Material and machine time: what the price is made of
Across our ex-factory prices, material makes up about 40% of the unit price on average, and as much as 70% on some parts. The simpler the part, the bigger the material share, because there is little machining to add. The more complex the part, the smaller the material share, because machine time takes over.
On a complex part, then, what decides the price is how long each part spends on the machine and how much skilled work it takes to get that machine running well. That is where batch size comes in.
Why 2,000 pieces cost less each than 200
Unit price typically falls as quantity rises. The reason is setup. A Swiss-type or mill-turn machine is set up once per job, whatever the quantity. Setting up is skilled work: an experienced setter tries the tooling and the operation order until the first parts pass inspection. On a simple part that can take half an hour; with several operations it can take two days. Every order also starts with a first-article check of every dimension on the drawing, and that check takes the same time whether the order is small or large.
With 2,000 pieces, once the machine is running and the parts check out, the setter moves on to other work while the machine keeps producing. With 200 pieces, the run ends soon after setup, the machine stops, and the setter is back setting up the next job. The saving at higher quantities comes mostly from setter time and idle machines, not from material. In our experience the unit price at 2,000 pcs is typically about 25% lower than at 200 pcs for the same drawing, material and finish. Treat that as a rough guide, not a fixed discount.
How the inspection method changes the price
Every tight tolerance and fine surface finish on the drawing needs checking, and the more of them there are, the more often parts come off the machine to be measured. Just as important is how each feature is checked. When the method changes between our first-article check, production and your incoming inspection, the operator cannot settle on one way of holding the size, and the cycle time stays high.
Agreeing the method before production removes that uncertainty. On a thin-walled C36000 brass sleeve, the key step was agreeing with the customer to check the precision bore with a plug gauge made to fit it. With that settled, the operator only had to keep the cut stable, we could optimise the feeds and tooling, and the cycle came down from 6 to 3.5 minutes a part. If a feature on your drawing has a specific gauge or method, write it on the drawing or put it in the inquiry.
When cycle-time work starts to pay
At 200 or 2,000 pieces our priority is to make the part right and keep it stable. Spending hours to save a few seconds per part rarely pays at that size, unless the part will be reordered.
From about 10,000 pieces we start working on the process itself, and above 20,000 we work on cycle time and quality together, second by second. On a 10,000-piece brass bracket order, 30 seconds saved per part came to about 83 machine hours; on the brass sleeve, 50,000 parts a month, it is about 2,080 machine hours every month. How we review cycle time on long runs
What a stable setup is worth
Setters who can get a machine running quickly and keep it stable are hard to find, and they are well paid. That experience, more than the machines themselves, is what keeps our unit price down on long runs.
If you are not sure your part fits, send the drawing. We cost every part on its real machining time and tell you straight away if the price will not work for you.
Ask for several quantities in one RFQ
Ask for 200 / 500 / 1,000 / 2,000 pcs against the same drawing revision, material and finish, and mark which quantity you would release first. For each option, record the unit price, the total order value and any one-time charges, so the comparison is like for like. How to compare quotes from several suppliers
Keep forecast annual demand separate from committed quantities. If you expect repeat orders, say so: it changes how much time is worth spending on the process.
Send one inquiry with all the quantities
Select the quantity comparison option in the form and say which quantities are firm. Include the outside diameter, overall length and the drawing. Actual pricing is confirmed against the drawing, material and inspection requirements.
Prepare a quantity comparison See our batch production process Check what to include with the drawing
Real example: how operation order cut a brass part from 3.5 to 3 minutes
Ready to bring it together?
Use the inquiry form to organize your part details and target quantities.
Prepare your inquiryPrepared by NOW CNC for production buyers. Manufacturing scope is defined by the reviewed drawing and accepted quotation.