We attach great importance to customers' needs for product quality and rapid production.
We always insist that meeting customers' needs is to realize our value!
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+86 133 9281 9446
+86 133 9281 9446
Nov. 25, 2024
As the manufacturing industry develops towards high precision, fast delivery and personalized customization, CNC machining, as one of the core technologies, is widely used in aerospace, automobile manufacturing, medical equipment and electronics industries. However, the cost of CNC machining has an important impact on corporate decision-making. This article will discuss the cost calculation, price influencing factors and effective strategies for reducing costs of CNC machining, and provide a reference for enterprises to optimize cost management.
The cost of CNC machining usually consists of the following parts:
Material cost
The price of raw materials is the basis for affecting the total cost. For example, the price of aluminum is about $3-5/kg, while titanium alloy may be as high as $25-30/kg.
Processing time cost
The hourly operating cost of CNC machine tools includes power consumption, equipment depreciation and operator wages. The operating cost of ordinary 3-axis CNC machine tools is usually $30-50/hour, while complex 5-axis CNC machining centers may reach $75-120/hour.
Programming and design costs
CNC machining requires CAM programming to be completed in advance, and the programming cost of complex parts may account for 5%-15% of the total cost.
Surface treatment costs
Depending on customer needs, additional treatment processes such as polishing, electroplating or spraying may be required, with a price range of US$5-50/piece.
The cost of CNC machining is affected by many factors, among which the following are particularly critical:
The type of material directly determines the difficulty and cost of machining. Taking stainless steel with higher hardness as an example, its cutting speed is about 40%-60% slower than aluminum, and the machining time is longer, which increases the total cost.
Part complexity
The geometric complexity of the part design directly affects the machining time. Some complex parts may require 5-axis or even multiple fixture positioning, and the cost per piece may be 3-5 times that of simple parts.
Batch size
Mass production can usually significantly reduce the cost per piece. For example, the debugging and setup costs for single-piece production may account for more than 50% of the cost, while large-scale production can dilute this part of the cost.
Tolerance and precision requirements
High tolerances (such as ±0.01mm) usually require longer processing time and stricter quality inspection, resulting in higher costs. The price of ordinary parts tolerance processing is $30/hour, while high-precision parts may be as high as $70/hour.
Subsequent processing requirements
Surface treatment and assembly processes will also increase costs. For example, anodizing may increase costs by 10%-15%.
Optimize part design
Optimize the geometry during the design stage to avoid unnecessary complex structures. For example, removing the sharp angle design of the inner cavity can save 20%-30% of processing time.
Choose the right material
Choose cost-effective materials according to actual needs. If high temperature resistance is not required, consider replacing stainless steel with aluminum alloy, which can save material costs by 40%-50%.
Increase the proportion of batch production
Small batch production can be combined with other orders, or the production plan can be adjusted to fully utilize the equipment capacity, thereby reducing the cost per piece.
Simplify surface treatment requirements
Selectively abandoning expensive surface treatment without affecting functionality, such as using natural polishing instead of anodizing, can save about 10%-15% of costs.
Work with experienced suppliers
Experienced CNC processing service providers can shorten delivery time and reduce costs by optimizing process paths and using advanced equipment.
The global CNC processing market is expected to grow from US$85 billion in 2023 to US$124 billion in 2028, with a compound annual growth rate of 7.8%.
Enterprises can reduce costs by an average of 15%-30% by optimizing design, material selection and mass production.
The calculation of CNC processing costs and price influencing factors are important considerations for every purchasing decision. By optimizing design, selecting appropriate materials and working with high-quality suppliers, companies can significantly reduce costs while improving production efficiency, thereby gaining an advantage in the fierce market competition.
If you need professional CNC machining solutions, welcome to contact Kaierwo and talk to our experts. Kaierwo has more than 14 years of experience in CNC parts design and manufacturing, has delivered 40,000+ projects, and can customize efficient and economical machining services for your project.
We attach great importance to customers' needs for product quality and rapid production.
We always insist that meeting customers' needs is to realize our value!
