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 a part they’re making from scratch. But digital inventory — where a customer stores approved CAD files with you for on-demand production — introduces different variables. You’re not quoting design time or first-article risk....
by Chris Anjel | Aug 26, 2026 | Uncategorized
Multi-material 3D printing opens new design possibilities — dissolvable supports, color changes, functional gradients — but it also introduces quoting variables that single-material workflows don’t have. If you’re still applying a flat markup to these...
by Chris Anjel | Aug 26, 2026 | Uncategorized
Most shops don’t lose money on cycle time. They lose it on everything that happens before the spindle starts or the print head moves. Workholding, tool loading, program verification, first-article inspection — these steps eat hours but rarely show up as line...
