Reducing Cost & Time
The eMachineShop CAD software automatically selects the most economical process given your design and settings such as tolerances.
However there are many ways to reduce fabrication costs and delivery time for custom parts. Here
are a few:
General:
- See the general cost reduction tips.
- See how the eMachineShop store helps you reduce costs.
- Almost all choices you make in the drawing and selections in each dialog
effect price. Choose the lowest cost options where possible.
- Select lower cost options (loosest tolerances) in Job | Settings | Specs: Auto.
- Click Job | Price | Tips
and resolve as many machine incompatibilities as practical. This allows the system a better chance of using a lower cost process.
- If you need to apply a finish (powder coat, anodize, plate, etc.) to multiple jobs placed simultaneously, add Comments To Machinist "Apply finishing setup credit for orders placed today." Your parts will be processed in one batch and the savings passed back to you.
- Don't assume the lowest price combination you tried a month ago is the lowest price today.
- The complex pricing mechanism does occasionally make errors - if you have some experience with the cost of custom parts and feel the price quoted might be an error, please submit your design for review.
- Consider using the eMachineShop Design Service to assist in cost optimization.
Specific to
3D parts:
- If you need a 3D part with it's mirror image: draw one version;
set quantity to total number of both parts; add as Comments to Machinist "Run
half quantity using mirror image."
- If you have a minor variation between two parts, instead of placing two separate orders consider specifying the variation using Comments To Machinist (e.g. "Change diameter to .503 in for half run")
- Sometimes you can save by using pre-shaped stock such as pipe or square tube.
- For injection molding, minimize use of holes and recesses in the Front, Back, Left and Right views.
- Minimize the number of views used.
- End clamp slots with sharp corners instead of arcs.
Specific to
2D parts:
- Make sure your parts are really 2D according to the eMachineShop definition of 2D parts.
- If you have a part that is essentially 2D but needs a few countersinks it may be more economical to specify those 3D features using Comments To Machinist.
- For small parts, if 1/16" fiberglass can be used, ordering a blank circuit board from our Pad2Pad branch may be more economical .
- Try to nest (arrange) parts efficiently to minimize material use.
- Some shapes nest more efficiently by including an extra
rotated copy. For example, a part in the shape of the letter C is more
efficient with two C's arranged so that one copy is rotated 180 degrees
and shifted down 50% and a bit to the right.
- Sometimes parts can be nested to save material.
- Keep 2D parts under 47.5" x 23".
Reducing Delivery Time
There are several ways to reduce delivery time for custom parts. Here are just
a few:
- In Job | Material, check "Show only recommended materials" - those materials are more often in stock.
- Avoid requesting special materials.
- Reduce the number of finishing steps in Job | Finishing.
- Minimize use of Comments to Machinist.
- Click Job | Price | Tips
and resolve as many machine incompatibilities as practical. This can
allow you to run the job on machines with shorter delivery times.
- Pay by credit card.
- For high quantities consider splitting the job to two orders - a small run
with faster delivery and the main run with slower delivery.
