pricing?
- Machining time
This is the main factor that determines the overall price of CNC machining. A general rule of thumb is that the longer it takes to machine a part, the higher the price will be.
- Material costs
Another major factor in the overall price of CNC machining is the cost and difficulty of the bulk material you select.
- Material finish
To make your parts last longer and look better, apply a finish. While this has some benefits, it will almost certainly drive up the machining cost.
Methods to Decrease the Price of CNC Machining
- Avoid deep pockets
Since creating deep pockets requires removing a lot of material, they might have an adverse effect on the price of CNC machining. It takes time and sometimes a specialized tool to get to the desired depth when excavating.
You should not have pockets any deeper than four times their length. The maximum depth that can be cut with CNC tools is two or three times the diameter of the drilled hole. You can increase the cutting diameter by a factor of four, but doing so will increase your costs.
- Avoid the use of close tolerances wherever not needed.
There will be an increase in price due to the extra machining time and inspection time needed when designing for tight tolerance. Because burrs can form on the margins of machining holes and other cavities, it can be especially challenging to obtain tight tolerances on the internal surfaces of your product. A manual inspection alone isn’t enough to eliminate these burrs; deburring is also necessary. As a manual procedure that takes a considerable amount of time and adds to the overall cost of CNC machining.
- Expand thin walls
Time is needed to manufacture thin walls due to their fragility. When machining thin walls, it is necessary to make numerous passes with shallow setting depths to prevent errors and cracks. The proximity of holes and threads to the part’s edge is a common contributor to the problem of thin walls. Be sure to put them in a good spot.
Stability is increased, and machining costs are reduced with thicker walls. Metal components with walls thicker than 0.8 mm and plastic components with walls thicker than 1.5 mm should be designed, as long as the extra mass isn’t an issue.
- Avoid multiple finishes
In addition to protecting your CNC machined object from the elements, a good finish can also make it look better. The price increases are a negative side effect. Even greater cost increases would result from requiring various finishes on a single item.
Think about going with the as-machined finish for the whole thing if you’re trying to save costs. Don’t bother requesting additional finishes unless you absolutely require them.
Summary
You can rely on Karkhana.io for all of your CNC machining needs. Our excellent quality is a direct outcome of our wide network of carefully screened and vetted partners who have capabilities ranging across drilling, turning, milling, grinding and a lot more. Because we stand behind every service we provide and are eager to do everything in our power, our customers are always happy with their CNC-machined components.
At Karkhana.io, we consider all manufacturing requirements and problems for businesses to ensure a seamless manufacturing experience.On our platform you have access to simple and fast quotes, DfM feedback from our specialist engineers, project management, regular QC, audits of suppliers, logistics, and more.
Would you like to leverage all of this for your CNC manufacturing needs? Start by creating an account on our digital platform.
