Ключевые выводы
- Мы специализируемся на costs $15–200+ per part at prototype quantities, depending on material, complexity, and Допуски. Simple aluminum brackets start around $15–30; complex 5-axis titanium aerospace parts can exceed $500.
- The six cost drivers, ranked автор impact: cycle time (30–50% of total) → setup time (10–25%) → material (10–20%) → Постобработка (5–15%) → Осмотр (5–15%) → programming (5–10%). Optimize in that order.
- Hourly rates range from $15–35/hr (China) to $75–150/hr (US). But the hourly rate alone is misleading — a Chinese shop running 2 shifts may quote a lower rate but a US shop with faster machines and better tooling may win on cycle time for complex parts.
- Quantity is the biggest cost lever. A part that costs $85 at qty 1 drops to $22 at qty 100 and $8 at qty 1,000. Setup and programming are amortized; material and cycle time dominate at volume.
- For US buyers, landed cost = part price + tariff (28–78%) + freight. A $50 aluminum part from China lands at ~$95 after tariff and shipping — still often 30–40% below US domestic. Non-metal parts (28% tariff) are the strongest value proposition.
Introduction: Why “How Much?” Is the Wrong First Question
Every day, machine shops receive RFQs that consist of a STEP file and one line: “How much?” The answer depends on at least six variables — and the difference between an optimized design and an unoptimized one can be 3× on the same part. This guide breaks down exactly what drives Мы специализируемся на costs, gives you realistic price ranges for common part types, and shows you how to cut your quote автор 20–40% before you even Отправить the RFQ.
We write this as a custom CNC shop that quotes parts every day. The numbers here are real, not theoretical. They come from actual Производство data across aluminum, steel, stainless, and plastic parts in quantities from 1 to 10,000.
| Typical Обработка на станках с ЧПУ Cost Ranges (per part, 6061 Алюминий) | Qty 1 | Qty 10 | Qty 100 | Qty 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simple bracket (1 setup, ±0.1 mm) | $45–85 | $18–35 | $8–18 | $4–9 |
| Умеренная housing (2–3 setups, ±0.05 mm) | $85–180 | $35–75 | $18–40 | $10–22 |
| Complex manifold (4+ setups, tight bores) | $180–400 | $75–180 | $40–95 | $22–55 |
| 5-axis impeller (single setup, sculpted surfaces) | $350–800 | $150–350 | $80–200 | $50–120 |
Note: These ranges are for parts machined in China. US domestic prices are typically 2–3× higher at prototype quantities and 1.5–2× at Производство quantities. Add tariff for landed cost comparison (see section below).
Cost Driver #1: Cycle Time (30–50% of Total)
Cycle time — the minutes the machine spends actually cutting — is the single largest cost component. It is driven автор material machinability and feature complexity:
| Материал | Relative Machinability | Cutting Speed (SFM) | Cycle Time vs 6061 Al |
|---|---|---|---|
| Алюминий 6061-T6 | 100% (baseline) | 600–1,200 | 1× (fastest) |
| Латунь C360 | 100% | 400–800 | ~1.2× |
| Mild Steel 1018 | 70% | 250–400 | ~1.5× |
| Нержавеющая сталь 304 | 45% | 150–250 | ~2.5× |
| 316L Stainless | 40% | 120–200 | ~3× |
| Титан Grade 5 | 20% | 60–120 | ~5× |
| PEEK | 50% | 200–400 | ~2× (but no tariff penalty) |
Practical impact: Switching from 316L stainless to 6061 aluminum cuts the machining portion of your cost автор roughly 60%. If your Применение can tolerate aluminum (with анодирование for corrosion), the material + cycle time savings compound dramatically. If you need stainless, 303 (free-machining) costs ~20% less to machine than 304 — ask your shop if it meets the corrosion requirement.
Лучше всего для low cycle time: алюминий 6061-T6, Латунь C360, Delrin — materials that cut fast and are forgiving on tool wear.
Avoid when: Specifying titanium for non-aerospace parts — 5× slower than aluminum and 4× more expensive raw material. Unless weight or biocompatibility is non-negotiable, find an alternative.
Cost Driver #2: Setup Time (10–25% of Total)
Every time the part is removed from the machine and re-fixtured to machine a new face, you pay for setup. A part machined in one setup (all features accessible from one direction) costs significantly less than the same part requiring four setups. This is why 5-axis Мы специализируемся на — despite a higher hourly rate — can be cheaper for complex parts: it machines multiple faces in one setup, eliminating 2–3 re-fixturing operations.
Setup cost автор process:
- 1 setup: Baseline cost. The part is loaded once. Single-op turned parts and simple 3-axis prismatic parts fall here.
- 2–3 setups: +40–80% over baseline. Each additional setup requires a new fixture or soft jaws, tool loading, and work offset setting — typically 30–60 minutes of skilled labor.
