Creating a new CNC Sheetmetal material will present several options for you to combine with your machine pricing structure and create your final Sheetmetal pricing. You can decide to use as many or as few of these options as you wish. Digifabster will analyze 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 Sheetmetal.

This is the machine that you will be assigning this new material to. If you would like to change the selected machine, use the drop-down menu and select the correct one.

Here you can select from a pre-set material name or add your own by typing in the box and clicking "create new material". This name could be the material name, type, or even an internal ID number.

This is the name that is displayed on the widget, for example, 'Aluminium' or 'Steel'

This can hold additional information to help your customer make a decision. For example, "Durable plastic with UV resistance for outdoor use."

This will link your customers to the spec sheet for the material. This could be a URL to the document on your site or the material manufacturer's site.

This allows you to tag the materials to help identify them more easily.

You may need to order in some materials specially, to account for this you can add additional time onto the lead time by adding an 'Expected Production Time' This is to account for the ordering, delivery, and prep of this material.

If you have a standard lead time of 10 days set for your Sheetmetal machine then set an additional 3 days to the expected production days. These will be added together to give a total of 13 days for the lead time.

Adding extra material around the part may be required to hold the material in place and ensure the parts do not move around. Add the amount of extra material around the bounding rectangle of the part here.

The minimum cost you are happy to charge per part. This is only used if the manufacturing price of the part is below this threshold. It is then multiplied by the number of parts.

This cost is applied only once per material per order. It is intended to cover the cost of, for example, loading the tooling in the machine.

The programming cost is applied to each model in this material. It is intended to account for the programming of the print.

Example Calculation

Ticking this box will apply the programming cost for every batch of parts.

Example Calculation

Your customer uploads one model but asks for 100 copies of this part. Your machine can only print 25 copies at one time. (4 Batches/Print Runs are required)

Without the box ticked the programming cost will only be applied once for the full qty of parts.

1 x $15 = Total Programming cost $15

With the box ticked, the programming cost is applied to every "batch" or "print run" to account for the time required to start the machine, etc.

4 x $15 = Total Programming Cost $60

The surface area of the part is combined with the complexity and the exponent (detailed below), then multiplied by the cost per cm2. This total is then added to other costs to generate your final price.

The exponent for the surface area is used to make the price of models with larger surface areas more attractive to your customers. A number below 1 will make larger models cheaper, and a number above 1 will make them more expensive.

For more information on exponents, see this article on how they are used for volume-based discounts.

The perimeter of the part is combined with the complexity and the exponent (detailed below), then multiplied by the cost per cm. This total is then added to other costs to generate your final price.

The exponent for perimeter is used to make the price of models with larger perimeters more attractive to your customers. A number below 1 will make larger models cheaper, and a number above 1 will make them more expensive.

For more information on exponents, see this article on how they are used for volume-based discounts.

The surface area of the bounding rectangle is combined with the complexity and the exponent (detailed below), then multiplied by the cost per cm2. This total is then added to other costs to generate your final price.

The exponent for bounding rectangles is used to make the price of models with larger bounding rectangle surface areas more attractive to your customers. A number below 1 will make larger models cheaper, and a number above 1 will make them more expensive.

For more information on exponents, see this article on how they are used for volume-based discounts.

Here you can set the one-off costs for bends. This price is calculated for 1 copy of the same part and then spread across all copies if multiples are ordered. This can be used to account for specific tooling setups.

Minimum and maximum bend in degrees for this specific bend price.

For example

0 to 45 degrees = $10

45 to 90 degrees = $20

Minimum and maximum length of this specific bend. This is used when you have certain bend angles that can only be achieved up to a certain size.

For Example

0 to 45 Degrees can be 0-100mm in length

45 to 90 Degrees is limited to 0-50mm in length

The price for that particular bend range. If a part is uploaded with a bend that falls within the specified range. This price will be added to the total cost.

