by Chris Anjel | Aug 26, 2026 | Uncategorized
Small batch runs — typically 1 to 50 parts — are the bread and butter of many digital manufacturing shops. They’re also where quoting goes wrong. Price them like production runs and you’ll lose money on setup. Price them like prototypes and you’ll...
by Chris Anjel | Aug 26, 2026 | Uncategorized
If you run a CNC shop, 3D printing service, or sheet metal operation, your machine hour rate is the backbone of every quote. Get it wrong and you either lose jobs to competitors or bleed margin on every part that ships.Most shops calculate machine rates by adding...
by Chris Anjel | Aug 26, 2026 | Uncategorized
Most shops track material and machine time down to the penny. Consumables — cutting tools, inserts, abrasives, build plates, filters, nozzles — often get lumped into a vague shop-supplies line item or ignored entirely. Over a month of production, that oversight can...
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...
