QuotedPartCost guides · Updated 2026-10-30
Should I quote A36 plate or 1018 bar?
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For the milled block, 1018 is cheaper than A36 by $5.29 at one, $4.67 at 10, and $3.25 at 100 pieces ($459.63 for 1018 versus $464.92 for A36 at one). The small gap comes from the stock and machinability inputs; plate availability and the print still decide which material belongs on the quote.
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The A36 steel versus 1018 steel example part
The reference is a 4 × 3 × 1 inch block with a pocket and six holes. A36 is commonly purchased as plate; 1018 may arrive as bar or plate depending on size. The example part keeps the finished geometry constant so the material comparison is understandable, even though a real blank may require a different saw or facing plan.
How the quantity break works
Both materials still pay for CAM, workholding setup and inspection. Their catalog machinability factors are close enough that stock price and purchased form can matter as much as cutting minutes. At one piece, setup dominates; at 100, the repeated stock and cycle lines show the grade effect.
| Qty | Setup min (lot) | Cycle min (part) | Cost / part | Quoted / part | Lot price | Lead days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 191.0 | 18.1 | $353.56 | $459.63 | $459.63 | 11 |
| 10 | 191.0 | 18.1 | $66.83 | $86.88 | $868.80 | 11 |
| 100 | 191.0 | 18.1 | $36.29 | $47.18 | $4718.00 | 15 |
What the material or process changes
Weldability, strength, surface condition and certification may matter more than a few dollars on the quote. Do not substitute A36 for 1018 without customer approval. If the print requires flame-cut A36 with mill scale, add cleanup and edge work.
How to turn this into a firm quote
Keep the selected grade and stock source on the estimate. When the distributor offers a different size, rerun the stock and process rather than carrying forward a percentage copied from another part.
Questions to settle before release
Confirm whether the customer needs A36 plate, 1018 bar, weldability, strength, surface condition or a specific certificate. Stock form changes the saw and facing work before the cutter touches the part. Ask who owns the remnant and whether flame-cut scale is acceptable. The paired engine outputs explain the cost difference; the drawing and material approval determine the choice.
For this a36 vs 1018 cost estimate, the estimate is strongest when the handoff includes the drawing revision, stock quote date and acceptance plan. Save those details with the quantity break. If the buyer changes one requirement, rerun the affected operation and leave the other lines intact. This keeps a revision discussion factual and prevents an old material or finish assumption from surviving in a new price.
Pricing engine output for the stated Steel A36 CNC milling example part
- • Material: Steel A36; the US catalog stores its small-lot price and machinability factor.
- • Process: CNC milling; setup, machine time, deburring and inspection are generated from the example-part geometry.
- • Markup: 30% default US catalog markup; quantities are 1, 10, 100.
- • Fictional 4 × 3 × 1 in milled block; no finish or outside process.
- • No outside finish, tax, freight, or customer-specific rate is included.
- • These are computed examples, not supplier quotes or market averages.
| Qty | Setup min (lot) | Cycle min (part) | Cost / part | Quoted / part | Lot price | Lead days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 191.0 | 20.6 | $357.63 | $464.92 | $464.92 | 11 |
| 10 | 191.0 | 20.6 | $70.42 | $91.55 | $915.50 | 11 |
| 100 | 191.0 | 20.6 | $38.79 | $50.43 | $5043.00 | 16 |
Sources and limits
Claims are dated where they can change. Product calculations are examples from the stated inputs, not a promise about a customer's quote. Competitor wording is attributed to the source shown.
- The figures are computed from the stated example part and US catalog assumptions.
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