CNC Cost Drivers 101: Design Tweaks to Slash Your Price
Getting a high quote on a CNC part can be frustrating, but the price isn't pulled out of thin air - it comes down to tangible cost drivers. In CNC parts machining , the major factors are material cost, machine run time, and labor/setup time. Harder or exotic metals cost more per pound and take longer to cut, while complex geometries (deep pockets, thin walls, sharp corners) force slower feeds or special tools. Every minute the cutter spends on the part is billed, and every fixture flip or programming hour adds overhead.