Estimating Machining Costs

[sef193]

Does anyone know of a chart or something very simple to get "ball park" cost estimates on machined parts?

I'm looking for a quick lookup chart rather than a calculator. Something that inputs the machining method, material, & general complexity... then gives me a rough cost to produce.

 

[CastMetal]

That will vary dramatically from manufacturer to manufacturer based on skill level, effort put into production programming, and so on.
Your best bet is to find how long it takes to do X operation in Y material per Z distance (mill, drill, tap, ream, etc.) Multiply by total distance for each operation (hole, slot, pocket) add total number of operations times a reasonable travel time (5s? vary by size), multiply the whole thing by 2 because face it your guessing at machining times (pocketing and interpolated hole (w/ endmill) times can vary wildly, also there are load times).

Divide by 3600s/hr and times by 50$-90$ depending on your manufacturers preference and voila a very rough VERY ballpark number.

But if your going into this cold without a sense of how production machining is done this can at least give you an idea of what variables you are dealing with.