by Chris Anjel | Aug 26, 2026 | Uncategorized
Prototype work is the lifeblood of many digital manufacturing shops. A customer comes in with a concept, you print or machine v1, they test it, and suddenly you’re on v3, v5, or v12. Each iteration consumes machine time, material, engineering review, and...
by Chris Anjel | Aug 26, 2026 | Uncategorized
Engineering change orders (ECOs) are a fact of life in digital manufacturing. A customer revises a critical dimension, swaps a material, or adds a feature after you’ve already quoted, scheduled, or even started production. The request lands in your inbox with an...
by Chris Anjel | Aug 26, 2026 | Uncategorized
Most shops know their machine hourly rate. Fewer know exactly how much setup time each job really consumes. That gap is where margin disappears — especially on low-volume and prototype work where setup can exceed run time.Why Setup Time Gets UnderestimatedEstimators...
by Chris Anjel | Aug 26, 2026 | Uncategorized
Most shops know to quote setup, run time, and material. Few consistently quote the time spent calibrating machines before a job runs. Whether it’s a CNC probe routine, a 3D printer bed level, or a laser power check, calibration consumes operator attention and...
by Chris Anjel | Aug 26, 2026 | Uncategorized
Most shops know how to quote machine time, material, and setup. Inspection is different. It doesn’t make chips, but it consumes capacity, ties up skilled operators, and determines whether a job ships or gets rejected. Underquote it and you eat the cost....
by Chris Anjel | Aug 26, 2026 | Uncategorized
Heat treatment and finishing are where quotes quietly lose money. They’re often treated as afterthoughts — a single line item with a flat markup — but they carry distinct cost drivers: furnace time, fixturing, masking, racking, inspection, and shipping. If...