Add additional bends using the add bend button. The values for different bends cannot overlap.

Example

✔️

Bend 1 = 0 - 45 degrees

Bend 2 - 45 - 90 degrees

❌

Bend 1 = 0 - 45 degrees

Bend 2 = 30 - 60 degrees

Here you can add the various material size options you have available. You can also set the specific feed rate and bend costs for each material size.

The calculate button can be used to easily calculate the price per area (cm2). Click Calculate to open the calculator.

Enter the density of the material. For example, Aluminium = 2.7g/cm3

Enter the price you want to charge per kilogram. This could be the price you pay for the material and could also include a markup to cover the cost of admin etc.

Once the above details have been added, click calculate to generate a cost per cm2 for the area parameter.

The stock size is the size of the sheet material that you purchase. During quoting, the smallest possible stock will be chosen based on the uploaded model. Your customers can then choose to select thicker or thinner material if they wish.

Different thickness materials can be cut at different speeds. Use the feed rate to set the speed at which the material can be cut. This is measured in cm per hour.

Use this parameter to charge based on the length.

If using the 'calculate' option above, this parameter will be auto-filled based on the density and material cost. Alternatively, you can add your own cost based on the surface area of the part.

Example

A part has a surface area of 345cm2 and the price per cm2 is set to $0.06/cm2

345 * 0.06 = $20.7 per part.

The price per punch adds a fixed price to every perimeter in the part.

Example

A square model is uploaded with 5 holes punched out in the middle. The machine must cut the outer perimeter (square), then move to the middle of the part and cut 4 separate holes. This stop/start and move motion can be accounted for by adding a price per punch.

Add a fixed price per bend here. Each bend will be counted and multiplied by the fixed price. This will then be added to the total cost of the part.

Thicker materials will have smaller internal radii than thinner materials. Set the limit for each thickness to ensure models with radii smaller than the minimum allowed radius will be flagged during the quoting process Your customers will be shown a warning on the quoting tool but will still be allowed to submit the order.

Add additional material sizes using the add more button.

This section lets you add the post-production options your shop offers for this material These can be controlled with the icons to the right of the post-production type. You can duplicate, delete, and turn the option on/off. Clicking the drop-down arrow will show the parameters for the selected post process.

The title of the post-production. This can be the internal name of the process or the name for your customers. This will be used if the 'name for user' section is not completed.

The price for the post process can be charged based on a number of options.

The setup cost is applied once for all copies of the same model. This is intended to cover costs like purchasing specific materials, cleaning down work areas, etc.

If the calculation returns a price less than the minimum price. This figure will be quoted to your customer. This ensures you are not undercharging for your work due to small parts.

This allows you to create logical groups of post processes. For example, different types of 'Surface Finishes'. Assign each option to the same 'grouping title' to see them grouped.

When using this, the order will trigger a manual review request. You can then review the order and the post-process request before accepting it. Great for making sure you can complete the order as requested.

This adds a number count option for your customers to assign

The expected production days are added to the lead time to give a total lead time during the order process. The expected production days are the additional days required to complete the post-process.

he name that is used on the widget for this post process. If this option is not completed, the 'Title' will be used.

Add additional details about the post process in this section. For example, details about the surface finish or the effect the post process has on the part.

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

Add additional post-production options, different from the premade selection.

This section allows you to add additional questions or information for both you and your customer by creating a group of options. For example "Print all parts in the same orientation?" with options for your customers "Yes, No, Don't Mind"

These can be controlled with the icons to the right of the post-production type. You can duplicate, delete, and turn the option on/off. Clicking the drop-down arrow will show the parameters for the selected post process.

This is the chosen title of your group of options. This could also be the question or statement you wish to make. ("Print parts in the same orientation")

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

Click this to create your first option.

The first option in your group of options ("Yes"). Adding additional options will create sequentially numbered options.

This allows you to add additional groups to gather more information from your customers during the order process.

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