Views: 4 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2026-08-12 Origin: Site
Two shops, same drawing, quotes that differ by 3x - it happens because a prototype price is not one number but a stack of levers. This page breaks down what actually moves the price, gives typical ranges by process, flags the charges buyers forget, works a real amortization example, and hands you an RFQ checklist that forces an apples-to-apples quote.
Table of Contents
A quote bundles setup, machine time, material, finishing and shipping. One shop may quote raw machining and another may include inspection and packaging - so the headline number hides the real difference. Always read what is inside the price, not just the total. In our own quoting we separate these lines precisely so a buyer can see where the money goes.
· Process - CNC, vacuum casting, injection molding and RIM sit at very different price points (see table below).
· Material - engineering plastics like PEEK and metals like titanium cost more than ABS or aluminum, and some cut slower.
· Quantity - per-part cost drops sharply once a tool or fixture is amortized across units.
· Tolerance - tighter than standard adds setup, more passes and inspection time.
· Finish - bead blasting, anodizing, painting are separately charged operations.
· Secondary ops - threads, inserts, welding and assembly add labor.
· Speed - a compressed schedule adds overtime and pricier freight (see our quick-turn guide).
The table is a planning guide in USD for small parts (roughly a fist-sized enclosure). Your drawing will shift these - treat them as order-of-magnitude, not a quote.
Process | Per-part (low volume) | Tooling / setup | Typical lead time | Best quantity |
CNC plastic (ABS) | $30-150 | None (fixture only) | 3-5 days | 1-50 |
CNC metal (Al) | $60-300 | None (fixture only) | 5-7 days | 1-50 |
Vacuum casting | $15-80 | $500-1,500 mold | 10-15 days | 10-100 |
Injection (Al mold) | $2-15 | $1,000-3,000 | 2-3 weeks | 100-10,000 |
RIM (large part) | $20-120 | $800-2,500 | 2-3 weeks | 20-200 |
Process detail: CNC plastic prototyping, metal prototyping and injection molding pages carry the per-process cost drivers.
Suppose a 200-part run. CNC plastic at $80/part = $16,000. The same part in an aluminum injection mold: $2,000 tooling + $6/part x 200 = $12,200 - already cheaper at 200, and the gap widens fast. At 1,000 parts CNC is $80,000 versus about $8,000 molded. That crossover near 100-200 parts is why volume, not just unit price, should drive the process choice. The mold-life and amortization mechanics are in our rapid tooling guide.
· Per-surface finishing - painting charged per face adds up on multi-cavity parts.
· Inspection reports - CMM time is real; ask if it is included.
· Tooling amortization - some shops bury it unevenly across units; ask for the split.
· Freight - ocean vs air can be $20 vs $200+ for a small box; name the ship-to address.
· Material premium - PEEK or titanium can multiply stock cost; our materials guide helps pick the cheapest material that still passes the test.
Send a complete package so suppliers price the same thing:
1. CAD model in STEP/IGES plus 2D drawings for critical dimensions.
2. Material and any certification needs (RoHS/REACH, mill cert).
3. Quantity and target lead time.
4. Finish and any inserts or assembly.
5. Ship-to address for freight accuracy.
6. Whether tooling should be itemized separately.
Line up quotes by process, material and what is included, not headline total. A practical vetting checklist - equipment, QC docs, IP terms - is in our supplier selection guide. And the wider decision frame sits in the complete guide.
Q: What is the cheapest process?
A: CNC machining of ABS for a single functional part is usually cheapest; vacuum casting wins per-copy cost for 10-100 copies, and injection molding wins above roughly 100 parts once tooling amortizes.
Q: Why is my quote so different from another shop's?
A: Because quotes bundle different things - machining only versus machining plus finish, inspection and freight. Compare line items, not totals.
Q: How do I get an accurate quote quickly?
A: Send a complete RFQ: model, drawings, material, quantity, finish and ship-to address. A complete package is usually quoted within one business day.
Q: What hidden costs should I watch?
A: Per-surface finishing, inspection reports, tooling amortization and freight are the usual surprises. Name them in the RFQ.
Q: Does higher price mean better quality?
A: Not automatically. Match the quote to your tolerance and certification need; over-specifying wastes money, under-specifying risks a failed test.
CTA: Send your complete RFQ and get an itemized quote with DFM feedback request a prototyping quote.
