by Chris Anjel | Aug 26, 2026 | Uncategorized
Post-processing is where quotes go sideways. A shop prices the build or the machining time perfectly, then tacks on a flat “finishing fee” that barely covers bead blasting — let alone support removal, heat treatment, threading, inspection, and packaging....
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 digital manufacturers don’t have the luxury of single-process jobs. A typical order might start on a 5-axis mill, move to a wire EDM for finishing, then hit a CMM for inspection before shipping. Each handoff adds variables — setup time, queue depth,...
by Chris Anjel | Aug 26, 2026 | Uncategorized
First Article Inspection (FAI) requests are becoming standard on more RFQs — not just in aerospace and defense, but increasingly in medical, automotive, and high-mix commercial work. Yet many digital manufacturing shops treat FAI as a line-item afterthought, adding a...
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...
