In DigiFabster you can use different approaches for estimating the manufacturing price of a certain part or a feature. You can go either Cost-based or Time-based way while both of them can be beneficial for your business.
The Time-based approach has a much higher granularity and may look more familiar.
In this article we're going to go over the new Time-based approach that you now can implement via Machine and Material Settings.
You can also do it via CNC Quoting Copilot by following this guide.
We recommend you start with creating a new separate machine so you can test out the new settings. You can make it available only in the Internal Quotation Tool with a "Limit to Internal Quotation only" toggle below the Machine Info.
Time-based price calculation is currently available only for Milling (incl. 3-,4-,5-axis)
1. Machine Setup
Set up the rates
First, you need to set up the rates for your machine, operator and programmer.
Go to your machine and materials settings and click the edit button in the machine you'd like to edit.
Find the Machine Specs block and set an hourly rate for the machine, operator, and programmer.
Click "Save settings" to preserve the changes.
Set up the time per Feature
In DigiFabster you can also set up a specific time costs for different types of features.
Go to Features block in your machine settings.
Select the needed topology type (Hole, Notch, Slot or Pocket)
Specify the supported range with Max Angle, Min Radius and Ratio
After that you can specify the time per each type of cost:
The point here is that you can set up different time costs for different ranges. Example: Max ratio 3: 0 minutes per piece. Max ratio 5: 1 minute.
Important: The features are included in the overall machining time calculation in any case, so it may make sense only to put a time cost to difficult-to-machine feature properties, say a 5:1 depth-to-diameter ratio.
The per-piece time cost is by default associated with the machine and operator rates, the recurring time cost with the operator rate, and the non-recurring cost with the programmer rate (See Machine Setup above.
2. Material Setup
Set up the time per One-off cost
Go back to your machine and materials settings and click the material's edit button:
Set up the time per each type of cost.
We suggest using two types of time expenses:
Non-recurring costs for new products
These are one-time expenses associated with setting up the production process for new products. This would include setting up the CAM program for the first time, preparing or ordering jigs and fixtures specific to the part, etc. NB: In automatic mode, Non-Recurring costs are always added. In the Copilot, Non-recurring costs can be switched off at will.Recurring costs for repeat orders.
These expenses occur with repeat orders and are calculated on a per-line item basis. They include tweaking the existing CAM program for a specific tool or machine, getting the existing jigs and fixtures from the warehouse and set up, etc.
Set up the material cost
In DigiFabster, you have different options to calculate the cost of material (such as Bar Stocks, Round Stock or Price per kg).
The time-based approach works best with a Price per kg method. You can switch the price calculation method in the Material Cost block in the Material Settings:
3. Test the new pricing approach in the IQT
IQT only mode
You can make your machine available only in the Internal Quotation Tool with a "Limit to Internal Quotation only" toggle below the Machine Info.
This will allow you to test out the new pricing without making it available for your customers.
NEW: CNC Quoting Copilot
The other way to set up and test out the new pricing approach is to do it via CNC Quoting Copilot which can be even faster and simpler.
You can learn more about it here.
4. Unlock the full power of CNC Quoting Copilot
With the Quoting Copilot you now can quote parts, tweak line item price and adjust the pricing parameters of your machines and materials in one place.
Learn how to use the Quoting Copilot in your quoting process in our new guide.