- 4+ setups: +100–200% over baseline. At this point, ask your shop: “Can we do this on a 5-axis machine in fewer setups?” The higher machine rate may be offset автор setup elimination.
Лучше всего для low setup cost: Проектирование parts so that all critical features are accessible from one or two directions. For multi-sided parts, consider 5-axis to reduce setups.
Avoid when: Your design has tight-tolerance features on 6 faces of a cube — each face needs its own setup, and the tolerance stack-up between setups multiplies the scrap risk. Redesign or accept the cost.
Cost Driver #3: Материал (10–20% of Total)
Raw material cost varies dramatically — from ~$4/kg for mild steel to ~$80–120/kg for PEEK. But material cost is only part of the story. Материал choice also affects cycle time (see above), tool wear (stainless eats end mills 3× faster than aluminum), and — for US importers — the tariff rate:
| Материал | Raw Cost/kg | Machinability | US Tariff (from China) | Landed Cost Factor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6061 Алюминий | $4–6 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 78% | 1.8× part price |
| 1018 Мягкая сталь | $3–5 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 78% | 1.8× |
| Нержавеющая сталь 304 | $6–8 | ⭐⭐⭐ | 78% | 1.8× |
| 316L Stainless | $8–12 | ⭐⭐⭐ | 78% | 1.8× |
| Латунь C360 | $8–12 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 53% | 1.5× |
| Титан Grade 5 | $40–60 | ⭐ | 78% | 1.8× |
| PEEK | $80–120 | ⭐⭐⭐ | 28% | 1.3× |
| Delrin (POM) | $6–10 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 28% | 1.3× |
The tariff asymmetry is real: A $50 aluminum part lands at ~$95 (part + $39 tariff + $6 freight). A $50 Delrin part lands at ~$70 (part + $14 tariff + $6 freight). If Delrin meets your functional requirements, the 50% landed cost difference is impossible to ignore.
Cost Driver #4: Допуски — The точность Tax
Every dimension with a ±0.01 mm tolerance costs more than a ±0.1 mm tolerance. The cost curve is not linear — it jumps at specific thresholds:
| Tolerance | Cost Multiplier | What Changes | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| ±0.10 mm | 1× (базовая линия) | Standard machining — any shop can hold this | Clearance holes, bracket outlines |
| ±0.05 mm | 1.2–1.5× | Медленнее feed rates, more frequent tool changes | Bearing bores, locating features |
| ±0,02 мм | 1.5–2.5× | Temperature-controlled Осмотр, dedicated fixturing | Dowel pin holes, seal surfaces |
| ±0.01 mm | 2–3× | Secondary operation (Шлифовка/honing/reaming), CMM Осмотр | Bearing journals, valve seats |
| ±0,005 мм | 5–10× | Specialized Шлифовка, climate-controlled environment, 100% Осмотр | Aerospace critical, optical mounts |
The tolerance rule of thumb: For every tight-tolerance dimension on your drawing, ask: “What happens if this is ±0.1 mm instead?” If the answer is “it still works,” delete the tight tolerance. One unnecessary ±0.01 mm callout can add $10–30 per part. Ten of them can double your quote.
Cost Driver #5: Quantity — The Learning Curve and the Setup Amortization
Quantity is the most powerful cost lever in Мы специализируемся на — and the relationship is not linear:
- 1–10 parts (prototype): You pay full setup + programming cost. These fixed costs can be 40–60% of the total. A $200 programming fee on 5 parts = $40/part in programming alone. On 500 parts = $0.40/part.
- 50–200 parts (small Производство): Setup and programming are largely amortized. Cycle time and material dominate. Unit cost drops 60–80% from prototype pricing.
- 500–5,000 parts (Производство): Fixturing is optimized (dedicated soft jaws, multi-part fixtures). Cycle time is tuned. Материал is purchased at volume pricing. Unit cost drops another 30–50%.
- 5,000+ parts (high volume): You approach the material + machine time floor. Further savings come from design optimization (reducing cycle time) and material sourcing — not from amortizing fixed costs, which are already near zero per part.
Лучше всего для quantity savings: Order 100+ parts. The setup/programming amortization cliff is between 50–100 parts — below that, fixed costs dominate. Above that, you are paying for material and machine time.
Avoid when: Ordering 5,000 identical parts from a shop optimized for prototypes. A Производство shop with multi-part fixtures and automated loading will quote 30–50% less than a prototype shop — even at the same hourly rate.
