CNC Sheetmetal
Updated over a week ago

Digifabster defines CNC Sheetmetal as a process that is cutting features from a flat sheet of material and then bending to form the part. For example, Sheetmetal brackets, Enclosure, Storage etc.

Creating a new CNC Sheetmetal machine will present a number of options for you to choose to set up your pricing structure. You can decide to use as many or as few of these as possible. Digifabster will analyse the geometry of a part and use the chosen calculations to formulate a final cost.

The following walkthrough details each option to help you decide how to create your pricing structure for CNC Cutting.

Machine Settings

Manufacturing Technology

This is the type of manufacturing process you are creating pricing for.

Machine

This features a list of pre-made machine names. You can also create your own machine name by typing the name and pressing 'Enter'

Maximum Allowed Part Size

This is the maximum size your machine can manufacture or the maximum size of part you want to make.

Please note: the third box is the maximum thickness of material you can bend

Minimum Allowed Part Size

This is the minimum size your machine can manufacture or the minimum size of part you want to make.

Please note: the third box is the minimum thickness of material you can bend

Please note:

By default we orient parts with X ≥ Y ≥ Z so that the largest dimension is in X, and smallest in Z.

Accept Drawings

You can give your customers the option to upload a drawing with their CAD file or make it a requirement.

Complexity Bracketing

To calculate the complexity of a model we compare the 'actual' surface area of the part to the 'theoretical' surface area of the part without features. The part is then assigned a complexity bracket of Very Simple, Simple, Normal, Complex or Highly Complex depending on the result.

Cycle Time Multiplier

Once a part has been assigned a complexity, the cycle time multiplier is then used to calculate how much more or less time would be require to make the part based on the Feed Rate (material settings)

Example Calculation

  1. A part has a cutting path of 100cm and the complexity 'Very Simple' with a cycle time multiplier of 1. The feed rate time is set to 500cm Per hour. The total time for cutting is 0.2 hours.

  2. A part has a cutting path of 100cm and the complexity 'Highly Complex' with a cycle time multiplier of 2. This feed rate is set to 500cm Per Hour. The total time for finishing is 0.4 hours.

Machine Specs

Price Per Hour

The price you charge per hour of cutting. This cost is multiplied by the estimated cutting time.

Example Calculation

The estimated cutting time for a part is 0.5 hours. At $50 per hour the total of this calculation would be $25

Per Part Fee

This is a fee added to every part to cover costs like setup or handling of the part.

Manual Review Part Quantity threshold

This is a limit at which a customer will be able to order and pay online. If the qty for the same CAD model goes over this limit, the order will be held for manual review by the shop. The customer will still see the total price of the order.

TBD Part Quantity Threshold

This is a limit at which the customer will no longer be able to see the price of the order. If the quantity of parts for the same CAD model exceeds the threshold, the order is held and price hidden until the shop has reviewed it.

Tolerance

Here you can set tolerance options for your customers and add extra cost due to the increased work needed for tighter tolerances.

Minus

The lower limit for this tolerance range.

Plus

The upper limit for this tolerance range.

Margin

The percentage added to the cost of manufacturing the part to account for additional work.

Name

The name that will be displayed on the widget

Order of Display

This is the order in which the option will displayed. Number these accordingly, 1,2,3 etc.

Add More

This add a new set of tolerance options

Lead Time

Your standard lead time for this machine can be set here and additional options can be added.

Days

The number of days for that specified lead time.

Additional Margin

The additional cost added to the order in the event the customer chooses a faster lead time.

Hint: Negative figures can also be added here to give the customer a discount if they choose a slower lead time.

Name for User

This is the name as it is displayed on your Quoting tool, for example 'Standard' or 'Quick'

Note for user

This can be used to add any additional information for your customers, For example, "We will ship your parts as soon as possible"

TBD part Quantity Threshold

This is a limit on the number of parts that can be shipped for the specified lead time. For example if the TBD threshold is set to 10 for your 3 day lead time and a customer orders 20 parts. The order will be submitted to the shop for review first before the customer can pay.

Order of Display

This determines where the lead time is placed in the list if multiple options are added. 1 at the top of the list, 2 next and so on.

Add More

You can add additional lead time by clicking the 'Add More' button

Save

Make sure to save your settings once you have finished. Once saved the machine will be added to your machines and materials list and you will be prompted to add a material if none are assigned.

Did this answer your question?