Calculate the cost of a sheet-metal part, bend by bend.
A sheet-metal part costs what its blank, its cut path and its bends cost. ARCNM recognises a sheet-metal part from the wall thickness and bends in the STEP model. It unfolds the part to a flat blank. It prices the contour on the cutting machine your fleet has. That can be a fibre laser, plasma, waterjet, turret punch or guillotine shear. Then it adds every press-brake bend with its handling and rotation time. Tubes and closed sections route to tube bending. Setup amortises with the lot, so the unit cost falls with quantity. The curve says by how much.
At a glance
- Inputs
- STEP model with bends and constant wall thickness; PDF drawing optional
- Machine classes
- fibre laser · CNC plasma · abrasive waterjet · turret punch · guillotine shear · CNC press brake · rotary-draw tube bender
- Standards applied
- DIN 6935 bend allowance · ISO 2768 · DIN 8580
- DfM checks
- bend relief required, bend radius too small, hole too close to bend, hole too close to edge, hole diameter below thickness
- You get
- flat blank size, cutting operation on your environment's cutter, bend list with setups, unit cost per lot size
What do you get for a sheet-metal part?
You get the flat blank with its material line. The contour is timed on your laser, plasma, waterjet, punch or shear. Every hole and pierce is counted. Every press-brake bend and part rotation is its own line on the routing. Roll bending and tube bending are priced on their own machine classes. You see setup and cycle time per operation and the unit cost at every lot size. Your own machines' cutting data takes over as soon as you enter it.
What drives the price of sheet-metal parts?
Sheet thickness and material first: thicker and harder sheet cuts slower. Then contour length and hole count. Every hole is another pierce. Each bend adds fixed time, and each re-orientation adds more. Tight bend tolerances, small flanges and pressed-in hardware add checks and cost. Material is priced from the part's blank on the sheet, not from the finished volume. The blank includes edge margin and web.
Which sheet-metal processes are covered?
- Cutting: fibre laser, CNC plasma, abrasive waterjet, CNC turret punch, guillotine shear.
- Forming: CNC press brake (per bend), roll bending, rotary-draw tube bending for tube and profile parts.
- Features: bends, cutouts, sheet holes, slots and flanges, recognised from the 3D model with stable IDs. DfM checks for bend relief, minimum bend radius, hole-to-bend and hole-to-edge distance.
- Follow-on treatments from the drawing: powder coating, galvanising, anodising and heat treatment priced as subcontract steps with order minimums.
Which cutting process for which sheet?
| Process | Thickness sweet spot | Edge and heat | Cost character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fibre laser | 0.5–12 mm steel, thinner stainless and aluminium | clean edge, small heat-affected zone | fast on thin sheet; every hole is a pierce |
| CNC plasma | 6–40 mm mild steel | wider kerf, dross, larger HAZ | lowest cost per metre on thick mild steel |
| Abrasive waterjet | any thickness, any material | no heat, no HAZ, fine edge with quality factor | slow; wins on reflective or heat-sensitive material |
| Turret punch | 0.5–6 mm | punched edge, nibble marks | hits per contour; wins on many standard holes and forms |
| Guillotine shear | straight cuts only | sheared edge | cheapest straight cut; cannot start an internal contour |
Read on
Frequently asked questions
Can ARCNM calculate laser-cut and bent parts from a STEP file?
Yes. The bends and wall thickness in the STEP model are enough. ARCNM classifies the part as sheet metal, unfolds it and prices cutting and bending. A drawing adds tolerances and surface treatments.
How much does one bend cost?
A bend is fixed time on the press brake, priced at the machine-hour rate. That time covers positioning, the stroke and any rotation of the part. Each bend also carries its share of setup. ARCNM lists every bend and rotation in the routing. So you see the cost per bend, not a lump sum.
Does the price include the sheet material?
Yes. Material is costed from the blank footprint on the sheet, with margins and web. ARCNM uses your own price for the grade and thickness.