Calculate weld costs from the symbols on the drawing.
Welding is priced from the weld symbols on the drawing. ARCNM reads each ISO 2553 symbol with its leg size and seam length. The symbols cover fillet, square butt, V, double-V and bevel welds, plus spot, seam and plug welds. ARCNM classifies the process as arc or laser welding. It prices the joint as a subcontract line per metre of seam. A bigger leg costs more per metre, because there is more metal to lay down. Given a welding station in your environment, an assembly from one STEP file also has its seams timed in house. Arc is timed by deposition rate, laser by travel speed. It is compared with the subcontract price and the cheaper route is used. Brazing symbols are recognised from their ISO 4063 process number and priced at the arc-welding rate. The weld becomes an ordered step on the routing, before heat treatment and coating.
At a glance
- Inputs
- PDF drawing with ISO 2553 weld symbols (type, leg z or throat a, length, ISO 4063 process where present); the joined parts from their own CAD files, or one STEP assembly (see assembly costing)
- Machine classes
- each seam priced as a subcontract line at your welding rates with the order minimum; on an assembly also timed in house on the welding station in your costing environment, and the cheaper route used
- Standards applied
- ISO 2553 symbols · ISO 4063 process numbers · ISO 5817 quality levels · ISO 6947 welding positions · DIN 8580
- DfM checks
- NDT requirements read from the drawing
- You get
- one priced subcontract line per seam with its DIN 8580 code, placed before heat treatment and coating; twelve seams give twelve lines
What drives the weld price?
Seam length and leg size come first. A bigger leg costs more per metre, because there is more metal to lay down. The process comes next: arc or laser. Then the order minimum, which amortises over the lot. Your own welding rates replace ARCNM's per environment.
What is read from the drawing?
ARCNM reads every weld symbol with its type, leg z or throat a, and seam length. It also reads continuity and the process reference (ISO 4063 numbers where present). NDT requirements are read as separate callouts. The result is a typed weld record per joint. So a weldment with twelve seams gets twelve priced lines, not one guess.
Which joining processes are covered?
- Arc welding and laser welding are priced as subcontract steps from the drawing. Brazing is recognised from its ISO 4063 number and priced at the arc rate.
- Resistance spot and seam welding recognised as symbols and mapped to the nearest process code.
- Every seam as an ordered step on the routing, before heat treatment and coating. Each carries its DIN 8580 code for export.
Why the leg size, not the length, decides the weld price
| Fillet leg z | Deposited metal per metre | Welding effort | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 mm | little | one quick pass | thin sheet, light brackets |
| 5 mm | noticeably more | one pass, slower | general fabrication |
| 8 mm | many times a 3 mm leg | several passes | structural, heavy plate |
| 10 mm and up | the most by far | multi-pass, often with edge preparation | load-bearing, thick sections |
Read on
Frequently asked questions
Can ARCNM calculate the cost of a welded assembly?
Yes. ARCNM prices each weld seam from the drawing symbols. It prices the machined or cut parts of the assembly from their own CAD files. One STEP assembly works too (see assembly costing). It lists every line, so you can see what the price contains.
How much does welding cost per metre?
The leg size squared times the seam length, at the rate for arc or laser. The order minimum comes on top, spread over the batch. A 6 mm fillet lays down far more metal than a 3 mm one on the same length. The price follows.