Material Cost: This is typically the most straightforward factor. Are you machining aluminum, stainless steel, brass, or a high-performance engineered plastic like PEEK? The material cost of each blank, its machinability, and scrap will all affect the final price.

Part Design and Complexity: A simple bracket costs much less to produce than a complex housing with intricate features. Complexity increases machining time, requires more specialized tooling, and may require additional setup on more advanced machines, such as five-axis machines. Design for Manufacturability (DFM) is key to controlling costs.

Quantity and Volume: Unit costs generally decrease as production volume increases. This is because the fixed costs of programming, setup, and creating first-article inspection reports are spread over more parts. For prototypes or small batches, the unit price will be higher, reflecting the impact of these initial setup activities. Tolerances and Finishing: Maintaining a tolerance of ±0.005 inches is standard. Maintaining critical tolerances of ±0.0005 inches requires more time, slower machining speeds, specialized metrology equipment, and a higher skill level, all of which increase costs. Similarly, secondary finishing operations (such as anodizing, plating, and powder coating) can also add time and cost.