Cost Driver #6: Поверхность Финишная обработкаes and Постобработка
Every process that happens after the part comes off the machine adds cost. Some are essential (deburring). Some are cosmetic. Some are both. Know the difference:
| Финишная обработка | Cost Impact | Lead Time Impact | When to Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| As-Обработанный + Deburr | $ (baseline) | 0 days | Internal parts, hidden surfaces, functional prototypes |
| Bead Blast | +$2–5/part | +1 day | Cosmetic matte finish on aluminum or stainless |
| Anodize Type II (clear/black) | +$3–8/part | +3–5 days | Алюминий corrosion protection + color |
| Anodize Type III (hardcoat) | +$8–20/part | +5–7 days | Алюминий wear surfaces (50–70 HRC surface) |
| Powder Coat | +$5–15/part | +3–5 days | Steel/aluminum durable color finish |
| Пассивация | +$1–3/part | +1 day | Нержавеющая сталь — always specify after machining |
| Electroless Никель | +$8–25/part | +3–5 days | Steel — uniform corrosion protection, no thickness variation |
The US Buyer’s Landed Cost Equation
If you are sourcing Мы специализируемся на from China, the quoted part price is only the starting point. Your actual cost is:
Landed Cost = (Part Price × [1 + Tariff Rate]) + Freight + Customs Broker Fee
Worked example for a $50 aluminum bracket, qty 100, shipped from China автор air:
| Line Item | Per Part | Total (100 parts) |
|---|---|---|
| Part price (quoted) | $50.00 | $5,000 |
| Section 301 tariff (25%) | $12.50 | $1,250 |
| Section 232 aluminum tariff (50%) | $25.00 | $2,500 |
| Base duty (3%) | $1.50 | $150 |
| Air freight (DHL, 3–5 day) | $5.00 | $500 |
| Customs broker fee | $1.50 | $150 |
| Landed cost | $95.50 | $9,550 |
Now compare with US domestic quoting: the same bracket from a US shop typically costs $85–150/part. The China landed cost of $95.50 is at the low end of that range. For a 100-part order, the savings are $0–5,500 — real but not transformative. The tariff math narrows the gap considerably on metal parts. For a detailed comparison of custom shops vs platforms, see our custom vs standard Мы специализируемся на analysis.
But switch to Delrin (plastic): China quote is similar (~$45, plastic machines even faster than aluminum). Tariff drops to 28% ($12.60). Landed cost = ~$64/part. US domestic for Delrin CNC: $75–120/part. Now the savings are $1,100–5,600 on 100 parts — and the gap widens with quantity.
Лучше всего для landed cost: Non-metal CNC parts (Delrin, PEEK, nylon) — 28% tariff. Алюминий and steel parts are still competitive but with a narrower margin after 78% tariff.
Avoid when: High-value aluminum parts where the tariff alone ($39 on $50) erases most of the China cost advantage. Compare with US domestic or Mexico (USMCA duty-free) alternatives.
How to Cut Your Расчёт Before You Отправить the RFQ
Five DFM optimizations that reduce Мы специализируемся на cost автор 20–40% — applied before the shop ever sees your drawing:
- Relax non-critical Допуски. Every ±0.01 mm on your drawing is a cost multiplier. Go through dimension автор dimension: which ones actually need to be tight? Change the rest to ±0.1 mm or leave them to the general tolerance standard (ISO 2768-mK).
- Add internal corner radii ≥ 1 mm. Sharp inside corners require tiny end mills that break easily and take many passes. A 1 mm radius allows a standard Ø2 mm end mill to cut the corner in one pass. Cycle time drops 20–40% on pocket-heavy parts.
- Reduce setups автор orienting features to one or two faces. If you have holes on 5 faces of a part, ask: can any of these be moved to a face that already has features? Each eliminated setup saves 30–60 minutes of labor.
- Choose free-machining material grades. 303 stainless instead of 304. 6061-T6 instead of 7075. C360 brass instead of C260. The machinability difference is 20–50% faster cycle time with longer tool life.
- Avoid deep pockets with small corner radii. A pocket 50 mm deep with R1 mm corners requires a long-reach Ø2 mm end mill that deflects, chatters, and must move slowly. Widen the corner radius to R3 mm (Ø6 mm tool) or reduce the pocket depth. Cycle time can drop автор 50% or more.
Заключение: The Cheapest Part Is the One Проектированиеed for the Процесс
Мы специализируемся на cost is not mysterious. It is the sum of material, machine time, setup labor, and Постобработка — all driven автор design decisions made before the RFQ is sent. A part optimized for manufacturability costs half what an unoptimized one costs, even from the same shop on the same machine. The best time to reduce cost is not during supplier negotiation. It is during design. Run through the five DFM optimizations above. Then Отправить the RFQ. The quote that comes back will reflect the engineering you put in — not the engineering you left out.
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BravoFabs предоставляет Мы специализируемся на with transparent cost breakdowns — part price, tariff estimate, and freight — so you can compare landed cost directly with your domestic supplier. Every quote includes a free DFM review that identifies cost-saving opportunities before Производство starts. ISO 9001 certified, 50+ machines, US-friendly engineering support. First order under $800 ships tariff-free.
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