QuotedPartCost guides · Updated 2026-10-30
What does a 6061-T6 aluminum part cost to CNC mill?
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For a simple 6061-T6 bracket about 4 × 3 × 1 inches with holes, two tapped holes and a pocket, our engine prices one piece at $465, $84 each at 10, $41 each at 100, and $27 each at 1,000, at US small-shop rates with a 30% markup. The price per part falls that fast because about 3.2 hours of programming and setup are paid once per lot, while the part itself only takes about 14 minutes on the machine.
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The worked part
The part is a 4 × 3 × 1 inch bracket in 6061-T6 aluminum. The drawing calls for four through holes, two tapped 1/4-20 side holes, one 0.35 inch deep pocket, and a general ±0.005 inch tolerance. It does not call for anodize, heat treat, certifications or any outside process, so everything in the price happens inside the shop.
- 3-axis vertical machining center, not 5-axis or a lathe
- Two setups: top features first, then the side holes
- CAM programming, milling, handling, deburring and inspection are all counted
What it costs at each quantity
Cost is what the shop spends; the quoted price adds the 30% markup. Setup minutes are for the whole lot, cycle minutes are per part. Lead time grows with the lot because machine hours have to fit into the schedule.
| Quantity | Setup min (lot) | Cycle min (part) | Cost per part | Quoted price per part | Lot price | Lead days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 191.0 | 13.5 | $357.33 | $464.53 | $464.53 | 11 |
| 10 | 191.0 | 13.5 | $64.44 | $83.77 | $837.70 | 11 |
| 100 | 191.0 | 13.5 | $31.67 | $41.17 | $4117.00 | 14 |
| 1000 | 191.0 | 13.5 | $20.94 | $27.22 | $27220.00 | 25 |
Where the money goes
At one piece, nearly the whole price is programming and setup: about 3.2 hours of an estimator's, programmer's and machinist's time before the first good part. At 10 pieces that fixed time is split ten ways, which is why the price per part drops by 82%. Past a few hundred pieces, the fixed time hardly matters and the price is mostly machine minutes, aluminum and margin, so the 1,000-piece price is only 34% lower than the 100-piece price.
- Buyers who ask for one piece "to try" should see the setup charge; it is real work.
- On long runs, a minute saved in the cycle is worth more than a cheaper setup.
- 6061 machines fast and costs little per pound, so on small brackets the material is a small share of the price.
What changes the number on a real part
Tighter tolerances add inspection and slower finishing passes. A third setup, deep pockets or thin walls add minutes. Anodize, chromate or hardware add an outside cost and days of lead time. Your own machine rate, programming rate and markup move every line. To check a real part, run its model or drawing at your own rates rather than scaling this example.
- Keep setup and programming as lot costs so a quantity break doesn't hide them.
- State whether material is a cut piece for the lot or a per-part bar price.
- Confirm fixturing, tool access, tolerances and the inspection plan before sending the quote.
Engine assumptions
- • Material: 6061-T6 aluminum, priced from the US catalog's editable material rate.
- • Process: 3-axis CNC milling; the engine generates CAM programming, milling, handling, deburring, and inspection operations.
- • Geometry: fictional 4 × 3 × 1 in bracket with two sides of holes and one pocket, converted from the dimensions above.
- • Markup: the US catalog default (30%); no anodize, outside service, tax, freight, or customer-specific override.
- • The numbers are an example of the engine calculation, not a supplier quote or a market average.
| Quantity | Setup min (lot) | Cycle min (part) | Cost per part | Quoted price per part | Lot price | Lead days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 191.0 | 13.5 | $357.33 | $464.53 | $464.53 | 11 |
| 10 | 191.0 | 13.5 | $64.44 | $83.77 | $837.70 | 11 |
| 100 | 191.0 | 13.5 | $31.67 | $41.17 | $4117.00 | 14 |
| 1000 | 191.0 | 13.5 | $20.94 | $27.22 | $27220.00 | 25 |
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 table is computed by QuotedPart's 3-axis CNC milling pricing engine from the stated fictional geometry and assumptions.
Price one of your own parts
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