7 Ways to Reduce CNC Machining Costs
Learn how to reduce CNC machining costs without sacrificing your part's quality.
CNC machining is an invaluable manufacturing process for creating precise and complex parts. One of the main benefits is that this technology can be very cost-efficient, especially when the right strategies are deployed to keep those costs down. This article will show how to reduce costs while fulfilling your part’s functional requirements. At MakerVerse, we work with companies of all sizes to help them reliably source CNC machined parts. These insights come from extensive cooperation with our customers and long experience in manufacturing. Let’s get started with the different ways to reduce CNC machining costs.
1. Standardize Whenever Possible
Using widely available materials and off-the-shelf parts gives you the benefits of mass production, even in small-batch production.- Some of the other benefits of using standard components include:
- Simplified inventory management
- Easier purchasing
- Avoiding tooling and equipment investments
- Faster manufacturing cycles
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Get Quote2. Simplify Product Designs
When ordering several similar items, having identical sides and parts with multiple uses will be the least expensive. Standardizing designs will provide economies of scale for production, simplify manufacturing processes, and reduce the investment needed for tooling and equipment.3. Design for the Most Cost-Effective Manufacturing Process
Each manufacturing technology has its advantages and disadvantages. During the design phase, you can utilize these advantages to reduce costs. Smart designers will learn the unique characteristics of each manufacturing process and then take advantage of them. Choose the most cost-effective option if your design is manufacturable via multiple technologies. The different CNC technologies, from most cost-effective to least, are:- Laser cutting
- Turning
- Milling 3-Axis
- Turn-milling
- Milling 5-Axis
4. Be Liberal with Tolerances
The extra costs associated with too-tight tolerances are well documented but worth repeating. The higher costs of tight tolerances stem from:- Extra operations, such as grinding or polishing after primary machining operations
- Higher tooling costs stemming from the greater precision needed when making tools, plus more frequent maintenance needs as they wear
- Longer operating cycles
- Higher scrap and rework costs (See below chart)
- The need for more skilled and highly trained workers
- Higher materials costs
- More sizable investments are needed for precision equipment