How We Calculated This
This estimator uses four cost components to give you a rough price range for CNC prototypes. Each component scales with your selections.
Material Cost
Material cost depends on the raw stock price and part size. Aluminum 6061 stock costs about $3-5 per pound. Titanium Ti-6Al-4V costs $15-40 per pound. PEEK raw material runs $80+ per pound. Larger parts need bigger billets, which cost more.
Machining Cost
Machining cost is the biggest factor for most prototypes. It depends on cycle time, which increases with part size, number of features, and material hardness. A simple palm-sized aluminum part might take 15-30 minutes to machine. A complex shoebox-sized titanium part could take 2-4 hours.
Setup Cost
Setup costs are fixed per batch. For prototypes, this includes fixturing, tool loading, and first-article verification. Typical setup costs run $50-100. Ordering 3-5 prototypes instead of 1 spreads this cost across more parts.
Startup tip: Order 3 prototypes instead of 1. The per-unit cost drops 20-30%, and you have spares for testing, investor demos, or assembly checks.
Finish Cost
As-machined finish adds nothing to the cost. Bead blasting adds $5-15 per part. Anodizing (Type II) adds $15-30 per part and gives aluminum a durable, colored surface. Powder coating adds $20-35 per part and works on most metals.