UNDERSTANDING SHEET METAL COSTS

Grinding Labor Costs

Grinding costs can vary considerably with the skill of the operator and the
requirements of the customer. “Free of burrs and scratches” can mean removing
punch/laser tabs and one pass on the "timesaver". It can also mean blending the
corners of each edge and several passes through the "timesaver". The customers’
cosmetic requirements determine the grinding costs as much as anything. Here is a
typical cost breakdown:

Typical operator $45/hr

Equipment Depreciation $2/hr
Rent, 100 SF $2/hr
Punch Tooling $1/hr
Maintenance $1/hr
Electricity $1/hr
------------
Assuming 1,600 hrs billed $52/hr
Typical pricing with SG&A $60 - $70/hr

Below are some common drawing notes and the process costs to meet these
standards:

“Break all edges”: sometimes means “timesave “both sides in the flat, other times it
means grinding the edges of the formed part.

“Free of burrs and scratches”: deburr the tabs and "timesave" the outside surface

“Mill finish”: "timesave" both sides in the flat

“Class A finish”: blend all outside welded corners and orbital sand outer surfaces

“Mirror finish”: sequentially "timesave" in finer increments, grind corners and edges in
the same way to achieve a reflective surface (typically for chroming).

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