QuotedPartCost guides · Updated 2026-10-30
What does a 3-axis CNC mill cost per hour to run?
Price one of your own parts: Drop a STEP model or PDF drawing — about 90 seconds, no account.
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A 3-axis VMC does not have one universal hourly price. In this worked example, the rate calculator puts ownership, floor space, power, upkeep, labor, utilization, overhead, and profit on separate lines. The companion table prices a fictional bracket through the same US catalog so the hourly number can be connected to a real part.
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The rate is a cost model, not a published average
The example uses a $150,000 VMC, 2,000 staffed hours, and 1,300 billed hours. Ownership and interest are annualized, while power is charged only against billed hours. That distinction matters: a machine that is staffed but waiting still consumes labor and building capacity.
The resulting break-even and profit-bearing rates are outputs of the inputs above. They are deliberately labeled as an example because utilization, lease terms, operator coverage, and local rent vary by shop.
- Separate break-even from the price sent to a buyer.
- Revisit utilization after a slow quarter or a second shift.
- Put tooling and coolant in upkeep instead of hiding them in markup.
What a 3-axis part adds to the hourly question
The pricing model workholding is a 4 × 3 × 1 inch 6061 bracket with a pocket, six holes, two setups, and a ±0.005 inch general tolerance. `the routing calculation` turns those features into CAM, milling, deburr, and inspection operations; `the quantity calculation` then applies the catalog rate and 30% markup at quantities 1, 10, and 100.
That run-time result is not a claim that every bracket takes the same minutes. It is a check that the shop-rate decision and the part assumptions agree. If the shop's VMC rate is $118 per hour instead of the catalog's $95, the machine-and-labor line changes while geometry remains constant.
- Keep setup minutes as a lot cost.
- Check whether a second operation belongs on another center.
- Use actual spindle and operator rates when quoting.
Two-machine and ten-machine shops
A two-machine shop often puts more operator and overhead burden on each billed hour because one person cannot cover every interruption. A ten-machine shop may spread supervision and office cost farther, but it can also lose capacity to scheduling, maintenance, or a bottlenecked operator. The calculator exposes the `machinesPerOperator`, `overheadPerYear`, and utilization levers instead of assuming scale automatically makes the rate lower.
Run the same inputs at the shop's actual machine count and compare the rate to recent completed jobs. Keep the comparison internal; this page does not publish a market range that cannot be traced to a current primary source.
- Change one lever at a time.
- Compare billed hours with the dispatch report.
- Do not lower the rate until fixed costs still clear.
Use the result as an estimator's starting point
For this 3-axis cnc milling cost per hour: build the rate from inputs example, an estimator can challenge every cnc milling input. Replace this fictional geometry with the customer's STEP file or drawing, then replace the catalog stock price, work-center rate, setup minutes, and markup with the shop's current 3-axis vmc values.
Keep the lot setup visible when you send this quote for 3-axis cnc milling cost per hour: build the rate from inputs. Confirm stock form, material condition, tolerances, inspection, deburr, and outside-process timing before promising a ship date. If one of those inputs changes, rerun the calculation and show the buyer what moved.
- Show both unit and lot totals.
- Label illustrative values clearly.
- Have the estimator review access, tooling, and first-piece risk.
US small-shop 3-axis VMC rate build-up; inputs are editable examples
- • Material: Aluminum 6061-T6; the US catalog input is $9.50/lb and machinability 1.00 relative to 6061-T6.
- • Process: CNC milling; the pricing model includes CAM programming, 12 toolpaths, Mill, 3 setups, Deburr, Inspect and calculates the quantities shown.
- • Geometry: 4 × 3 × 1 in; Fictional 4 × 3 × 1 in prismatic reference part. Two mill setups are inferred from the top and side features.
- • Markup: 30% catalog default. Taxes, freight, customer-specific rates, and unlisted outside services are excluded.
- • Rate example: $150,000 machine, seven-year payback, 65% billed utilization, one operator per machine, and $30,000 annual overhead.
- • Every dollar and minute in the table is a reproducible example from the stated inputs, not a market average or supplier promise.
| Rate line | Annual amount | Billed-hour share |
|---|---|---|
| Machine payments and interest | $26678.57 | $20.52/h |
| Floor space | $3000.00 | $2.31/h |
| Power | $2184.00 | $1.68/h |
| Service, coolant and tooling | $9000.00 | $6.92/h |
| Operator, with taxes and benefits | $78000.00 | $60.00/h |
| Share of shop overhead | $30000.00 | $23.08/h |
| Total cost | $148862.57 | $114.51/h |
| With stated profit | — | $131.69/h |
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 numerical table is computed at build time from the stated geometry, catalog inputs, and shop-rate assumptions.
Questions
Is this a guaranteed 6061-t6 aluminum quote?
No. It is a transparent estimating example. Replace the example inputs with the customer's drawing, stock quote, current shop rates, and inspection or finish requirements.
Why does quantity change the unit price?
Setup and programming are lot costs. The pricing calculation spreads those costs across the stated quantity and keeps the per-part run time and material inputs visible.
Price one of your own parts
Drop a PDF drawing or a STEP file. QuotedPart reads the print, measures the model and prices it in seconds, on default shop rates you can change.
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