5 ways to reduce costs in CNC production - ShopSabre

Famed for his ingenuity and prudent nature, Benjamin Franklin once said, Beware of little expenses; a small leak will sink a great ship. Of course, our Founding Father wasnt trying to teach us proper ship building techniques, but rather reinforce the hard-learned lesson that the little costs can add up fast. This is especially true in CNC production, where precision and process are the names of the game.

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Whether you own your own machine or are looking to send your design to a specialty manufacturer, it pays to plan ahead in order to avoid unnecessary costs. If youre looking to cut costs without cutting corners, then read on to learn our top five methods for reducing the costs associated with CNC machining.

1. Buy the right CNC machine the first time

A lot of hobbyists and shop owners waste money by buying a CNC machine that isnt properly suited for their specific needs. Or worse yet, they get skittish when they see the price tag on a quality machine and choose to go with a cheaper import or a kit instead. What they dont realize is that these cheaper alternatives bring with them more repair and replacement costs that will end up costing them far more in the end.

A CNC machine should be an investment for your business, which is why at ShopSabre, we tell our customers to buy their second machine first and save themselves the hassle, headache, and hidden costs found with lower build quality or non-American made equipment. Reach out to one of our consultants today and we will help you find the perfect machine for your unique applications, so you dont get stuck with something you dont need. Our lineup of ShopSabre CNC routers and plasmas are the best quality at the best value and will end up saving you a lot more time and money down the road.

2. Choose more cost-effective materials

Before you make any piece, youre going to need to decide on what material to make it from. This is one of the first (and easiest) ways to reduce your overall cost. You can save a lot of money by being smart with your material selection while not sacrificing quality. When choosing which material to use, there are a few things to consider:

• General availability: This is usually the main determinant for a materials cost. If its more rare or difficult to produce, it will cost you more. Also, if it isnt being made anywhere near your location, it may not be worth the price to ship it.
• Material requirements: Are you designing a simple prototype? You will most likely be fine using a cheaper material such as foam or PVC plastic. If youre designing a crucial aerospace part on the other hand, you may have no choice but to use more expensive options such as aluminum or polycarbonate.
• Machinability: Some materials, like wood or polyurethane foam, are much easier for CNC machines to work with. Some metals and plastics require the machine to cut slower to avoid damage to the material or the machine itself, which will end up costing you more.

3. Simplify the setup process

Now that youve reduced your material costs, its time to consider how to save in the setup and design stage. Remember, only one side of your part can be cut by the machine at a time, which means it may need to be flipped and reset multiple times. Each time this happens it requires a new setup, loading and unloading, tool swaps, etc. which all takes time. If you can find a way to not have to alter even one or two sides, you can drastically speed up the process.

Another good solution is to consider purchasing an axis attachment or an auto tool changer system which will help take care of some of these steps for you. You can find a great selection of these and much more on our ShopSabre website. By reducing the number of operations, you will cut down on the overall machining time and therefore save yourself money.

4. Eliminate tricky features

This is where it gets a little complicated. When designing your part, its important to consider the capabilities and drawbacks of the CNC process. While many design elements may be functionally necessary and unavoidable, you may find that slight alterations to your part can save you a ton of machining time and money. Here are a few things to look for:

• Internal corners: When designing your part, the larger the internal radius of its corners the better. Tighter corners may require specialty tools and take more time to cut, resulting in higher costs.
• Complex parts: If your piece has a section or two with deep pockets or especially intricate cuts, it may be more cost effective to machine them separately and then adhere them together later.
• Hole size and depth: Small, deep holes require more fine, fragile bits. These bits bring with them a higher risk of tool breakage however, so try to avoid using them if at all possible.
• Finishes: If you can get away with a standard or uniform finish, thats going to help you save money. Any smoothing or appearance-altering finishes will cost you extra, so only do so if its absolutely necessary. Just keep in mind there are always finishing limitations to take into consideration depending on your machines capabilities.

5. Produce larger quantities

By making multiples of the same part, you can further save on each of the previous three steps. First, buying raw materials in bulk is cheaper, and often you can cut several parts from the same stock piece, a process known as nesting. Second, youve already designed your piece, so you wont need to invest any further money in that department. And third, the cost of complicated features can also be minimized with multiple orders. The use of specialty tools will be more justified, and like with any kind of production, the more you do the same process over and over the faster it goes.

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But thats not to say you cant still produce cost-efficient results when performing one-off projects. CNC routers and plasmas are incredibly versatile machines. Even if youre making a single one-of-a-kind prototype, they are a very cost-effective alternative to commercial production. You dont have to produce 10,000 of something to save money, as just one or two more pieces can help lower your per unit cost.

Its time to start producing with ShopSabre

CNC machines are widely used in the manufacturing industry to produce precise and complex parts. They are also expensive investments that can cost tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. When buying or selling a CNC machine, low ball offers may be tempting, but they come with pros and cons, benefits and risks that must be carefully considered.

Firstly, let's define what a low ball offer is. It is an offer that is significantly lower than the asking price or market value of a CNC machine. The purpose of a low ball offer is to negotiate a better deal and save money. However, this tactic can be risky and have potential drawbacks.

One of the benefits of making a low ball offer when buying a CNC machine is that it can potentially save money. If the seller is motivated to sell quickly, they may be willing to accept a lower offer than the asking price. This can be particularly advantageous for small businesses that are operating on tight budgets.

On the other hand, low ball offers can also have significant drawbacks. For sellers, a low ball offer can be insulting and may discourage them from negotiating with the buyer further. Additionally, if the seller is not motivated to sell quickly, they may simply reject the offer and move on to other potential buyers.

For buyers, a low ball offer can also be risky. If the offer is too low, the seller may become suspicious of the buyer's intentions and may not be willing to negotiate further. Moreover, if the buyer is not experienced in negotiating the price of a CNC machine, they may unintentionally offend the seller and damage the potential for a future business relationship.

When selling a CNC machine, a low ball offer can also present benefits and risks. One of the benefits is that it can help the seller gauge the buyer's interest and negotiating tactics. Additionally, a low ball offer can be used as a starting point for negotiations and lead to a mutually beneficial agreement.

However, the risks of accepting a low ball offer must also be considered. If the seller accepts an offer that is too low, they may miss out on potential profits and undervalue their CNC machine. Additionally, accepting a low ball offer may set a precedent for future negotiations and attract other buyers who also offer low ball prices.

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