Although there are different processing methods for parts, sometimes because of some material requirements (such as PTFE, titanium, G-10 composite), strict tolerance, surface treatment or other required properties, it is better to achieve them through CNC processing.
CNC processing may be expensive, but fortunately, manufacturing platforms such as Speed Plus can undertake CNC processing of high mixing, proofing and small and medium batches through cost-effective distributed collaborative manufacturing networks, realizing low cost and short delivery time for CNC processing.
In addition, what else can you do to save your CNC proofing cost? Follow these four tips on part prototyping, design, and supply chain best practices.
Ask yourself: Is this the most appropriate design requirement?
When designing a part, ask yourself: Can I use the default tolerance in this part? The manufacturing standards of rapid acceleration provide generally acceptable minimum requirements for manufacturing. Specifying tighter tolerances may slightly increase part prices. The smaller the tolerance, the tighter the tolerance area, and the more expensive your parts will be.
Do I need these post-processing? Although the cost of laser marking and silk screen printing in batch production is relatively low, their installation costs will have a significant impact on the price and delivery time of small batches. If your CNC machining prototype is only used for functions, you can remove these post-processing requirements. This consideration also applies to non-standard surface finishes, such as reducing surface roughness or post-treatment finishing services.
Is this the final material required for the prototype? Aluminum 6061 is the most commercially available metal for CNC processing. The price of aluminum parts is lower and the delivery time is usually faster. Compared with many other engineering alloys (such as 7000 series aluminum or titanium), prototyping with 6061 aluminum can save cost and time.
Allocate cost in batches
Fast acceleration provides competitive prices for one-time CNC machining parts. However, even if the quantity is increased, the price of each piece will still drop significantly. This is because some fixed costs are shared among machined parts. When quoting for prototype milling parts, it is best to change the price by changing the quantity - the price difference is usually smaller than you think.
Make full use of the automatic quotation tool of fast acceleration
The best part of the quick acceleration AI intelligent quotation is the simplicity and transparency of obtaining the quotation. The accuracy of uploading drawings with one key and obtaining the quotation within 5 seconds is up to 95.3%. The pricing on the quotation is automatically updated based on the quantity, features, tolerances, and finishing options of the part drawing. In addition, there will be professional process engineers to provide drawing optimization suggestions to help you get the maximum benefit from the budget.
