by Chris Anjel | Aug 26, 2026 | Uncategorized
You quoted the part at $45 each based on material and machine time. The customer ordered 50 pieces. You ran the job, shipped it, and realized you lost $800 because the setup took 6 hours — not the 90 minutes you estimated.Setup costs are the silent margin killer in...
by Chris Anjel | Aug 26, 2026 | Uncategorized
Ask any shop owner where their biggest headaches come from, and you’ll hear the same story: the quote says one thing, the work order says another, and the floor does something completely different. By the time the part ships, nobody’s quite sure what the...
by Chris Anjel | Aug 26, 2026 | Uncategorized
Digital manufacturers regularly receive RFQs where the customer wants to supply their own hardware — threaded inserts, PEM nuts, custom fasteners, specialty washers, or even electronic components. On paper it looks like less work for you: fewer materials to source,...
by Chris Anjel | Aug 26, 2026 | Uncategorized
Every shop gets the call: “We need this by Friday — can you do it?” The instinct is to say yes and figure out pricing later. That’s how margins evaporate.Rush jobs carry hidden costs: overtime, expedited shipping, schedule disruption, quality risk,...
by Chris Anjel | Aug 26, 2026 | Uncategorized
You know the drill. A new RFQ lands in your inbox. You open the STEP file, spin the model, glance at the material, and a number pops into your head. “Call it $450 and 3 days.” You hit send.Two weeks later the job ships. Actual cost: $620. Actual time: 5...
by Chris Anjel | Aug 26, 2026 | Uncategorized
Most shops can quote the machine time for a CNC part or a 3D print within a few percent. Where quotes go sideways is everything that happens after the machine stops: support removal, heat treatment, tumbling, bead blasting, anodizing coordination, CMM inspection,...
