How it works
The whole price, and where every dollar of it comes from.
Most shops treat their cost model as a trade secret. Ours is on this page, because an engineer who understands the cost drivers designs cheaper parts - and cheaper parts get ordered more often.
01The flow
Four steps, no sales call
- 01
Upload your file
DXF, DWG, STEP, IGES, AI, EPS or a native CAD file. We read the geometry and suggest a process based on whether it is a flat profile or a solid.
- 02
Configure and see DFM feedback
Pick a process, material, thickness and finish. Every change re-runs the manufacturability checks against real shop limits - minimum hole size, bend radius, machine envelope - and tells you what to change.
- 03
Compare quantity and speed
See unit price and ship date side by side across eight quantities and four lead-time tiers. Pick the column that fits your program.
- 04
Order and track
Checkout takes a PO or a card. You get a job number, a nest date and a ship confirmation. First articles on new part numbers get a human review before cutting.
02Pricing model
Five cost drivers. That is the entire model.
Unit price is the sum of these, times our margin, times any expedite multiplier. There is no quoting fee, no engineering review charge and no minimum order beyond $29.
| Driver | How it is calculated | How to reduce it |
|---|---|---|
| Material | Bounding-box area x thickness x density x stock price, plus nesting waste | Tighten the bounding box. A part that nests better costs less, even at the same area. |
| Machine time | Cut length divided by feed rate, plus one pierce per internal feature | Fewer, larger holes cut faster than many small ones. Pierces are not free. |
| Forming | Time per bend at the brake, plus hardware insertion | Consolidate bends onto one axis so the part does not need a second setup. |
| Finishing | Treated surface area, plus a per-lot racking and masking fee | The lot fee spreads across quantity, so finishing gets much cheaper at volume. |
| Setup | A fixed programming and fixturing charge, divided by quantity | This is why unit price falls so hard from 1 to 25 and barely moves after 250. |
03Lead time
Four speeds, priced honestly
Expedite is a real capacity trade, so it carries a real multiplier. We show it before you order rather than after.
Standard
Scheduled into the normal queue.
base
100% of lead
Fast
Prioritized ahead of standard work.
+22%
66% of lead
Faster
Next machine opening, same shift.
+55%
42% of lead
Fastest
Bumps the queue. Cut today where capacity allows.
+110%
24% of lead
04Baselines
Standard lead time by process
Before finishing and quantity adders. Business days, measured from file approval.
Laser Cutting
3 days- Tolerance
- +/- 0.005 in
- Max envelope
- 48 x 96 in sheet
- Setup charge
- $12
- Machine rate
- $3.40/min
Sheet Metal Fabrication
5 days- Tolerance
- +/- 0.010 in, bend angle +/- 1 deg
- Max envelope
- 96 in brake, 0.250 in max form
- Setup charge
- $28
- Machine rate
- $2.90/min
CNC Machining
7 days- Tolerance
- +/- 0.002 in typical, +/- 0.0005 in on request
- Max envelope
- 32 x 20 x 20 in
- Setup charge
- $95
- Machine rate
- $2.15/min
05FAQ
Questions we actually get
What file formats do you accept?
For flat parts: DXF, DWG, AI, EPS and SVG. For machined parts: STEP, IGES, Parasolid, SolidWorks and Inventor natives. Send a PDF drawing alongside anything with a tolerance callout.
Is the price on screen the price I pay?
Yes. The quote includes material, machine time, finishing and setup. Shipping is added at checkout. There is no engineering review fee and no minimum order beyond $29.
What tolerance should I expect?
Laser cut profiles hold +/- 0.005 in. Formed features hold +/- 0.010 in with bend angles inside 1 degree. Machined parts hold +/- 0.002 in by default, and tighter on request with a drawing.
Do you review my design before cutting?
The DFM engine checks every part against material and process limits as you configure it. Anything it flags as an error blocks checkout. A manufacturing engineer also reviews first articles on any new part number.
Can you hold a price for a production release?
Quotes are firm for 30 days. Blanket orders with scheduled releases lock pricing for twelve months against a committed annual quantity.
Where are parts made?
Everything is cut, formed and machined in Hayward, California. Plating and anodizing go to two audited partners within 20 miles. Nothing leaves the country.