Manage Your Project’s CNC Machining Cost
CNC machining costs are influenced by several important factors, including material selection, part geometry, tight tolerances, machine setup, and finishing steps. Many of them are easy to correct, if you consider them during the design phase of your new product development. The experts at Fathom’s CNC machining service can help you work through the decisions and tradeoffs needed to manage your CNC machining costs.
How to Reduce Your CNC Machining Costs
Are you looking to reduce your CNC machining costs but not sure where to start? Our Fathom experts have identified several factors that can help bring that number down and back into budget.
Material Selection // When it comes to material selection, harder, more exotic materials aren’t necessarily better. They tend to increase tool wear and machining time, which can significantly increase CNC machining costs. Instead, try to select the material that meets your project’s specifications and provides the best combination of durability, machinability and cost.
Simplify Part Geometry // Complex parts that require detailed machining will naturally take longer to complete. That increases cycle time, which in turn drives up CNC machining costs. By simplifying part designs where possible, you can minimize the number of machining steps required. That can lead to faster, more efficient production cycles.
Simplify Machine Setups // Some part designs may force you to use more complex CNC machines, such as a 5-axis machine instead of a 3-axis one. Complex machine setups also tend to have a significant impact on CNC machining costs.
Standardize Designs // Where possible, use existing, off-the-shelf components. If you need to machine components for your product, look for opportunities to utilize standard designs that can be incorporated into multiple products. This will help you leverage economies of scale and simplify your production processes.
Avoid Overly Tight Tolerances // The tighter the tolerance, the more precise and time-consuming the machining that’s needed to achieve it. Tight tolerances often require longer cycle times and additional operations to complete. These scenarios can inflate CNC machining costs.
Simplify or Eliminate Finishing Steps // Secondary operations such as deburring, heat treating, plating and painting can significantly inflate your CNC machining costs. Consider the processes may be required to produce your parts during their design phase, not as an afterthought. For example, could a different material eliminate or minimize the need for this finishing step?
Fathom’s Locations
for CNC Machining Services
A close location can also be a valuable asset when picking a manufacturer. Fathom’s manufacturing network has several locations across the United States with CNC capabilities. Our CNC machining service locations include:
WISCONSIN //
Fathom Headquarters
1050 Walnut Ridge Drive
Hartland, WI 53029
ARIZONA //
444 W. 21st St. Ste. 101
Tempe, AZ 85282
ILLINOIS //
1401 Brummel Avenue
Elk Grove, IL 60007
MINNESOTA //
13758 Johnson Street NE
Ham Lake, MN 55304
TEXAS //
1513 Sam Bass Rd
Round Rock, TX 78681
Available CNC Materials
Fathom is a leading manufacturer, offering both metal and plastic CNC machining to the entire United States.
| METALS | OPTIMAL QUANTITY | TOLERANCES (+/-) | ADVANTAGES & CONSIDERATIONS | FINISH & APPEARANCE |
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| Stainless Steel | 1-1000 | +/- 0.005″ |
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| Low Carbon Steel | 1-1000 | +/- 0.005″ |
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| Aluminum | 1-1000 | +/- 0.005″ |
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| Brass | 1-1000 | +/- 0.005″ |
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| PLASTICS | OPTIMAL QUANTITY | TOLERANCES (+/-) | ADVANTAGES & CONSIDERATIONS | FINISH & APPEARANCE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HDPE | 1-100 | +/- 0.008″ |
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| PC | 1-100 | +/- 0.008″ |
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| ABS | 1-100 | +/- 0.008″ |
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| Acrylic | 1-100 | +/- 0.008″ |
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| Nylon 6/6 | 1-100 | +/- 0.008″ |
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| Acetal (Delrin®) | 1-100 | +/- 0.008″ |
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| ULTEM® | 1-100 | +/- 0.008″ |
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Why Choose Fathom?
Fathom has the expertise and technology to help you meet your needs faster.
Fathom has an unmatched depth of expertise in CNC machining and the capacity to take on your projects. Our CNC facilities specialize in challenging applications. We work with extremely tight tolerances and exotic materials for use in medical or aerospace industries, for example. We even process specialized materials like Inconel and Monell, two of the world’s toughest alloys.
Fathom also has certifications at several of our locations to meet the highly specialized needs of your medical, aerospace or government industries, including ISO 13485, AS9100 and ITAR. View our certifications by location →
Our Fathom Experts recognize the value of having design and manufacturing collaboration at any stage in the product development process. A DfM analysis is available with every quote. Our diverse group of engineers, designers and builders help you navigate the right process, materials and more for each stage of your product development. From design and prototyping to validation for mass production, we’re here for you. Don’t settle for online CNC machining services. Get the engineering and design expertise you need to make your project a success from Fathom!
